IN THE HIGH COURT OF BOMBAY AT GOA CRIMINAL APPLICATION ( BAIL ) NO. 68 OF 2011 SHRIKRISHNA RAMCHANDRA DESSAI , PRESENTLY IN JUDICIAL CUSTODY,SADA THROUGH NEXT FRIEND., ... Applicant Versus STATE THROUGH THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR AND ANR., ... Respondents Mr. Arun Bras De Sa, Advocate for the applicant. Mr. C. A. Ferreira, Public Prosecutor for the respondents. Coram:- A. P. LAVANDE, J. Date:- 26th April, 2011 P.C. Heard Mr. Arun Bras De Sa, learned Advocate for the applicant and Mr. C. A. Ferreira, learned Public Prosecutor for the respondents. 2. By this application the applicant who is facing trial before the Principal Sessions Judge, South Goa, Margao in Sessions Case No. 21/2007 for the offence punishable under Sections 450, 307 read with 34 of I.P.C. and Sections 3 and 25 of the Arms Act seeks bail. 3. Earlier Application for bail has been dismissed by this Court by order dated 15.7.2008 by reasoned order. 4. According to Mr. D'Sa, the petitioner has been in custody for a period of almost 3 1/2 years and the prosecution has till date examined 15 witnesses. Prosecution has named another 119 witnesses to prove the charges against the applicant and as such the applicant is entitled to be released on bail. 5. Mr. Fereira, learned Public Prosecutor on instructions states that although the prosecution has named in all total 119 witnesses, the prosecution proposes to examine about 25 more witnesses. 6. I am not inclined to grant bail to the applicant at this stage in view of earlier order dated 15.7.2008 passed by this Court. However, considering that the trial is pending for a period of almost 3 1/2 years during which the applicant is in custody, the learned Principal Sessions Judge, South Goa Margao, to expedite the same and endeavour to dispose of the same by 30.12.2011. In the event the trial is not concluded by 31.12.2011, liberty to the applicant to move fresh application for bail before this Court. 7. With the above observations, the application stands disposed of. A. P. LAVANDE, J. vn