New Delhi, Jan. 12 -- The Supreme Court of India on Monday directed the release of Amit Mehra on bail, emphasising that an undertrial cannot be kept behind bars indefinitely.

The court noted that he has already been in judicial custody for more than eight months and that the trial has not yet begun.

A Bench of Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice Alok Aradhe passed the directions while hearing Mehra's special leave petition challenging the denial of regular bail by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in a case registered by the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI).

The prosecution relates to alleged offences under Section 132(1)(b) of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, Section 132(1)(i) of the GST Act and Section 20(xv) of t...