Imposition of stringent regulatory conditions upon grant of bail in economic offenses

When granting regular bail to an undertrial accused in complex economic offenses owing to prolonged incarceration, courts must impose comprehensive conditions to safeguard the trial process and mitigate flight risk. The court releasing the accused should mandate the surrender of travel passports, restrict international travel without prior judicial authorization, and require the provision of active contact channels for periodic reporting to investigating officers. Additional conditions may include regular appearances before the trial magistrate, strict prohibitions against contacting prosecution witnesses, and substantial financial sureties fixed by the trial court. These balanced conditions ensure that the personal liberty of the accused is protected under Article 21 without compromising the integrity of the pending criminal trial or enabling evasion of justice. Consequently, conditional bail harmonizes constitutional liberty rights with the legitimate requirements of criminal law enforcement. (Arvind Dham v. Directorate of Enforcement | 2026 INSC 12)