Supreme Court bars courts from dictating police investigations in terror case

In New Delhi, the Supreme Court ruled that judicial bodies must not interfere with the police's exclusive right to investigate crimes, stating that courts cannot determine when an inquiry should conclude. This judgment nullified a Bombay High Court order that refused an extension of time to the Mumbai anti-terrorism squad, which had resulted in default bail for a member of the Popular Front of India. The bench, comprising Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Shree Chandrashekhar, said the High Court erred by not allowing the investigating agency more time to analyze data from seized devices and financial records.

The court stressed that only in rare, fact-specific cases or where a statutory prohibition exists may judicial intervention be justified. Consequently, the Supreme Court revoked the default bail and instructed the accused to report within 30 days. The ruling highlights the judiciary's stance on preserving the statutory powers of law-enforcement agencies in terrorism investigations.