Advocates appeared:
For the Petitioner(s): Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Sr. Adv. Mr. Jatin Bhardwaj, AOR Mr. Harsh Tikoo, Adv. Mr. Misbahul Haque, Adv. Mr. Ramkishan Saraswat, Adv. Mr. Rahul Rai, Adv. Mr. Siddharth Seem, Adv. Mr. Kamal Kishore, Adv. Mr. Sakal Bhushan, Sr. Adv. Ms. Nupur Kumar, AOR Mr. Vasu Bhushan, Adv. Mr. Nipun Bhushan, Adv. Mr. Sidharth Luthra, Sr. Adv. Mr. Sunil Sethi, Sr. Adv. Mr. Sumit Singh Somria, Adv. Mr. Parimoksh Seth, Adv. Ms. Shivangi Gumber, Adv. Ms. Anjali Sharma, Adv. Ms. Priyanshi Singh, Adv. Mr. P. D. Sharma, AOR
For the Respondent(s): Mr. Pashupathi Nath Razdan, AOR Mr. Parth Awasthi, Adv. Mr. Pradeep Baisoya, Adv. Mr. Karman Singh Johal, Adv. Mr. Mahesh Thakur, AOR Mr. Siddhartha Sati, Adv. Mr. Narveer Yadav, Adv. Ms. Ruchi Kumari, Adv. Dr. Anthony Raju, Adv. Mr. Dushyant Pratap Singh, Adv.

Key Points: - Bail principle: "Bail is the rule and jail is the exception" but not absolute; should be balanced with case facts and statutory restrictions. (!) - Factors for bail: prima facie case, gravity of offence, nature of evidence, antecedents, differentiation of roles, parity, delay, age, medical grounds, etc. (!) - Specific bail outcome: two elderly/ill appellants (Sheikh Mehmood and Ravinder Kumar Gupta) to be released on bail with conditions; others’ bail prayers rejected at this stage. (!) (!) (!) - Trial progress directive: Sessions Court to expedite cross-examination and aim to complete prosecution witness recording by end of March 2027; thereafter remaining bail prayers may be renewed. (!) (!)

What is the legal standard for bail in cases involving murder and conspiracy as applied by the Supreme Court in this judgment?

What considerations justify granting bail to elderly or medically sick defendants in serious criminal cases?

What are the Court’s directions regarding trial progress and subsequent bail pleas for other appellants?

Name of appellant	Accused Number	Bail application before HC
Lead Appeal—SLP (Crl.)19036 of 2025
Sheikh Mehmoood	Accused No.2	292 of 2024
Connected appeal—SLP (Crl.)20104 of 2025
Ravinder Kumar Gupta	Accused No.4	4 of 2025
Connected Appeal—SLP (Crl.) 20884 of 2025
Parshotam Singh	Accused No.1	1 of 2025
Suraj Singh	Accused No.7	Accused No.7
Vikas Singh	Accused No.10	1 of 2025
Sandeep Charak	Accused No.11	1 of 2025