ORDER

This is the second application for regular bail filed by the sole accused in S.C.No.526/2022 on the files of the Additional Sessions Court No.-II (Special), Kottayam.

2. Heard the learned Senior Counsel for the petitioner and the learned Public Prosecutor. Perused the records.

3. The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner has been in custody from 7.3.2022 and his earlier bail application, viz. B.A.No.5587/2022, was dismissed by this Court as per Annexure A5 order dated 10.3.2023. Challenging the said order, the petitioner filed SLP(Crl.) No.6533 of 2023 before the Apex Court. That SLP was dismissed by the Apex Court as per Annexure A6 order. According to the learned counsel for the petitioner, even though trial has commenced; PW1 to PW66 were examined and Exts.P1 to P184 series as well as M.O1 to M.O66 were marked, 78 witnesses more remain to be examined and, therefore, the trial could not be completed within a B.A.NO.7017/2024 4 reasonable time and accordingly the learned counsel pressed for grant of bail.

4. The learned counsel appearing for the defacto complainant strongly opposed bail on the submission that the accused is a person, who committed d