Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

The victim, a 15‑year‑old girl, was allegedly lured to the house of Chhoti under the pretext of fetching lassi, where Om Prakash and Kartar Singh locked the door and raped her. The FIR was lodged after a 20‑day delay, explained by the victim’s mother’s absence. Evidence—including the victim’s testimony, medical examina…

The CBI filed a charge‑sheet in a Special Court under the Prevention of Corruption Act against six persons for conspiracy, forgery and corruption. The Special Judge, exercising powers under Section 5 of the Act and the Code of Criminal Procedure, summoned three additional persons who had been listed as witnesses. The D…

The appellant Mahindra Mulji Kerai Patel, aged 19, killed the grandmother of a girl and injured the girl's mother after they rejected his marriage proposal. He was initially convicted by the trial court under sections 324 and 452 of the IPC. The State appealed, and the Gujarat High Court substituted the conviction with…

The case involved a violent incident in which Raghunath Pandey shot Kanhaiya Pandey, resulting in his death, and other accused fired indiscriminately causing injuries to villagers. The appellants Parshuram, Bishram and Somaru Pandey were convicted under Sections 302 read with 149 IPC, 307 IPC, 324 read with 34 IPC, and…

The case involved the death of Kamlesh Rani, a married woman who suffered extensive burns within seven years of marriage. The husband (Sohan Lal @ Sohan Singh) was charge‑sheeted only under Section 304B IPC (dowry death) while the mother‑in‑law and sister‑in‑law were charge‑sheeted under Section 302 IPC. The trial cour…

The husband, D.P. Satpathy, claimed that his marriage to B.P. Dixit was performed under duress and therefore invalid, and also denied paternity of the child born shortly after the ceremony. The wife filed an application under Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code for maintenance for herself and the child, which wa…

Ashim Kumar Roy, a trade‑union secretary, filed a criminal complaint alleging that Bipinbhai Vadilal Mehta and his son conspired to commit criminal breach of trust and conspiracy (IPC §§120‑B, 409) and violated Section 77 of the Companies Act by diverting company funds to acquire control of Sayaji Industries Ltd. A mag…

Modi Industries Ltd. (the appellant) operated a manufacturing unit where a dispute between management and trade unions led to a halt in production from 21 December 1990 to 3 March 1991. The company refused to pay wages for this period, prompting the Additional Labour Commissioner to issue a notice under Section 3 of th…

Mukund Lal and another, accused persons, challenged the constitutional validity of Section 172(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, which bars the accused or his agents from calling for or inspecting the police case diary, except when the diary is used to refresh a police officer's memory or to contradict the offic…

Kanchan Kumar, a former Assistant General Manager of the Bihar State Financial Corporation, was charged under Sections 13(1)(d) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 for allegedly possessing assets disproportionate to his known income during the period 1974‑1988. The charge‑sheet claimed an income of Rs. …

The petitioners sought a uniform policy for registration, arrest and bail in cases under Section 498‑A IPC, challenging the directions issued in Rajesh Sharma v. State of U.P. that created Family Welfare Committees, barred arrests before their report, and allowed district courts to dispose of settled cases. The Court e…

The appellant, former ISRO scientist S. Nambi Narayanan, was arrested in 1994 on alleged espionage charges that were later found to be false by the CBI, leading to his discharge. He spent nearly fifty days in police custody, during which the Supreme Court found that the investigation by Kerala police was malicious, cau…

Dr. Sunil Clifford Daniel was convicted for the murder of his wife, Dr. Loyalla Shagoufta, and for concealing her death under IPC sections 302 and 201. The prosecution relied on a series of circumstantial facts – blood‑stained clothes handed to a medical superintendent, forensic evidence of human blood on recovered ite…

The appellant, Rama Devi, was charged under IPC sections 406, 420, 465, 468 and 120‑B for allegedly conspiring with her vendor to sell a plot of land to the complainant despite knowing it had been previously transferred. The trial magistrate took cognizance of the complaint, and the appellant sought to quash the procee…

The Supreme Court examined the murder of Chand Khan and his son Shabir Khan, for which five appellants were convicted under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC. The appellants challenged the conviction on grounds that no charge under Section 34 was framed, that the injuries could not be linked to them due to co…

