Code of Criminal Procedure

Jangir Singh shot dead his colleague Jaswant Singh after a 15‑minute altercation during which the deceased pointed a rifle at him. The trial court acquitted Singh on the ground of private defence, but the High Court convicted him under Section 302 IPC and Section 27 of the Arms Act. On appeal, the Supreme Court examine…

The appellants, five men including Manik Das, were convicted of murder under IPC s.302 read with s.34 for assaulting Anil Das with spears, which led to his death. The prosecution relied on eye‑witness statements and a post‑mortem report that matched the witnesses' accounts, naming all five accused. The appellants conte…

The State of Maharashtra appealed an acquittal of Pandurang and others under Sections 7(1), 16 and 17 of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954. The appeal, which involved an offence punishable with imprisonment exceeding two years, was required by the Bombay High Court Appellate Side Rules, 1960 to be heard by …

Asharfi Lal and Babu, real brothers, along with their sons, entered the house of Smt. Bulakan on the night of 13-14 August 1984 to settle a property dispute. They brutally murdered her two daughters, Kumari Sumati (14) and Kumari Kalkanta (20), using a gandasa and a banka, and attempted to kill Smt. Bulakan herself. Th…

The Supreme Court heard a writ petition under Article 32 concerning Ajoy Ghosh, a prisoner‑lunatic detained since 1962 in West Bengal prisons. The Court found that the prison authorities and the Assistant Chief Metropolitan Magistrate had failed to provide medical care or maintain records from 1964 to 1995, violating t…

Heem Singh, a Rajasthan police constable, was dismissed after a departmental enquiry found him guilty of misconduct for allegedly committing murder while on leave. He had been acquitted of the murder charge in a criminal trial because key witnesses turned hostile and the prosecution failed to prove guilt beyond reasona…

The Director of Enforcement, under the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1947, issued an ex parte order on May 12, 1967 imposing a Rs.6,000 penalty on Dara Singh for contraventions of sections 4 and 9, with a 45‑day payment deadline. No payment was made and a complaint under section 23F was filed alleging that a copy of…

The appellant, a temporary constable in Uttaranchal, submitted an affidavit stating he had never been involved in any criminal case, while an FIR had been registered against him and later closed by the magistrate. The State discovered the pendency of the case during character verification and terminated his service wit…

Arun Kumar Yadav, a litigant, entered a courtroom on 5 September 2005 and shouted threatening, unparliamentary remarks at a Judicial Magistrate who was dictating an order. The magistrate lodged a complaint, and the Allahabad High Court framed a charge of criminal contempt under Section 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act,…

The petitioner, an under‑trial prisoner, complained that he was repeatedly handcuffed while being escorted between Tihar Jail and the court despite a trial‑court order prohibiting such treatment. He filed a writ of habeas corpus under Article 32, alleging violation of Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution and invo…

The case arose from a long‑standing feud between the families of Bhagwan Ram and Krishan Lal. On the night of 21‑22 August 1992 the accused entered Bhagwan Ram's house and fired indiscriminately, killing Bhagwan Ram, his son Sunder Ram and his mother Chando Devi, and injuring Subhash Chander (PW2) and his sister Raj Ku…

Bharat Ram Meena, a Munsiff/Judicial Magistrate, challenged adverse remarks recorded in his 1990 Annual Confidential Report (ACR) that questioned his integrity, impartiality, and conduct. The remarks were based on allegations of unauthorized absences during election duties and alleged manipulation of judicial records, …

The Kanpur Development Authority (KDA) floated a housing scheme in 1978 for Middle Income Group (MIG) with an estimated cost of Rs. 48,000 per house, with a clause that escalation could not exceed 10%. The respondents applied within the deadline, but due to litigation initiated by some other applicants, the KDA delayed…

The Supreme Court examined the constitutional validity of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 (as amended) after a 23‑year‑old woman was murdered and one of the accused, Raju, was a minor. Petitioners sought to have the Act read down so that juveniles who commit serious offences could be tr…

The State of Kerala appealed a Kerala High Court order that quashed charges under Sections 3(i) and 3(xi) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, on the ground that the victim’s family had converted to Christianity two centuries earlier and therefore ceased to be members of a …

The case involved five accused in the murder of a truck cleaner and the grievous injury of the driver under sections 302 and 307 IPC. No test identification parade (TIP) was conducted and the appellant (Accused No.3) was not named in the FIR. The trial court relied on the driver’s in‑court identification of the appella…

The appellants were convicted under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) and IPC for the murder of a Hindu leader. The Supreme Court examined whether the required prior sanction under Section 20‑A of TADA had been validly obtained. It found that the sanctioning authority had granted approval …

The appellant, Pooja Batra, filed a writ petition seeking the release of her husband, Deepak Kumar (Deepak Batra), who had been detained under Section 3 of the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA). The Detaining Authority based the detention on alleged mis‑declara…

The State, represented by the Land Acquisition Officer and Mandal Revenue Officer, sought to acquire 7.35 acres of land and initially valued it at Rs 17,200 per acre. The District Court enhanced the valuation to Rs 65,762 per acre, and the Andhra Pradesh High Court further raised it to Rs 75,000 per acre, relying on ce…

The appellants challenged the election petitions filed against them on the ground that the copies served on them were not attested as true and exact copies as required by Section 81(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and therefore the petitions should be dismissed in limine under Section 86. The High Cou…

The Supreme Court examined whether Section 129‑A of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1939, which authorises police or other state‑appointed persons to seize and detain a motor vehicle used without registration or permit, infringes the fundamental right to practice any trade or profession under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constituti…

The appellant, an Additional District and Sessions Judge on a two‑year probation, was dismissed after the High Court, relying on a vigilance inquiry and several complaints—including a Bar Association resolution—concluded his work and conduct were unsatisfactory. The appellant argued that his dismissal without a hearing…

Two Italian marines were arrested by Kerala police for killing two Indian fishermen 20.5 nautical miles off the Kerala coast. The Supreme Court earlier held that the State of Kerala lacked jurisdiction and that only the Union of India could investigate and try the marines, pending a determination of the applicability o…

Captain Amarinder Singh, former Chief Minister of Punjab, was expelled from the Punjab Vidhan Sabha for the remainder of its 13th term after a Special Committee found him involved in an alleged illegal exemption of land during his tenure as Chief Minister in the 12th term. The appellant challenged the expulsion, arguin…

