Vadodara Crash Case | Supreme Court refuses to Cancel Bail, says "Why do you want to keep him in Custody?"

The Supreme Court declined to interfere with the grant of bail to the accused in the 2025 Vadodara car crash case, effectively upholding the Gujarat High Court’s order. The decision underscores the Court’s emphasis on proportionality in custody, even in serious accident cases involving allegations of intoxicated driving.

The case arose from a fatal car crash in Vadodara where a 23 year old law student was accused of driving under the influence, leading to one death and injuries to several others. The prosecution painted a grim picture, alleging reckless conduct, multiple collisions, and absence of remorse, further pointing to a separate case under narcotics law to argue that the accused posed a continuing threat.

It was contended that the High Court erred in granting bail despite the gravity of the offence. The defence, however, relied on the period of custody already undergone and maintained that the incident, though serious, did not involve deliberate intent to cause death.

The Bench weighed the nature of allegations against the duration of incarceration, questioning the necessity of continued custody. Addressing the State’s plea, the Court pointedly asked, “Why do you want to keep him in custody?” It observed that the act, prima facie, did not appear to be intentional in nature, and the accused had already spent nearly nine months in jail.

Finding no compelling ground to overturn the High Court’s order, the Court dismissed the State’s plea and allowed the bail to stand.