India’s Supreme Court Grants Bail to Two Muslim Men After Nearly 12 Years in UAPA Case

India’s Supreme Court Grants Bail to Two Muslim Men After Nearly 12 Years in UAPA Case
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India’s Supreme Court has granted bail to two Muslim men who spent nearly 12 years in prison without the completion of their trial in a case filed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), ruling that their prolonged detention amounted to a serious violation of their constitutional right to personal liberty.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta ordered the release of Mohd Saquib Ansari and Waqar Azhar, citing the prolonged delay in proceedings and the lack of a realistic possibility that the trial would conclude soon.

The case originated from a 2011 Delhi Police investigation alleging links to the banned Indian Mujahideen group. Authorities later claimed that explosives and bomb-making materials were recovered from locations associated with the two men in Rajasthan, leading to additional cases.

The men were arrested in 2014 and remained in custody while the legal proceedings continued. The Supreme Court noted that the prosecution had listed 197 witnesses, but only 68 had been examined, with very limited progress since early 2025.

The court stated that continued detention under such circumstances would unjustifiably restrict their fundamental right to liberty under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. It ordered their release on bail under conditions set by the trial court, while clarifying that the decision would not affect the final outcome of the ongoing trial.