Absence of post-bail misuse as a crucial bar to cancellation

serves as an indispensable parameter when an appellate court reviews a challenge to an order granting bail that has been operational for a considerable period. When an accused has been released on bail and has enjoyed freedom for a substantial duration without any allegation of misusing the concession—such as threatening witnesses, creating law and order disturbances, or obstructing trial proceedings—the court will not lightly overturn the order of liberty. The passage of time coupled with unblemished conduct on the part of the accused provides strong evidence that the apprehension of justice being obstructed was unfounded. In the absence of demonstrable supervening events showing that the freedom enjoyed by the accused has actively prejudiced the fairness or expedition of the ongoing trial, an appellate court will decline to recall the bail order and return the accused to custodial confinement. (Usman Ali Vs State of Uttar Pradesh and Another | 2026 INSC 98)