The Supreme Court examined a series of writ petitions filed under Article 32 seeking protection and relief for victims of the September 2013 Muzaffarnagar communal riots, including compensation for rape victims and accountability for the State's failure to prevent the violence. The Court found the State government negl…

The State of Punjab prosecuted National Organic Chemical Industries Ltd. for allegedly selling an adulterated insecticide, Monocil. An Insecticide Inspector seized two samples, sent one to the Public Analyst who reported the product non‑conforming, and issued a show‑cause notice. The respondent requested that the secon…

The appellant, Sanjabij Tari, appealed against the High Court’s ex‑parte order acquitting Kishore S. Borcar (respondent No.1) under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act for a bounced cheque of Rs.7.5 lakh. The central issue was whether the High Court could overturn the concurrent findings of the trial and sess…

Ram Chander was convicted of murder under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC and sentenced to life imprisonment. On appeal, the High Court upheld his conviction while acquitting a co‑accused. The appellant argued that the Sessions Judge had violated the principle of a fair trial by rebuking and threatening key eyewitnesses…

The complainant, A. Alexander, alleged that the site engineer V. Kannan demanded a bribe of Rs 5,000 to clear a pending railway contract bill. A trap was arranged by the CBI, with independent witnesses and forensic tests (phenolphthalein and sodium carbonate) confirming the presence of the money on Kannan's hands. Kann…

The appellant supplied stone chips for a West Bengal construction project and was paid by post‑dated cheques issued by the respondent from its registered office in Kerala. The cheques were deposited in a West Bengal bank, bounced, and a criminal complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act was filed be…

The State of Punjab charged Balwant Rai under Section 15 of the NDPS Act for possessing 15 bags of poppy husk. Police, acting on secret information, found the accused sitting on the bags and searched the bags, discovering poppy husk, while a personal search of the accused yielded only Rs.200. The trial court convicted …

The Supreme Court reviewed orders of the Patna High Court that were monitoring the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) probe into the Bihar scam. The Court clarified that the High Court's role is limited to ensuring that the CBI performs its statutory duty and must not pass on the merits of the accusations. It reaf…

The appellant and the complainant, who are brothers, were involved in a pending partition suit where the appellant produced a deed that the complainant alleged was altered and forged. The complainant filed a criminal complaint under several sections of the Indian Penal Code alleging forgery and related offences. The Hi…

The police, acting on a tip, stopped Daulat Ram who was carrying a bag on his head and offered him a choice under Section 50 of the NDPS Act to be searched before a magistrate, a gazetted officer, or the SHO; he chose the SHO. The bag was opened and contraband opium was found, leading to his conviction under Sections 8…

The State of Orissa appealed against the High Court's acquittal of eight accused of rape and murder of Chhabirani. The husband (PW‑1) witnessed the gang‑rape and murder at a river bed and, despite police inaction, lodged an FIR. The trial court convicted all eight under Sections 302 and 376 IPC read with Section 34, al…

The appellant was tried before the Sessions Court for uxoricide and was convicted under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code for murder. On appeal, the Andhra Pradesh High Court set aside the murder conviction and, invoking Section 222 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, convicted him instead under Section 306 IPC for a…

The Supreme Court entertained a writ of habeas corpus filed by Sebastian M. Hongray seeking the production of two missing persons, C. Daniel and C. Paul, who were alleged to be unlawfully detained. The respondents – the Union of India, the Ministry of Defence and the commanding officer of the 21st Sikh Regiment – faile…

Dwarka Prasad was convicted of murder under sections 302 and 307 IPC. The prosecution alleged that he and a co‑accused attacked the deceased and a witness with knives, motivated by a prior altercation, and that the FIR was lodged several hours after the incident. The accused claimed he was guarding his grandfather's fi…

Haji Mastan Mirza was first detained under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) and subsequently under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1973 (COFEPOSA). A show‑cause notice under the Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Act, 1976…

Kailash Nath, a retired Executive Engineer, was charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act for the purchase of sign boards in 1979; the FIR was filed in 1985, three years after his retirement and six years after the alleged misconduct. He challenged the FIR invoking the third proviso of Rule 2.2(b) of the Punjab Ci…

Raghbir Singh, convicted under IPC sections 326 and 149 and sentenced to three years' rigorous imprisonment, was released in November 1988 and subsequently contested the Punjab Vidhan Sabha election in February 1992. The respondent filed an election petition alleging that Singh was disqualified under sub‑section 3 of S…

The husband (K. Srinivas Rao) appealed against a High Court order that set aside a decree of divorce in his favour. The Supreme Court examined whether the wife’s filing of false, indecent and defamatory complaints, and multiple criminal proceedings against him and his family, amounted to mental cruelty under s.13(1)(i‑…

The Supreme Court examined the appeal of Laxman Naik, who was convicted of raping and murdering his 7‑year‑old niece. The prosecution case was built entirely on circumstantial evidence, including eyewitnesses who saw the accused and victim together, the accused’s false statements about the victim’s whereabouts, medical…

The respondent, Dr. G.K. Ghosh, a government orthopaedic surgeon, was convicted by a Special Judge for demanding and accepting illegal gratification from a patient’s father under Section 5(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 and for criminal intimidation under Section 161 IPC. The conviction was set aside b…

The petitioner, Manjeet Singh Khera, sought a court order directing the prosecution to produce the original complaint filed with the Anti‑Corruption Bureau that had initiated the investigation leading to an FIR and charge‑sheet under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and IPC s.109. The prosecution contended that t…

The appellants, Ramdeo Onkar Mal & Anr., were prosecuted under the Forward Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1952 for purchasing Tur (Arhar) in violation of three government notifications issued on 17 July 1958. They challenged the validity of the notifications, contending that the area of operation was not expressly mention…

Contraband narcotics were recovered from a room owned by Pritam Singh, which the prosecution alleged had been leased to the accused, Malkiat Singh. The trial court convicted Malkiat Singh under section 15 of the NDPS Act, but the Punjab and Haryana High Court acquitted him, holding that the lease deed was not on record…

During bail proceedings of a police officer (Respondent No.1) under Section 439 Cr.PC, the Karnataka High Court made adverse remarks against three appellants – a senior IPS officer (Appellant No.2) and a district collector (Appellant No.3) – who had no lis in the bail matter, and also directed the CBI to investigate th…

