Supreme Court of India NEW DELHI: “Lifespan of a criminal trial cannot be that of a turtle,” SC said Wednesday, taking exception to the over-three-year-long trial of an activist of the outlawed Popular Front of India (PFI) facing charges that entail a maximum five-year jail term, with no prospect of its early end because of 700 prosecution witnesses lined up against him.Petitioner Shahid Khan, who was arrested on Sept 22, 2022, has appealed against a Karnataka HC order rejecting his bail plea. He is accused of helping raise funds for PFI between 2011 and 2019, and helping teams of the banned outfit which were planning attacks in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala in retaliation against the enactment of Citizenship (Amendment) Act, move to prepare a National Register of Citizens, and court judgments relating to hijab and Babri demolition.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesHis counsel said the activities for which Shahid was arrested could not be classified as UAPA offences as his association with PFI predated the ban imposed on the outfit.He also argued the allegations against the appellant that he was providing training and raising funds for alleged terror activities carried a punishment of up to five years. “There is no chance of early completion of trial. Though he has a good chance of getting acquitted, he has already spent more than half of the sentence that would have been awarded to him on conviction,” the counsel said. Turning to Karnataka counsel, a bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana said, “Don’t make a mockery of the trial.”Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’It’s My Moral Call To Be Here’: Author Nilotpal Mrinal Joins Ranchi Student ProtestMeta CEO Mark Zuckerberg Apologises Over PM Modi Video Row, Admits Paid Content BoostingJharkhand Students Display Mark Sheets, Allege Irregularities In JPSC-JSSC Evaluation’Merit Can’t Beat Money’: Jharkhand Aspirant On Hunger Strike Demand Strong JPSC-JSSC Reforms’I’m A Farmer’s Son, I Can’t Buy Papers’: In JPSC-JSSC Exam Leak, Students Demand CBI Probe’56% Indian Vehicles Uninsured’: Supreme Court Calls For ‘Challans’, Urgent Enforcement Action’We Feel Cheated’: Jharkhand Student Protesters Voice Anger Over JPSC-JSSC Exam Row’If You Won’t Listen, Then Who Will?’: Jharkhand Student’s Msg To Hemant Soren Over JPSC-JSSC RowIndia Responds After Pakistan Deploys Chinese SH-15 Howitzers Along BorderJharkhand Mob Lynching: Rape Accused Beaten To Death, Police Probe POCSO Case And Mob Violence123PhotostoriesIndia named among the World’s 100 Best Cuisines: Here’s what makes it special5 must-have sneakers every wardrobe needs in 20265 timeless lessons from your grandparents that modern life forgot10 baby names inspired by dawn, sunset, and the skyBrain teaser optical illusion: You are among the top 1% if you stop all 25 animals hidden in the man’s face within 2 minutesWant Korean glass skin? These 5 daily habits make all the differenceThe Barack Obama blueprint: Healthy habits that help the former US President stay energetic and resilient at 658 ordinary moments that leave a lifelong impact on your childMalaika Arora’s 5 morning yoga poses every woman should try for better flexibility and joint healthKriti Sanon’s 3,000-crystal ivory Gaurav Gupta lehenga looks like fashion imagined beyond Earth123Hot PicksRBI MeetingGold Rate TodayStock Market TodayICMAI June 2026 toppers listTamil Nadu Budget SessionTN supplementary resultSpaceXUPI transactionsD Y PatilTop TrendingRBI MPC MeetingVande Matram StanzaUdhayanidhi StalinBritish ReturnsPM ModiTamil Nadu Budget Session 2026Air India FlightD Y Patil DeathTamil Nadu BudgetShradha Singh

