Michael Machado & Anr vs Central Bureau Of Investigation & Anr

The Supreme Court addressed the issue of adding accused at a late stage in a criminal trial, emphasizing that such an action could lead to a de novo trial, wasting substantial resources and time already invested in the proceedings. The Court held that the Metropolitan Magistrate's decision to add two more accused persons after examining 54 witnesses was unwarranted and could disrupt the trial process. Consequently, the Court quashed the Magistrate's order, reinforcing the principle that late additions to the accused should be approached with caution to avoid prejudice to the existing trial.