The Supreme Court entertained a writ petition filed by environmental lawyer M.C. Mehta under Article 32 seeking directions to curb the growing menace of unregulated traffic in the National Capital Region (NCR) and National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi. Relying on the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and the Constitution, t…

The daughter‑in‑law (R2) filed applications seeking recovery of arrears of maintenance and monthly maintenance from her father‑in‑law, Manmohan Gopal, after her husband Varun Gopal abandoned her and obtained a foreign divorce. The Supreme Court noted that the father‑in‑law and the husband had repeatedly defied earlier …

The suit was filed in 1982 by Urmila Devi to declare a sale deed void and claim possession of land. After her death in 2007, multiple applications were filed to substitute a legal representative, with Manoj Kumar Jain initially approved, later withdrawn, and Yashpal Jain seeking substitution. The trial court allowed Ya…

Sharad Hiru Kolambe was convicted under several IPC provisions (364A, 395, 397, 387) and three provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) and sentenced to imprisonment, hefty fines and default imprisonment for non‑payment of those fines. After serving the substantive term of 14 years, he was r…

The appellant, a former Cabinet Minister of Tamil Nadu, challenged the High Court's refusal to disclose a preliminary enquiry report prepared by a Superintendent of Police in a corruption case. The High Court had ordered the enquiry, received the sealed report, but closed the writ petition without furnishing a copy to …

The petitioner, a Mechanical Transport Driver in the Indian Air Force, was convicted by a district court‑martial of unauthorized absence under Section 39(a) of the Air Force Act, 1950 and sentenced to three months' rigorous imprisonment, dismissal from service and reduction in rank. He had been in custody since 1 Febru…

A writ petition filed by MP Dinesh Trivedi and NGOs under Article 32 sought full disclosure of the Vohra Committee Report, its supporting annexures, and the names of officials implicated, and challenged the constitutionality of Section 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923. The Court held that the Report tabled in Parlia…

The appellant, S.M.S. Pharmaceuticals Ltd., filed a complaint under Sections 138 and 141 of the Negotiable Instruments Act alleging that a cheque issued by the respondent company was dishonoured. The complaint named the company, its Managing Director, and Director Neeta Bhalla, asserting that the directors were activel…

The case involved eleven accused who, armed with firearms, went to a field in search of a man named Patali, but instead killed Mauji Yadav. The prosecution proved the murder through the testimony of six eye‑witnesses, two injured witnesses and a post‑mortem report showing a gunshot wound. The three appellants – Ramdeo …

The case arose from a 1988 dispute over a right of way in Patiala where respondent No.1, a 25‑year‑old international cricketer, struck a 65‑year‑old man with his bare hands, resulting in the victim's death. The High Court convicted the cricketer under Section 304 Part II IPC, but the Supreme Court on appeal reduced the…

Manohar Nath Kaul, a Regional Officer of the Directorate of Field Publicity, obtained air tickets in lieu of exchange orders and, contrary to rules, included the ticket costs in his travel allowance bills, receiving payment. He was prosecuted for cheating under IPC s.420 and argued that prosecution required prior sanct…

The respondents, Bhup Singh and others, were convicted under Section 302 IPC for murdering three persons and sentenced to life imprisonment. The State of Haryana introduced a policy categorising life convicts for premature release, stipulating that those convicted of heinous crimes could be considered only after 20 yea…

Kishore Samrite, a former MLA, filed writ petition No.111/2011 in the Allahabad High Court as a next friend of three residents of Amethi, alleging their illegal detention and a rape by Rahul Gandhi (respondent No.6). A second writ petition No.125/2011 was filed by Gajendra Pal Singh as a next friend of the same three p…

The appellant, Juveria Abdul Majid Patni, married Atif Iqbal Mansoori under Muslim rites in 2005 and alleged physical abuse and cruelty, leading her to file an FIR under Sections 498A and 406 IPC in 2007. She obtained an ex parte Khula (divorce) from a Mufti on 9 May 2008, which the respondent contested in family court…

The appellant, an authorised dealer of Hindustan Lever Ltd, was alleged to have failed to furnish Form IX‑C required under the Bihar Sales Tax Rules to the purchaser, who filed a criminal complaint alleging offences under IPC sections 427, 384 and 420/34, claiming a malafide intention. A Judicial Magistrate took cogniz…

The petition arose from the hardships faced by a child victim of sexual offence who, despite the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 and its 2020 Rules, was not provided with an effective support person. The Court examined the statutory definition, duties and entitlements of …

The case arose from twin bomb blasts in Surat in 1993 for which several accused were convicted under the Indian Penal Code, the Explosives Substances Act and the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA). The trial court recorded the offences under TADA after obtaining approvals from the Additional Ch…

The respondent, a Sub‑Inspector of police, was convicted of raping a 19‑year‑old woman, Shamimbanu, by the trial court. The High Court acquitted him, holding that the victim’s testimony required corroboration in material particulars and that medical evidence was inconsistent. The State appealed. The Supreme Court held …

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a criminal case against Arvind Khanna for receiving Rs 9.04 crore from eight foreign entities without prior government permission, alleging violation of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) 1976. The trial court took cognizance under the FCRA 2010, but the CBI…

The appellant, Pramod Mandal, was convicted under Section 396 IPC for a dacoity and murder that occurred on 13 January 1989. He appealed to the Supreme Court, challenging the conviction on the ground that the Test Identification Parade (TIP) was held about a month after the incident and that only one eyewitness (PW‑4) …

Dankha Devi Agarwal, a majority shareholder, alleged that her elder son Bhagirath forged her signature to transfer 1,650 of her shares to himself and his wife in order to wrest control of Tara Properties Pvt. Ltd. The transfer was challenged in a suit which was later withdrawn on a petition filed by an advocate who had…

The respondent, a union secretary, allegedly fired a pistol at a company manager outside an industrial tribunal, killing him. Three eye‑witnesses (PWs 5, 6 and 7) testified that they saw the shooting and that the accused was seized by them and the police. A cryptic telephonic message about the firing was sent to the po…

The appellant Daulat Ram was convicted under Sections 302 read with 34 and Section 201 of the IPC for the murder of Zile Singh, based largely on the testimony of the victim's father and his relatives who claimed to have seen the accused throwing the dead body into a dry well. The prosecution's case relied on circumstan…