Supreme Court of India NEW DELHI: “Lifespan of a criminal trial cannot be that of a turtle,” SC said Wednesday, taking exception to the over-three-year-long trial of an activist of the outlawed Popular Front of India (PFI) facing charges that entail a maximum five-year jail term, with no prospect of its early end because of 700 prosecution witnesses lined up against him.Petitioner Shahid Khan, who was arrested on Sept 22, 2022, has appealed against a Karnataka HC order rejecting his bail plea. He is accused of helping raise funds for PFI between 2011 and 2019, and helping teams of the banned outfit which were planning attacks in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala in retaliation against the enactment of Citizenship (Amendment) Act, move to prepare a National Register of Citizens, and court judgments relating to hijab and Babri demolition.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesHis counsel said the activities for which Shahid was arrested could not be classified as UAPA offences as his association with PFI predated the ban imposed on the outfit.He also argued the allegations against the appellant that he was providing training and raising funds for alleged terror activities carried a punishment of up to five years. “There is no chance of early completion of trial. Though he has a good chance of getting acquitted, he has already spent more than half of the sentence that would have been awarded to him on conviction,” the counsel said. Turning to Karnataka counsel, a bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana said, “Don’t make a mockery of the trial.”Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’It’s My Moral Call To Be Here’: Author Nilotpal Mrinal Joins Ranchi Student ProtestMeta CEO Mark Zuckerberg Apologises Over PM Modi Video Row, Admits Paid Content BoostingJharkhand Students Display Mark Sheets, Allege Irregularities In JPSC-JSSC Evaluation’Merit Can’t Beat Money’: Jharkhand Aspirant On Hunger Strike Demand Strong JPSC-JSSC Reforms’I’m A Farmer’s Son, I Can’t Buy Papers’: In JPSC-JSSC Exam Leak, Students Demand CBI Probe’56% Indian Vehicles Uninsured’: Supreme Court Calls For ‘Challans’, Urgent Enforcement Action’We Feel Cheated’: Jharkhand Student Protesters Voice Anger Over JPSC-JSSC Exam Row’If You Won’t Listen, Then Who Will?’: Jharkhand Student’s Msg To Hemant Soren Over JPSC-JSSC RowIndia Responds After Pakistan Deploys Chinese SH-15 Howitzers Along BorderJharkhand Mob Lynching: Rape Accused Beaten To Death, Police Probe POCSO Case And Mob Violence123PhotostoriesIndia named among the World’s 100 Best Cuisines: Here’s what makes it special5 must-have sneakers every wardrobe needs in 20265 timeless lessons from your grandparents that modern life forgot10 baby names inspired by dawn, sunset, and the skyBrain teaser optical illusion: You are among the top 1% if you stop all 25 animals hidden in the man’s face within 2 minutesWant Korean glass skin? These 5 daily habits make all the differenceThe Barack Obama blueprint: Healthy habits that help the former US President stay energetic and resilient at 658 ordinary moments that leave a lifelong impact on your childMalaika Arora’s 5 morning yoga poses every woman should try for better flexibility and joint healthKriti Sanon’s 3,000-crystal ivory Gaurav Gupta lehenga looks like fashion imagined beyond Earth123Hot PicksRBI MeetingGold Rate TodayStock Market TodayICMAI June 2026 toppers listTamil Nadu Budget SessionTN supplementary resultSpaceXUPI transactionsD Y PatilTop TrendingRBI MPC MeetingVande Matram StanzaUdhayanidhi StalinBritish ReturnsPM ModiTamil Nadu Budget Session 2026Air India FlightD Y Patil DeathTamil Nadu BudgetShradha Singh


‘Criminal cases can’t have lifespan of turtle’: Supreme Court on activist’s trial delay

NEW DELHI: “Lifespan of a criminal trial cannot be that of a turtle,” SC said Wednesday, taking exception to the over-three-year-long trial of an activist of the outlawed Popular Front of India (PFI) facing charges that entail a maximum five-year jail term, with no prospect of its early end because of 700 prosecution witnesses lined up against him.Petitioner Shahid Khan, who was arrested on Sept 22, 2022, has appealed against a Karnataka HC order rejecting his bail plea. He is accused of helping raise funds for PFI between 2011 and 2019, and helping teams of the banned outfit which were planning attacks in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala in retaliation against the enactment of Citizenship (Amendment) Act, move to prepare a National Register of Citizens, and court judgments relating to hijab and Babri demolition.

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