The case arose from a dispute over a Memorandum of Understanding for the sale of land, after which the respondent lodged an FIR against the appellants for offences under sections 406 and 420 IPC. The police began investigating, but the respondent filed a petition under Section 482 of the CrPC seeking directions for the…

Satish Narayan Sawant was accused of stabbing Rauji Dulba Sawant, resulting in the latter's death. The trial court acquitted all accused, but the High Court convicted Sawant under Section 302 IPC and sentenced him to life imprisonment. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined whether the FIR was tainted by Section 162 CrP…

The appellant Vanga Sriniwas was accused of killing his wife by strangulation and hanging her body, allegedly to conceal a dowry‑related dispute. The trial court acquitted him, but the Andhra Pradesh High Court convicted him of murder under IPC s.302 and sentenced him to life imprisonment. On appeal, the Supreme Court …

Sanwariya Lal was convicted for murdering his eight‑year‑old son Rajesh under Section 302 IPC. The prosecution established that Lal, after a marital dispute and a second marriage, suspected the child's paternity and coveted a Rs 20,000 fixed deposit made in the child's name. He took the child from school, and the child…

The Union of India appealed a High Court order that granted bail to Shri Shiv Shanker Kesari, who was charged under the NDNDPS Act for possession of a large quantity of poppy straw. The Supreme Court examined Section 37 of the NDPS Act, which mandates that bail may be granted only if the court is satisfied that there a…

The appellant, serving a life sentence for murder, applied for release on probation under the Kerala Prison Rules, 1958, which require a minimum of eight years of actual custody. He had served about six and a half years in prison but argued that a six‑year‑plus period of study leave should be counted as time served. Th…

Munshi Singh, an advocate's clerk, was murdered near his home by Hukam Singh and three relatives who shot him, assaulted his wife and son, and later cremated his body. The prosecution, led by a public prosecutor, chose not to examine two independent witnesses (Inder Singh and Budh Ram Nayak) after learning they would n…

Vallabhapuram Ravi was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. While serving the sentence he was transferred by the Andhra Pradesh Government to a Borstal School under section 10‑A of the Andhra Borstal Schools Act, 1925, to remain there until he turned 23. When he was not released upon attaining that a…

SirajMohammedKhan appealed against a judgment granting his wife, Hafizunnisa, maintenance under Section 125(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. The wife had proved that the husband was impotent and therefore unable to fulfil his marital obligations, and she refused to cohabit with him. The trial magistrate held…

The accused were convicted under sections 304 Part I read with 149 IPC and sentenced to imprisonment. They filed an appeal under section 377 CrPC against their conviction and sentence, while the State filed an appeal under section 302 IPC and a revision petition under section 401 CrPC seeking enhancement of the sentenc…

The State of Karnataka appealed against a High Court order that granted bail to a celebrity actor (A2) and co‑accused in a murder‑conspiracy case involving Sections 302, 120B and 34 IPC, where the victim was allegedly kidnapped, tortured and killed after sending obscene messages to A2’s partner. The High Court had reli…

The case arose from a conviction of Sandeep Singh Hora for offences under Sections 304B, 498A, 406 IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, including life imprisonment. While the appeal against the conviction was pending, the Allahabad High Court granted him bail under Section 389 of the CrPC without reco…

The appellant Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli sought to summon the Collector as a material witness under Section 311 of the Cr.P.C. after the defence had pleaded alibi and presented evidence. The High Court set aside the Sessions Judge’s order, holding that the summons would fill a lacuna in the prosecution cas…

The appellant Krishnan was charged with murdering his elder brother after a quarrel over thorn sticks used to block a common yard drain. He claimed he acted in self‑defence after being attacked and bitten by the deceased and his son. The trial court rejected the plea and convicted him under Section 302 IPC, while the H…

The State of Punjab appealed the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s acquittal of Karnail Singh, alleging that the trial court’s conviction was supported by credible eyewitness testimony and forensic evidence. The High Court had set aside the conviction on the basis of an alleged delay in lodging the FIR and doubts about t…