Kehar Singh was convicted and sentenced to death for his role in the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. After his appeals and a review petition were dismissed, his son petitioned the President under Article 72 for a pardon, claiming innocence and seeking an oral hearing. The President refused both the heari…

The State of Gujarat appointed the Secretary to the Government as President of the Gujarat Revenue Tribunal, a move challenged on the ground that the post is a judicial office and requires the High Court's consultation under Article 234 of the Constitution. The Gujarat High Court held that the Tribunal is a "court" and…

A fire during a Tata Iron and Steel Company celebration in Jamshedpur killed 60 and injured 113. The victims filed a writ petition under Articles 21 and 32 seeking compensation from the State of Bihar and the company. The Supreme Court appointed former CJI Y.V. Chandrachud to determine compensation using the multiplier…

In 1991 an incident in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, resulted in ten deaths and was reported as police‑militant encounters, prompting allegations of police involvement. A writ petition under Article 32 was filed seeking a CBI investigation, and the Supreme Court ordered the CBI to investigate, emphasizing public interest an…

Kashmir Lal was arrested after police seized about 0.5 kg of opium from the toolbox of his scooter at a dhaba. He was convicted under Section 18 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and sentenced to ten years' rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs.1 lakh. On appeal, he contended that the prosec…

Bimal Gurung, president of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking the transfer of investigation of all FIRs (over 100 cases) lodged against him and other GJM members to an independent agency such as the CBI or NIA, alleging political bias and threat to life. The State of West Bengal …

The case involved the murder of a school teacher by a group of accused who entered the classroom and assaulted him with iron rods, resulting in 44 injuries. The prosecution relied primarily on child witnesses and two chance witnesses, while the defence challenged the reliability of their testimony, the delays in record…

The respondent, Subhra Chakraborty, filed a criminal complaint against Bodhisattwa Gautam under IPC sections 312, 420, 493, 496 and 498‑A alleging false promise of marriage, a secret marriage, sexual relations, and forced abortions. Gautam sought to quash the complaint via a petition under CrPC s.482, which the Gauhati…

Jafar Imam Naqvi, a practising advocate, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking a mandamus directing the Election Commission of India to take stern action against politicians and parties making hate speeches during the election campaign, including cancellation of party recognition and candidature. The petitione…

The appellant borrowed Rs 1,00,000 from the respondent and issued a cheque which was dishonoured on 2 December 2003. The respondent received intimation of the dishonour on 3 December 2003 and issued a legal notice on 2 January 2004, i.e., on the 31st day. The appellant was convicted under Section 138 of the Negotiable …

The appellant Prakash was accused of murdering Gangamma on 5 November 1990 and of stealing her ornaments. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence: his alleged presence in the victim's house at 1 p.m., a fingerprint on a plastic cover, blood‑stained clothes matching the victim's blood group, recovery of orname…

The Supreme Court entertained a writ petition under Article 32 seeking effective solid waste management in Delhi, noting that earlier directions in Dr. B.L. Wadhera v. Union of India had not been implemented. The Court observed that no landfill sites had been identified, compost plants were not constructed, and daily s…

Hazari Lal, a police constable, demanded a Rs.60 bribe for releasing the complainant's scooter rickshaw. The complainant reported the demand to the Anti‑Corruption Department, where an inspector set a trap by marking six currency notes with phenol‑phthalene powder and handing them to the complainant, who passed them to…

The appellant, Ratnesh Kumar Pandey, was convicted of murdering his wife Suman under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, including a knife and a blood‑stained sweater recovered from the scene, and a post‑mortem report showing twenty incised wounds. The appellant clai…

The appellant, a Revenue Inspector, was caught in a police‑set trap after demanding a bribe of Rs.50 for certifying a sale deed. Marked currency notes were recovered from beneath his bag and a phenolphthalein test on his fingers was positive. The trial court acquitted him citing discrepancies in witness testimony, but …

Vidya Charan Shukla was convicted and sentenced to imprisonment exceeding two years, but his conviction was stayed pending appeal. He filed his nomination for the Lok Sabha election, which was accepted despite an objection that he was disqualified under Section 8(2) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. He was…

The respondents, members of the Harijan community, were convicted of murder and related offences for the killing of Dhian Singh, a Rajput, amid a land dispute between the two factions. While hearing the criminal appeal, the Punjab and Haryana High Court attempted to settle the underlying civil land dispute by convening…

The wives of three men detained under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA) challenged the validity of the detention orders, arguing that the men were already in custody, that the grounds described the offence as "bailable" indicating non‑application of mind, t…

The Supreme Court examined an interlocutory application by Common Cause seeking to bar CBI Director Ranjit Sinha from interfering in coal‑block allocation investigations and to order a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe alleged abuse of authority. The Director had retired, rendering the recusal request moot, but…

Syed Farooq Mohammad was detained under Section 3(1) of the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988 after narcotics were seized from two cars on 19 July 1989. He challenged the detention on grounds of a five‑month delay in issuing the order, a further delay in arrest, non‑s…

The case arose from a 1997 incident in which Ramji Tiwari, armed with a double‑barrel gun, shot and killed several persons after being urged by co‑accused. The trial court convicted Ramji under Section 302 IPC and sentenced him to death, while the other four accused were convicted under Section 302 read with Section 10…

Suja Uday Patil (wife) appealed against the decree of divorce granted to her husband, Uday Madhukar Patil, on the grounds of cruelty and desertion under the Hindu Marriage Act. The trial court had initially ordered judicial separation, but the District Judge later dissolved the marriage and awarded alimony, a decision …

The accused, members of the Bhirad family, were convicted for assaulting Ganesh Dhage with swords, causing severe injuries, under Sections 147, 148, 307 read with Section 149 of the IPC. The victim, while hospitalized, identified the accused by name in a statement recorded by doctors, which the defence claimed was spec…

The appellant, a son, and his father were drinking together when a quarrel erupted on the night of 26-27 July 2010. The son attacked his father with a piece of Nagar wood, inflicting eleven severe injuries to the head, neck, chest and abdomen, leading to the father's death. He was convicted of murder under Section 302 …

The appellants Sukhdev Yadav and others were convicted under IPC s.302 for the murder of Ram Dev Singh Mukhiya. The prosecution relied on five eye‑witnesses who placed the incident near Mahavir Modi's house, a mango tree, or a field, while a defence witness claimed a different location. The appellants argued that these…

