In a significant order, the Delhi High Court set aside certain bail conditions that required surveillance of an accused person’s wife, calling them an unjustified invasion of privacy. The court, however, allowed interim bail for a limited period to enable the petitioner to attend to his wife’s surgery.
Background of the Case
The petitioner, Sandeep @ Kala @ Kale @ Sonu @ Sinothia, approached the High Court seeking modification of conditions imposed while granting interim bail by a trial court. The bail had been granted to allow him to assist his wife during a scheduled medical procedure.
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However, the trial court had imposed several conditions, including police monitoring of the wife, collection of her call records, and recording statements from neighbors regarding her daily life.
Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani expressed clear disapproval of these conditions. The court noted that such directions amounted to “wholly unacceptable intrusions on the privacy” of the petitioner’s wife, who is not an accused in the case.
“The law only empowers the court to impose conditions on the accused,” the bench observed, adding that extending such conditions to family members goes beyond legal limits.
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Even the State’s counsel acknowledged that these conditions were not appropriate and could be seen as unwarranted surveillance.
The court also considered that the petitioner had already spent over four years in custody and had maintained satisfactory conduct in jail.
Setting aside the impugned conditions, the High Court upheld the grant of interim bail and allowed the petitioner to be released for three weeks starting April 1, 2026.
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The bail was made subject to standard safeguards, including furnishing a personal bond, remaining within Delhi, not influencing witnesses, and submitting medical records related to his wife’s surgery upon surrender.
The court also clarified that no further extension of interim bail would be granted on the same grounds.
Case Title: Sandeep @ Kala @ Kale @ Sonu @ Sinothia vs State Govt. of NCT of Delhi
Case Number: CRL.M.C. 2100/2026
Decision Date: 20 March 2026
