SC grants interim bail to 104-year-old murder convict in 1988 case, cites health concerns

The Supreme Court granted interim bail to a 104-year-old man convicted of murder in 1988. The man had been sentenced to life imprisonment in 1994 for his role in the murder case. The decision to grant interim bail was based on the convict’s advanced age and deteriorating health, with the court considering the significant medical concerns presented in his petition.

The convict, born in 1920 in a village in Malda district, West Bengal, was arrested in connection with a murder that occurred in 1988. After being convicted in 1994, he was sentenced to life imprisonment. His appeal against the conviction was rejected by the Calcutta High Court in 2018, and the Supreme Court dismissed his appeal in 2019, maintaining the conviction and sentence. In 2020, the convict filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court, seeking premature release on the grounds of old age and health complications.

In his petition, the convict requested exemption from the usual 14-year minimum requirement for parole or remission for life sentence prisoners, arguing that his health condition and advanced age made it impossible for him to continue serving his sentence. His petition also stated that he would soon be turning 104 years old, which he claimed further justified the request for early release.

The Supreme Court bench, consisting of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar, instructed the West Bengal government to file a report on the convict’s health. Advocate Astha Sharma, representing the state, informed the court that the convict’s health was stable, though he suffered from age-related ailments. The court noted that the man would celebrate his 104th birthday in April 2025. Based on the medical complexities associated with his age, the court decided to grant interim bail to the convict while his petition for permanent release was under consideration.

The Supreme Court’s order allows the convict to be released temporarily while the proceedings regarding his permanent release continue. The trial court has been tasked with determining the terms and conditions for the interim release. The decision comes after a lengthy legal battle, spanning more than 25 years, and reflects the court's consideration of the convict’s medical condition in the context of his prolonged incarceration.