Advocate Prem Surana, who was also an accused in a criminal case, entered the Jaipur District Court and, after his application for exemption from appearance was rejected and a non‑bailable warrant issued, verbally abused and slapped the presiding Judicial Magistrate in open court. The District Judge referred the incide…

DCM Financial Services Ltd. filed a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act alleging that a cheque issued by International Agro Allied Products Ltd. was dishonoured. The complaint named J.N. Sareen, a former director of the company, as an accused but did not allege that he was the signatory or tha…

The appellant, Vaneet Mahajan, alleged that he, his brother and an employee were brutally attacked by 10‑12 persons armed with swords, baseball bats and other deadly weapons, allegedly at the behest of a cabinet minister. The attack caused grievous and simple injuries, leading to an FIR and charge‑sheet that included S…

The appellant, a Sub‑Inspector of Uttar Pradesh Police, was ordered to withhold his integrity certificate for 2010 on the ground that he failed to record the past criminal history of an accused in a bailable offence. He challenged the order, arguing that withholding the certificate was not a punishment contemplated und…

Dayal Singh was convicted under Sections 7 and 16 of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 for selling hard‑boiled sugar confectionery that contained mineral oil, which at the time was deemed an unwholesome ingredient and amounted to adulteration. While his appeal was pending, the Rules were amended to permit m…

The Supreme Court examined whether offences under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 (including those committed during the period of the Essential Commodities (Special Provisions) Act, 1981) fall within the ambit of the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act, 1999 (MCOCA). It held that the 1955 Act’s Section 7 sti…

The accused were convicted of raping and murdering a young woman, Shivamma, under IPC sections 376 and 302 read with section 34, based solely on circumstantial evidence. The trial court sentenced them to death, which the Karnataka High Court confirmed under Section 366 of the CrPC. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined…

The dispute involved the sale of 4 Bighas of agricultural land by Rajiv Lochan Roy in 1982, who falsely claimed his father Nakho Ram was dead, while the father was alive until 1990. The buyer, Jharu Ram Roy (appellant), was aware of the fraud. The other son, Ramjit Roy, filed a suit to set aside the deeds and claim pos…

M. Narsinga Rao, a manager of a milk chilling centre, was charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 for accepting a Rs.500 bribe from a contractor. He was caught in a trap set up by the Anti‑Corruption Bureau, but the key witnesses turned hostile after a four‑year delay, claiming the trap was fabricated. The…

The case arose from the murder of Shivaji Patil and Baburao Patil in a village where two rival groups were at loggerheads. The FIR was lodged at the spot four days after the incident, and the copy reached the magistrate after an unexplained delay, raising questions about its validity. The trial court convicted several …

The appellant, B. Suresh Yadav, sold a parcel of land to the respondents, Sharifa Bee and Anr, and executed the sale deed on 30 September 2005. On 29 September 2005, two rooms on the land were demolished, leading to a civil suit to determine whether the demolished portion formed part of the sale. While the civil suit w…

The State of Rajasthan prosecuted Constable Shambhoogiri for accepting a bribe of Rs.200 from a complainant, PW‑1, after the Sub‑Divisional Magistrate (SDM) had taken a written complaint and the currency notes. The SDM noted the serial numbers of the notes, recovered them from the accused, prepared a recovery memo and …

The Managing Director and Production Manager of M/s 5‑S Limited were prosecuted under the Essential Commodities Act for alleged violations of state licensing and price‑control orders. They contended that, under Section 10 of the Act, they could not be prosecuted unless the company itself was also prosecuted. The High C…

The appellants were charged with murder under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC, alleged to have killed two men during a land‑dispute. The trial court acquitted them, finding the FIR was delayed, the oral dying declarations unreliable, and the sole eye‑witness's testimony unnatural. The State appealed, and th…

The case arose from the abduction and murder of a child, Varun Kumar, for which five persons were convicted under Sections 302, 149, 120B of the IPC, Section 3 of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) and related provisions. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined whether the prosecution had pro…

A fire broke out on 10 April 2006 at the India Brand Consumer Show in Meerut, killing 65 people and injuring 161. The victims filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking compensation from the event organizers (Mrinal Events and Expositions) and the State of Uttar Pradesh, alleging negligence and violation of the rig…

The Tamil Nadu government, after receiving a complaint from the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Commissioner, ordered on 01.08.2018 that all idol‑theft investigations being handled by the Idol Wing of the CID be transferred to the CBI. The Madras High Court quashed that order and, under Article 226, appointed…

The appellant, Balu (Bakthavatchalu), was convicted of murder under IPC 302 for an incident that occurred on 20 April 1998. The trial court recorded his age as 18 and rejected his application to be sent to a Borstal School. On appeal, the Supreme Court was asked to determine whether he was a juvenile at the time of the…

Hamidbhai Azambhai Malik was convicted under Section 20(b)(ii) of the NDPS Act for possession of charas after a police raid on his house. The raid was conducted after a police sub‑inspector, investigating a separate offence, received information that Malik also dealt in contraband and reported it in writing to his supe…

The case concerned the death of Ram Dhiraj Tiwari while in police custody. The prosecution alleged that Sub‑Inspector Rafiuddin Khan (Accused No.1) beat the deceased with lathis and dandas after his arrest on 19 Oct 1971, causing 28 injuries that led to death, and also demanded a bribe. The defence claimed the arrest o…

Mahmud Rajasa Saiyed was arrested in a POTA case for alleged offences under the IPC, Arms Act and POTA, and was found in possession of a country‑made revolver, a foreign‑made pistol and ten live cartridges recovered from a co‑accused. He applied for bail under Sections 49(6) and 49(7) of the Prevention of Terrorism Act…

The Supreme Court examined whether Exception 2 to Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code, which exempts a husband from rape liability when his wife is aged 15‑18, violates the Constitution and conflicts with the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The Court held that the exemption creates an arbitrar…

Former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, whose security is covered by the Special Protection Group (SPG) Act, was summoned as an accused before the Tis Hazari Court. The Commissioner of Police, Delhi and the Director of the SPG sought a change of venue, arguing that the court complex could not provide the "proximate s…

The appellants Nanhar and others were convicted for the murder of Vijay under Sections 302 and 149 of the IPC, primarily on the basis of a note recovered from the deceased's pocket that the trial court treated as a dying declaration, and on circumstantial evidence. The Supreme Court held that the prosecution failed to …