Mis. Swil Ltd., a public limited company, filed an FIR alleging cheating and misappropriation by respondent No.2, J. Rajmohan Pillai. Although Pillai's name appeared only in column 2 of the charge‑sheet (for persons not sent for trial), the Metropolitan Magistrate issued summons to him along with the other accused. The…

The appellant, Ajit Savant Majagavi, was charged with murdering his wife, Padmavathi, and was acquitted by the Sessions Court on the ground that the prosecution failed to prove his presence at the lodge where the death occurred and that key witnesses had turned hostile. The State appealed under Section 378 of the CrPC,…

Kailash Potlia was convicted of murder (section 302 IPC) and robbery (section 380 IPC) on the basis of circumstantial evidence, including a hotel clerk’s sighting, a finger injury, an alleged extra‑judicial confession to PW‑13, and a recovery statement by PW‑22. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined the reliability of …

The State appealed the High Court's acquittal of three accused in the murder of trade‑unionist lawyer Ram Subba Reddy. The Supreme Court examined whether the daughter’s (PW 1) testimony was reliable despite allegations of self‑inflicted injuries, the delay in the identification parade, and the absence of her statement …

The State of Karnataka charged Narsa Reddy and three others with murder and related offences. During the trial, two police officers were added as accused for disposing of the body, but they claimed that prosecution required prior sanction under Section 197 of the CrPC. The Sessions Judge rejected their claim, leading t…

The appellant, a co‑founder of a media production firm, sought to quash an FIR filed by a rival media financier alleging offences under sections 60(b), 316(2) and 318(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The High Court, instead of simply deciding the petition, directed the parties to undergo mediation and ordered t…

The appellant, a daughter of the late K.G. Yellappa Reddy, alleged that her brothers and their sons forged a family tree and a partition deed to exclude her and her sisters from a Rs 33 crore compensation awarded for family land acquired by the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation. Based on these forged documents, the resp…

The appellants were charged under two FIRs, the first involving offences such as unlawful assembly and assault, and the second containing grave charges of sexual assault under Section 376 IPC. The complainant in the second FIR later filed an affidavit stating she no longer wished to pursue the case, having received a m…

Asian Paints Ltd., a paint manufacturer, discovered that counterfeit paints bearing its brand were being sold by Ram Babu. The company, through a power of attorney, engaged an IPR consultancy to investigate and the investigation led to an FIR under the IPC and Copyright Act. The trial court convicted Ram Babu, but the …

The appellant, Dhanasingh Prabhu, advanced a loan of Rs.21 lakh to the respondents who were partners of the partnership firm “Mouriya Coirs”. The respondents issued a cheque in the name of the firm which was dishonoured, prompting the appellant to serve a statutory notice under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments…

The appellant A-4, a young woman engaged to B.V. Girish, was unwilling to marry him and confided her grievance to friend A-1, who enlisted cousin A-3 and A-2 to murder the fiancé. The deceased was fatally injured with a steel rod on 3 December 2003; eyewitnesses were later discredited and the case hinged on circumstant…

The plaintiffs filed a title suit in 1984 which was dismissed by the trial court but later allowed by the first appellate court. The defendants appealed, and the High Court set aside the first appellate court's decree, holding that several defendants had died during the pendency of the first appeal and their legal heir…

The State of Karnataka challenged the Karnataka High Court’s order that quashed criminal proceedings against former BBMP Chief Engineer B.T. Ramesh on the grounds that the chargesheet was filed more than four years after the alleged misconduct and that no sanction under Section 197 of the CrPC was obtained. Ramesh had …

The petitioners, led by Himanshu Kumar, alleged that police, Special Police Officers, Salwa Judum activists and paramilitary forces carried out brutal massacres of tribals in three Chhattisgarh villages in September and October 2009 and sought a mandamus directing the CBI to investigate and compensation for the victims…

The appellant, ShaHaja @ ShaHajan Ismail Mohd. Shaikh, was convicted of murdering Mahankal Jaiswal after two eye‑witnesses (PW‑1 and PW‑8) testified that he assaulted the victim with a hammer. The trial court also relied on a discovery panchnama under Section 27 of the Evidence Act, which recorded the appellant pointin…

