Bombay High Court Grants Bail in Arms Haul Case

The Bombay High Court has granted bail to five accused in the 2018 Nalasopara arms haul case, citing insufficient evidence to substantiate conspiracy charges related to a planned attack on the Sunburn festival. The court emphasized the fundamental right to a speedy trial, noting that the defendants had been in custody since 2018 while only two out of 417 witnesses had been examined. Justices Bharati Dangre and Manjusha Deshpande observed that no attacks had occurred and that the prosecution's evidence was inadequate to establish the charges. The court's decision also highlighted concerns over the likelihood of a timely trial completion. Bail was granted on a personal bond of Rs 50,000, with conditions for monthly appearances before the ATS. This ruling follows previous bail grants to co-accused, reinforcing the principle of parity in legal proceedings.