The case concerned a bomb blast on a railway bridge in Tamil Nadu in 1992. The prosecution relied primarily on a confessional statement recorded under Section 15 of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) by A1‑Senthilkumar, which he later retracted, and on the testimony of a hostile witness, PW…

Surinder Kaur Sandhu and Harbax Singh Sandhu, both Indian citizens, married in 1975 and moved to England where their son Pritpal Singh was born in 1976, making him a British citizen. After the husband was convicted for attempting to murder his wife and later removed the child to India in 1983, the wife obtained a ward …

The Supreme Court examined the conviction of V.C. Shukla and Sanjay Gandhi for alleged conspiracy to destroy the film "Kissa Kursi Ka" under various sections of the Indian Penal Code. The Court held that the Special Courts Act, 1979 – which created special courts for offences by persons holding high public or political…

The State, represented by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), appealed against the Delhi High Court's order that quashed the conviction of Kulwant Singh under Section 21 of the NDPS Act, holding that the NCB was not a department and therefore its officers lacked authority to conduct search, seizure and arrest. The Supr…

An explosion on a Delhi bus in 1997 killed four people and injured twenty‑four. Mohd. Hussain @ Julfikar Ali, a Pakistani national, was charged under Sections 302, 307 IPC and Section 3 of the Explosives Substances Act and was convicted and sentenced to death. The trial proceeded for years with the accused largely unre…

The appellants challenged the order of the Deputy Director of Consolidation that evicted them from land, invoking Section 209 of the Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act. The Allahabad High Court allowed the writ petition, holding that the respondents had been in possession since May 1958 and that the six‑year limi…

The appellant, a watchman, was convicted of murder under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC and sentenced to death, but the High Court acquitted him on the ground that his judicial confession was retracted and that victim's articles were recovered before the confession. The Supreme Court held that a retracted confession is…

The appellant was convicted of murder under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code and for a firearms offence under Section 27 of the Arms Act after he shot the deceased, Dinesh, who was unarmed and opening his door during a family wedding. The prosecution proved that the appellant alone was armed, fired a shot that caus…

The State of Jammu & Kashmir prosecuted Sudershan Chakkar and others, alleging criminal conspiracy and misappropriation of foodgrains and empty bags worth Rs. 3,22,119.36, involving forged documents. The trial judge discharged two respondents, holding that the evidence showed only negligence, not a conspiratorial desig…

The petitioners, accused in the 1993 Bombay blast case, were charged under Section 5 of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) for knowingly possessing an AK‑56 rifle and ammunition. They argued that the possession was for self‑defence, not for terrorist purposes, and sought bail. The Supreme C…

Syed Fatima Nachi, a divorced Muslim woman, filed a petition under Section 4(2) of the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986 seeking maintenance from the Tamil Nadu Wakf Board, alleging that her children, parents and other relatives were unable to pay. The Wakf Board appealed to the High Court to qua…

The appellants Sunil Kundu and others were convicted of murder under IPC s.302 read with s.34 based mainly on three eye‑witnesses who were relatives of the deceased. The Supreme Court found serious inconsistencies between the eye‑witness accounts and the post‑mortem report, which showed no firearm injuries despite the …

The Supreme Court examined appeals by four accused convicted of murder, rioting and related offences under the IPC and Arms Act. The prosecution case rested on eye‑witness testimony of close relatives of the deceased, who were present at the scene when the accused allegedly assaulted the victim and, after being urged b…

Ajit Singh, his son Balwant Singh and another son Mohan Singh were tried for the murder of Manilal and injuries to his brothers. The trial court acquitted them, finding the prosecution evidence unreliable and giving them the benefit of doubt. The State filed an appeal after the limitation period had expired; the Gujara…

The Supreme Court heard two writ petitions challenging the implementation of the Pre‑conception and Pre‑natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994 and its Rules. The petitioners sought directions for stricter enforcement, a centralised civil‑registration database, training of officials, and al…

The respondent filed a criminal complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, alleging that the appellant had issued two post‑dated cheques which were presented and returned unpaid with the endorsement "Payment countermanded by the drawer" and purportedly for insufficient funds. The appellant contended…

The wife lodged a written complaint with the Women’s Commission alleging that her husband had contracted a second marriage (offence under IPC 494) and was harassing her for dowry (offence under IPC 498A). The Commission forwarded the complaint to the police, who investigated both offences and filed a charge‑sheet; the …

The appellants Rakesh Kumar Goel and others purchased two government plots in Ghaziabad through an auction purportedly held under the Uttar Pradesh Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Rules, 1952. The High Court set aside the auction on the ground that the appellants failed to deposit the required 25% of the bid immed…

The Supreme Court considered a case where four police officers abducted a suspect and three witnesses from a hotel, beat them in a police staff room, and the suspect later died with his body never recovered. The trial court had convicted the officers only for kidnapping, but the High Court upheld murder convictions bas…

The State of Himachal Pradesh appealed against the acquittals of Pawan Kumar in two criminal appeals, challenging the High Courts' findings that Section 50 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act was not complied with during the search of a bag carried by the accused. The Supreme Court examined whe…

The State of Jharkhand challenged two writ petitions filed by Shiv Shankar Sharma as public‑interest litigations (PILs) that sought a mandamus directing investigative agencies to probe alleged money‑laundering through shell companies and to prosecute the Chief Minister for a mining lease. The Supreme Court examined whe…

The respondents were convicted under s.302 read with s.34 IPC for murdering Rajinder Kumar. The High Court acquitted them, holding that the eye‑witness statements were inconsistent with the post‑mortem report, that the FIR omitted details about the use of spears as lathis, and that the witnesses were interested. The Su…

The Supreme Court examined an acquisition under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 where only the life‑interest holders (recorded in revenue records) were served notice, while the vested remaindermen (not recorded) were not. The petitioners argued that the remaindermen were entitled to notice and challenged the acquisition…

The case concerned the death of Anuradha Saha, who was treated for Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) by several doctors in Kolkata and Mumbai. The complainant alleged that the doctors prescribed excessive doses of the steroid Depomedrol and failed to provide essential supportive care, constituting criminal negligence un…