The appellant, Dhananjay Rai, was convicted of murder, criminal conspiracy and illegal possession of arms and appealed the conviction before the Patna High Court. The appeal was admitted, but the appellant subsequently absconded, leading the High Court to dismiss the appeal on the ground of non‑prosecution. The Supreme…

The Supreme Court examined an appeal filed by Subrata Roy Sahara challenging a Patna High Court order that, while hearing an anticipatory bail application filed by co‑accused Pramod Kumar Saini under s.438 CrPC, directed notice to third parties including the appellant who was not an accused. The Court held that an anti…

The appellant, Arjun Panditrao Khotkar, was elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly but his election was challenged on the ground that two of his nomination papers were filed after the statutory deadline. The High Court relied on video recordings of the Returning Officer's office, produced by the Election Commi…

The appellant, Manmohan Attavar, contested an ex‑parte interim order of the Karnataka High Court that allowed the respondent, Neelam Manmohan Attavar, to occupy his Bengaluru premises under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005. The respondent claimed to be the appellant’s wife/companion and sought a…

Rajiv Modi filed a private complaint under Section 200 CrPC alleging offences under Sections 406, 420 and 120‑B IPC against Sanjay Jain and others, claiming that a C&F agency agreement was concluded in Patna. The Chief Judicial Magistrate, Patna, took cognizance and issued summons. The respondents obtained a quashing o…

The police raided Satrohan's house and seized 309 kg of poppy straws. He was convicted by the trial court under Sections 8(c) and 15 of the NDPS Act and sentenced to ten years' rigorous imprisonment. The Allahabad High Court acquitted him, holding that Sections 42(2) and 50 were not complied with and that his father's …

Raj Kumar, a bus driver, was convicted under IPC sections 279 (rash driving) and 304A (causing death by negligence) after a collision caused the deaths of two children. The trial court sentenced him to one year of rigorous imprisonment and a fine; the Sessions Court dismissed his appeal, and the High Court rejected his…

Navraj Singh, a Patwari, was convicted under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (ss.7, 13(1)(d) r.w. s.13(2)) and sentenced to three years' rigorous imprisonment. He appealed the conviction and, after the appeal was admitted, applied under CrPC s.389(1) read with s.482 for suspension of the conviction. The Punjab a…

The accused were charged with offences under Sections 147, 148, 149 and 302 of the Indian Penal Code for stabbing the deceased to death. The Trial Court convicted them under Sections 148 and 302 IPC and imposed life imprisonment for murder. On appeal, the Andhra Pradesh High Court altered the conviction to Section 326 …

The appellant, Bharat Parikh, was charged in a special CBI case in 1996. After five years he sought production of certain documents, which were eventually produced in 2002, and then applied for reopening of the case and discharge. The Special Judge rejected the application, and the Bombay High Court dismissed his Secti…

The respondent, a former Executive Engineer of the Kerala Public Works Department, was charged with defrauding the government by misappropriating steel rods, involving offences under Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 and IPC Sections 406, 409, 201, 109 and 120‑B. After his retirement, he sought dis…

The case involved four appellants (Arjun, Rampal, Bhagwan Singh and Mukhoram) convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC for the killing of Jyoti Ram. The prosecution relied on five eye‑witnesses, who were relatives or associates of the deceased, to identify the appellants as the assailants. The four co‑accused were acq…

The appellants were convicted for the murder of Vinod Kumar under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC. They appealed, contending that the FIR was lodged nine hours after the incident without a satisfactory explanation and that the key eyewitnesses were close relatives of the deceased, rendering their testimony …

The appellant, Yusuf, was accused of murdering 13‑year‑old Sahanara Khatun and of concealing the offence under Sections 302 and 201 IPC. The prosecution relied on the claim that Yusuf attempted to rape the girl, struck her with a spade and buried her, supported by witnesses who saw Yusuf near the field with a spade, an…

The complainant, a sub‑contractor, alleged that the appellants (directors of Bharat Udyog Ltd.) had partially paid him for work on a sewerage plant and had forged engineers' signatures to claim they performed the work. He filed an FIR alleging cheating, forgery and related offences under the IPC, seeking recovery of th…

