The Supreme Court sharply criticised the Assam Police on Friday for keeping a man behind bars for over two years without filing a chargesheet under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, declaring that such prolonged detention amounted to “illegal custody”. The court granted bail to the accused, stating that no one can be jailed indefinitely without trial.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta took strong exception to the State’s failure to complete the investigation within the maximum statutory period allowed under UAPA. It reminded the State that while the law permits filing of the chargesheet within 90 days, this may be extended to 180 days only by express order of the court.

“Whatever be the stringent provisions under UAPA, the law does not provide for illegal cu

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