The Supreme Court considered a writ petition challenging the detention of Shital Kumar under section 3(1) of the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA). The petition raised three main points: (i) whether the period of parole granted earlier should be counted towards…

The State of Rajasthan prosecuted Wakteng and two others for murder, relying on a statement recorded two days after the assault (Exb.P-10) as a dying declaration and on the recovery of a sword allegedly used in the crime. The High Court acquitted the accused, holding that the statement could not be treated as a dying d…

The appellant, a mechanic, borrowed Rs 45,000 from the respondent, an engineer, and issued a post‑dated cheque for repayment. The cheque was presented but the bank returned it with a "payment stopped by drawer" memo after the appellant gave stop‑payment instructions. He failed to honour the cheque within the statutory …

The case arose from the investigation of a massive counterfeit stamp scam in which the former Pune Police Commissioner, Ranjitsing Sharma, was arrested under the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA) on allegations that he had helped and supported members of the organized crime syndicate. The prosecution a…

The State of Gujarat charged Kishanbhai with kidnapping, rape, murder and theft of a six‑year‑old girl, Gomi, alleging that he abducted her, amputated her legs to steal her anklets and killed her. The trial court convicted him and sentenced him to death, but the Gujarat High Court acquitted him, citing numerous gaps in…

The appellant, Rohtash, was convicted under IPC s.302 read with s.34 for the murder of Moosaram, alleged to have been carried out by a group armed with iron pipes. The prosecution relied on statements of the first informant (PW‑1) and the victim's mother (PW‑6), both of whom named Rohtash as part of the attacking party…

The incident occurred on 4 November 1986 when five accused assaulted two injured witnesses and the deceased, who later died. The FIR was lodged the next day, and the key witnesses gave their testimony ten years later, leading to minor discrepancies in their accounts. The trial court acquitted all accused, citing the FI…

Kamal Kishore Saini was detained under section 3(2) of the National Security Act, 1980 on three criminal grounds. He challenged the detention before the Allahabad High Court, which quashed the order on the ground that he was not supplied with vital documents (statements under Sec. 161 CrPC, applications of co‑accused, …

The Supreme Court upheld the convictions of eleven accused in a kidnapping‑for‑ransom case in Bihar, finding that the prosecution proved the elements of Section 364A IPC, including abduction, confinement and demand for ransom. The Court held that Section 368 IPC is a deemed offence under Section 364A, so the accused ch…

The appellants Raju Premji and Arun Kanungo were convicted under Sections 21, 28 and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act for abetting possession of heroin, based primarily on confessional statements recorded while they were in police custody and later handed over to customs officers. The tri…

Mis. Mediline India (P) Ltd obtained a loan of Rs.5,00,000 and issued two cheques which bounced for insufficient funds. A complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act and Section 420 IPC was filed against two directors, Ashish Narula and Manish Arora, who were later convicted. While the case was pendin…

Kusum Lata died from severe burns and her husband Rakesh Kumar was convicted under IPC sections 304‑8 and 498‑A based on the testimony of her father and letters allegedly written by the deceased. The prosecution also relied on a dying declaration recorded by an Executive Magistrate, while the police failed to record it…

The petitioner, State of Madhya Pradesh, appealed against a High Court order that directed it to consider a prisoner's application for release on probation. The prisoner, convicted under IPC section 396, had applied under the Madhya Pradesh Prisoners' Release on Probation Act, 1954, but his request was rejected because…

The appellant, Laxmichand, was involved in a quarrel with the deceased, Gyaniram Mahajan, who was intoxicated and refused to leave the appellant's house. The appellant dragged the deceased outside and struck him on the head with a spade, causing injuries that led to death after seven days. The appellant made several ex…

The deceased Yadav Navkar allegedly entered into a sale agreement for his land with the appellants, but a forged General Power of Attorney was later executed by accused No.1, leading to a sale deed in favour of the appellants. After Navkar went missing, his wife filed a report, a FIR was lodged under Sections 364 and 3…

The appellants, Malak Singh and Jaswant Singh, challenged the inclusion of their names in a police surveillance register maintained under the Punjab Police Rules, alleging that the entry was made without any material basis and violated their fundamental right to privacy under Articles 21 and 19(1)(d) of the Constitutio…

The appellants Rohtas and Surender Singh were convicted under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC for stabbing the deceased Mohar Pal, based on the testimony of two eye‑witnesses (PW‑1 and PW‑2). They challenged the conviction in a special leave petition, alleging deficiencies in the investigation, delay in FIR registration…

The appellant, Dr. Jacob Mathew, was charged under Section 304A IPC for the death of a patient who died after an empty oxygen cylinder was attached to him in a private hospital. The trial court framed charges and the High Court dismissed the petition to quash the FIR. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined whether the d…

The appellant State of Haryana appealed the High Court's acquittal of Suresh, who had been convicted under Section 18 of the NDPS Act for possession of opium discovered in a false bottom of his attaché case. The High Court set aside the conviction on the ground that the search of the bag violated the mandatory requirem…

The appellant, Ram Suresh Singh, appealed against a High Court order that held the accused, Prabhat Singh, to be a juvenile on the basis of school admission register entries showing a birth date of 10‑02‑1987. The trial magistrate had appointed a Medical Board which estimated the accused's age to be over 20 years, but …

The appellant, Ranajoy Bose, was charged under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 for selling adulterated tea leaves. The prosecution was launched after obtaining consent from the District Health Officer (IV) under Section 20(1) of the Act, as per a state notification. The appellant challenged the validity o…

The State of Himachal Pradesh appealed the acquittal of Sunil Kumar, who was found in possession of 2.3 kg of charas during a routine traffic check on a bus. The police, acting on a positive suspicion that the passenger was carrying contraband, conducted a personal search after he disembarked, leading to the discovery …

The appellant, a hostel warden, was accused of demanding Rs.2000 as illegal gratification from a student seeking re‑admission to the hostel. The student complained to the Lokayukta, leading to a sting operation where the money, marked with a chemical that turned pink, was recovered from the warden's pocket. The trial c…

Harpal Singh was apprehended with a kilogram of explosive powder. The police initially filed a charge-sheet under the Explosives Act, 1884, and later filed a supplementary charge-sheet adding offences under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987 (TADA) and the Explosive Substances Act, 1908. The…