The appellants were convicted under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (PoFA) for selling adulterated curd and various food items, receiving six months' imprisonment and fines. They sought release on probation under the Probation of Offenders Act, 1958, arguing that Section 20AA of PoFA, which excluded probation, …

The appellants, a group of journalists and media houses, were charged with defamation for publishing a news item that alleged the Additional Commissioner of Police, Rajiv Trivedi, facilitated the Sohrabuddin encounter. The second respondent obtained a previous sanction under Section 199(4)(b) of the Criminal Procedure …

The Supreme Court examined a challenge by the State of Uttar Pradesh to a Allahabad High Court order that, in a writ petition seeking quashment of an FIR, issued sweeping procedural directions for criminal trials, including mandating production of accused with Section 173 reports, requiring police stations to install p…

The appeal concerned a poem titled "Gandhi Mala Bhetala" published in a private bulletin, for which the author, publisher and printer were charged under Section 292 of the Indian Penal Code for obscenity. The Supreme Court examined whether the use of Mahatma Gandhi’s name as an allusion or symbol heightened the applica…

The CFA Institute and its representative issued a public notice titled "A Word of Caution" warning prospective students about the use of the CFA trademark by the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India (ICFAI) after an interim injunction was granted against ICFAI. ICFAI filed a private criminal complaint all…

The Supreme Court considered two transfer petitions filed under Section 406 of the Code of Criminal Procedure seeking to move a corruption trial of former Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal, his relatives and associates out of Punjab. The petitioners alleged that the accused’s political power, hostile witnesses …

Bhupendra was detained under Section 3(2) of the Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Slumlords, Bootleggers, Drugs Offenders and Dangerous Persons Act, 1981, and filed a habeas corpus petition challenging the order on the ground that there was no live link between his activities and the date of detention.…

The petitioners, accused in the 2001 Parliament attack, were originally convicted of several offences under POTA, the IPC and the Explosive Substances Act, with death sentences imposed. The Supreme Court partially set aside the convictions, substituting a conviction under IPC s.123 (concealment of design to wage war) w…

Shankar Jaiswara was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC for stabbing his brother's younger sibling, Tarak Jaiswara, with a knife. The prosecution presented consistent eyewitness testimony, forensic medical reports describing multiple fatal injuries, and the recovery of the weapon from a friend’s house, which was…

The Supreme Court examined whether a magistrate could discharge accused persons after taking cognizance of offences under Sections 406 and 498‑A IPC when the complaint was filed beyond the statutory limitation period. The magistrate correctly discharged the accused on the Section 406 charge because the complaint was ba…

The appellant, M.N. Das, was convicted under Section 302 IPC for the brutal murder of Hara Kanta Das, in which he struck the victim with a sword, amputated his hand and severed his head, and then carried the head to a police outpost. The Sessions Court sentenced him to death, a decision affirmed by the Gauhati High Cou…

Goutam Kundu, husband of the second respondent, was ordered to pay maintenance under s.125 CrPC to his wife and their child. He contested the child's paternity and applied for a blood‑group test of the wife and child, arguing that proof of non‑paternity would relieve him of the maintenance liability. The trial court di…

The Supreme Court examined whether a person questioned under the Customs Act, 1962 or the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1973 is entitled to the assistance of a lawyer. The petitioners argued that denial of counsel violated Article 20(3) and Article 21 of the Constitution, while the Department contended that such per…

B.P. Patel, elected President of Anand Municipality, was arrested and placed in judicial custody for alleged offences under the IPC, Arms Act and Bombay Police Act. The Director of Municipalities suspended him under Section 40 of the Gujarat Municipalities Act, 1963, which provides for suspension if a municipal officer…

The respondents, led by Niyamat, attempted to rescue a suspect, Dharampuri, who had been taken into police custody. When constable Gauri Shanker fired three shots, the respondents perceived a reasonable threat of death or grievous injury and assaulted the constables, snatching a gun and cartridges, during which the inf…

