Fake ITC: Bail cannot be refused as indirect method of punishing accused person before conviction

Smruti Ranjan Mohanty Vs State of Odisha (Orissa High Court) Bail cannot be refused as an indirect method of punishing the accused person before he is convicted. Furthermore, it has to be borne in mind that there is as such no justification for classifying offences into different categories such as economic offences and for refusing bail on the ground that the offence involved belongs to a particular category. It cannot, therefore, be said that bail should invariably be refused in cases involving serious economic offences. It is not in the interest of justice that the Petitioners should be in ...