The Anti‑Corruption Bureau raided Natwarlal Damodardas Soni's residence and seized 100 gold biscuits of foreign origin concealed in a jacket; the Customs authorities subsequently took possession. Soni, who was absent at the time, was later convicted under sections 135(a) and (b) of the Customs Act, 1962 and the Defence…

The father of a deceased woman filed a complaint alleging dowry harassment and murder, leading to FIRs against seven family members, including the mother‑in‑law. The mother‑in‑law, after being declared a proclaimed offender and absconding for over two years, obtained anticipatory bail from the High Court on the basis t…

The appellant, Tanua Rabidas, was convicted of murder under section 302 IPC for allegedly pouring kerosene on his wife and setting her ablaze, leading to her death. The prosecution relied on two dying declarations: one recorded orally by a doctor and a nurse at the hospital, and another made in the presence of relative…

Navinchandra N. Majithia entered into a share‑sale agreement that was later terminated, after which the buyer filed a false complaint in Shillong, Meghalaya. Majithia filed a writ petition in the Bombay High Court under Article 226 seeking to quash the complaint or, alternatively, to direct the Meghalaya police to tran…

The appellant, Jayanta Sil, was alleged to have murdered Kandarpa with a sharp cutting weapon while returning from a feast. The prosecution relied on the testimony of six eyewitnesses, including the deceased's wife (PW1) and two other eye‑witnesses (PW5, PW6), as well as corroborative statements from PW2, PW3 and PW11,…

The appellant, a husband, was charged with murdering his wife by smothering her in their rented house. Medical evidence established death by asphyxia, not suicide or rape. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence: the wife was found dead in a locked room, the husband was present in the house the previous night…

The Voluntary Health Association of Punjab filed a writ petition seeking effective implementation of the Pre‑Conception and Pre‑Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex‑Selection) Act, 1994, alleging that many states had failed to enforce its provisions and that sex‑selective abortions continued unabated. The Co…

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigated former Himachal Pradesh minister Anil Sharma under Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 for possessing assets disproportionate to his known income. Sharma applied to the Himachal Pradesh High Court for anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the C…

The President of India referred a complaint under Article 317(1) to the Supreme Court alleging that a member of the Punjab Public Service Commission, G.K. Saini, slapped the Chairman, Santosh Chowdhary, without provocation. After extensive evidence, including affidavits of the Chairman, three other members, and the res…

The State Election Commissioner of Bihar disqualified Janakdhari Prasad, an elected member of a Panchayat Samiti, on the ground that his appointment as an Assistant Government Advocate placed him in the service of the State Government under Section 139(1)(c) of the Bihar Panchayat Raj Act, 1993. The High Court and the …

The Supreme Court examined the termination of over 150 civil and judicial officers appointed by the Punjab Public Service Commission during the tenure of its chairman, who was alleged to have taken bribes and corrupted the selection process. The appellants argued that their services were dismissed without due process, …

The appellant, Fida Hussain Bohra, was accused of embezzling approximately Rs. 26 crore and was granted anticipatory bail by an Additional Sessions Judge subject to conditions. He complied with those conditions, and the investigating agency later agreed to relax them. The High Court set aside the bail order, but the Su…

The trial court convicted Shantabai, her husband Sajan and their son Govind for the murder of Gunwant Dhumale based solely on circumstantial evidence, including an alleged illicit relationship and the discovery of the dead body in front of their house. The High Court affirmed the conviction, but the Supreme Court exami…

M/s. Rahul Builders entered into a construction contract with Mis. Arihant Fertilizers, which later defaulted on payments. The latter issued a cheque for Rs.1,00,000 that was returned unpaid because its account was closed. Rahul Builders sent a notice on 31‑Oct‑2000 demanding payment of the pending bills (Rs.8,72,409) …

Nazir Ahmad Bhatti, a bank manager, was arrested after a police raid recovered a cassette, stickers and floppies allegedly containing secessionist material. He gave a confession to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (PW‑4) under Section 15 of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA). The appellant…

The petitioner, Dharmendra Kirthal, challenged the constitutional validity of Section 12 of the Uttar Pradesh Gangsters and Anti‑Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 1986, which mandates that trials before Special Courts have precedence over any other trial of the accused, keeping other proceedings in abeyance. He argue…

The State of Uttar Pradesh appealed to the Supreme Court against the High Court's order acquitting 24 of the 41 accused in a mass‑murder case that left 13 victims dead. The prosecution alleged a conspiracy by the accused to murder the victims during a sugar‑cane cutting, relying heavily on the testimony of several ocul…

National Fertilizers Ltd. (NFL) paid $38 million for urea to a Turkish company, Karsan, but never received the product. The manager of Karsan, Tuncay Alankus, was extradited to India and faced criminal proceedings. The Supreme Court, on 4 September 2006 and again on 14 December 2006, restrained Alankus from withdrawing…

The Shree Shree Ram Janki Ji Asthan Tapovan Mandir Trust and its pujari challenged a Jharkhand High Court order that, based on a public‑interest writ, directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe the alleged illegal transfer of land belonging to the deity. The High Court had held that the original trust …

The appellant, an arrack shop in‑charge, complained to senior police officials that the Additional Superintendent of Police, K. Shanmuganan, was colluding with illicit distillers. The respondent summoned the appellant, beat him and later tortured him. The appellant filed a criminal complaint under several IPC sections.…

The Supreme Court examined a batch of interlocutory orders by the Allahabad High Court that stayed criminal investigations and trials, resulting in cases remaining pending for years, some up to three decades. The Court held that while High Courts have the power under Article 226 and Section 482 of the CrPC to stay proc…

The State of Punjab appealed the acquittal of CRPF constable Dalbir Singh, who had been charged under Sections 302, 307 IPC and Section 27 of the Arms Act for firing a self‑loading rifle that resulted in the death of a senior officer. The High Court acquitted him on the basis of irreconcilable inconsistencies in the pr…

The Supreme Court examined the murder of four family members allegedly committed by Ravi Virmani, who was convicted and sentenced to death by the Sessions Court and later to life imprisonment by the High Court. The prosecution's case relied mainly on the testimony of the two surviving brothers, without any independent …

Abdul Rashid Ibrahim Mansuri, an auto‑rickshaw driver, was arrested after police stopped his vehicle and found four gunny bags containing charas. The police officer who ordered the stop relied on verbal information and neither recorded it in writing nor forwarded it to his superior as required by Section 42(1) of the N…