New Delhi, May 16 -- The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Karnataka government to examine all key witnesses within a year in the murder case involving Kannada actor Darshan, saying the actor would be free to seek bail if there is no substantial progress in the trial during that period. The court was hearing a petition filed by Darshan alleging denial of basic amenities in jail after the top court cancelled his bail in August last year. The Karnataka government denied the allegations and said all facilities available to undertrial prisoners were being extended to him. On the progress of trial, the court was informed that the charges were framed in the case in November 2025 and out of the 272 witnesses named by the prosecution, only 10 have been examined so far. Darshan's lawyers said that at this pace, there is no prospect of the trial ending soon and urged the court to allow him seek bail. The bench of justices JB Pardiwala and Vijay Bishnoi said, "We will watch for some time but we will see to it that your trial proceeds expeditiously." The court observed that the progress of trial is certainly "slow". "We like to observe the progress of trial for one year.if there is no substantial progress in trial for one year, the accused may move a bail application," it said. The state, represented by senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, pointed out that the prosecution seeks to examine only 150 witnesses, of which 60 are crucial witnesses who will be examined within a year. The top court told the state that they should not keep multiplying witnesses. Luthra, however, argued that delays had also occurred because the accused frequently sought adjournments for cross-examination. The court directed the defence lawyers, including those representing Darshan, to cooperate with the trial proceedings and avoid seeking adjournments on "flimsy" grounds. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Darshan, informed the court that the judge conducting the trial was holding additional charge due to a vacancy in the concerned court....