Kolkata, May 11 -- The Calcutta High Court has granted bail to an accused in an alleged bomb-making case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), observing that an undertrial cannot be kept in jail indefinitely when there is uncertainty over completion of trial.

A division bench of Justice Arijit Banerjee and Justice Apurba Sinha Ray granted bail to Mansur Ali alias Mansur Seikh alias Mansur SK alias Manchuur Ali, who has spent around two years and eight months in custody.

According to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the accused along with six others, was involved in large-scale manufacture of bombs in aid of terrorist activities. One of the accused persons allegedly died in a blast while making bombs. Charges were filed under provisions of the IPC, Explosive Substances Act and UAPA.

Opposing bail, the NIA argued that the allegations were serious and concerned national security. It submitted that 102 witnesses had been named in the chargesheet, though the number would later be reduced, and claimed the trial could conclude within ten months. The agency also sought time for examination of six protected witnesses before consideration of bail.

The bench, however, noted that only one prosecution witness had been examined so far and that too partially. The court recorded repeated adjournments after charges were framed in July 2025 because of absence of witnesses, the presiding officer being occupied elsewhere, or adjournment sought by the prosecution.

Observing that it was "highly improbable" that the trial would conclude within ten months or even a year, the court said the accused "cannot be kept in incarceration indefinitely without convicting him when nobody can tell when the trial will end."

The bench also noted that all other accused persons in the case were already on bail, including the person described in the chargesheet as the "main conspirator". However, it clarified that bail was not granted on the ground of parity alone.

The court imposed several conditions, including restriction of movement within New Town police station limits, weekly appearance before police, attendance in trial court on every hearing date, and submission of two mobile numbers to the NIA, which was also permitted to monitor his calls and keep vigil on him.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.