Bail

Bail lets an accused person remain free while their case is pending, instead of being held in custody throughout the process — subject to conditions like appearing for hearings, not tampering with evidence, and sometimes surrendering a passport. It reflects the general principle that a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Bail can be sought at different stages — immediately after arrest, during investigation, or after a charge sheet is filed — and the court weighs factors like the nature of the offence, flight risk, and likelihood of influencing witnesses before deciding.