The appellants were charged under several IPC offences and the Daain Act, failed to appear after summons and bailable warrants, and subsequently faced non‑bailable warrants and a proclamation under Section 82 CrPC. They filed an anticipatory bail application in November 2022, which was adjourned without interim protect…

The appellants were convicted for murder under Section 302 IPC, alleged to have participated in an unlawful assembly that killed Kartikram. The prosecution’s case relied on the testimony of interested and injured witnesses, while the accused claimed they were falsely implicated and highlighted a four‑hour delay in lodg…

The appellant, Chairman and Managing Director of M/s MSPL Ltd, imported an Aston Martin, paid customs duty and road tax, and later paid a differential motor vehicle tax after a demand notice. A FIR alleged that he conspired with a Regional Transport Officer to evade road tax, leading to criminal proceedings under the P…

The case arose from a matrimonial dispute in which the husband, S. Nallasamy, alleged that his wife’s family forcibly entered his house and threatened him, leading to an FIR under IPC sections 147, 448, 294(b) and 506. The FIR named only 11 persons, although the complainant later claimed that 20 additional persons were…

The appellant, a husband, was convicted under IPC sections 498A (dowry harassment) and 306 (abetment of suicide) for the death of his wife Girija, who committed suicide within seven years of marriage in their matrimonial home. The prosecution proved that Girija had suffered multiple physical injuries and mental cruelty…

The petitioners, who had obtained large credit facilities from two banks by allegedly submitting forged lease documents as collateral, defaulted on payments and were prosecuted for fraud and related offences. The banks later settled the civil dues through a one‑time settlement, and the petitioners sought to have the cr…

The appellant filed an FIR alleging that the respondents opened indiscriminate fire on the deceased, resulting in his death, and the respondents later obtained anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the CrPC. The Sessions Judge rejected the bail, but the Patna High Court granted it, citing an old dispute and the respon…

The appellant, advocate B.N. Shivanna, was retained by Advanta India Ltd. and allegedly fabricated High Court orders and embezzled Rs 72 lakhs by misusing his position. The Karnataka High Court suo motu and on the company’s complaint initiated criminal contempt proceedings, convicted him and sentenced him to six months…

The Supreme Court examined a dispute arising from a criminal complaint filed by Sonalben against her husband and in‑laws for alleged offences under the IPC. The appellants were granted bail, left India without permission, and faced cancellation of bail, attachment of the mother‑in‑law's property under CrPC ss. 82 and 8…

The appellant, a Head Constable, was tasked with delivering an urgent wireless message to the Police Headquarters and was driving an official police mini‑truck. While en route he crossed a road divider, collided with an on‑coming scooter, resulting in one death and injuries to another. He was convicted under IPC sectio…

Chand Patel was married to Bismillah Begum, the sister of his first wife, while the first marriage was still subsisting. Bismillah Begum and her minor daughter sought maintenance under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The lower courts held that the marriage, though irregular, continued to subsist and orde…

The appellant, a retired police constable, was accused in an FIR of demanding dowry from her daughter‑in‑law. She filed an application for anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the CrPC. The Punjab and Haryana High Court dismissed the application and, besides denying bail, ordered the seizure of her passport, the reco…

The appellant, Mohd. Kalam, was convicted under Section 395 IPC for robbing the house of Vishwas Jain and his wife on the night of 8‑9 May 1994. After his arrest on 27 March 1998, a test identification parade was held on 3 April 1998, where the complainant (PW‑3) identified the appellant. The appellant challenged the c…

The petitioners, Smt. Parminder Kaur and her husband, sought transfer of two criminal cases pending in the Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court, Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, to courts in Delhi or Chandigarh under Section 406 of the CrPC, alleging threats to their lives, old age, and ill health. The Supreme Court examined whethe…

Shakuntala, the natural daughter of the deceased Sunda Ram, sued to be declared owner of his property, challenging a registered adoption deed that named Jai Singh as an adopted son. The trial court and two appellate courts held that the adoption was invalid and decreed in favour of Shakuntala. On appeal, the Supreme Co…

The Supreme Court examined the murder of an army officer allegedly orchestrated by his wife (Al) and her paramour (A2) with the help of two accomplices (A3, A4). The trial court convicted Al and A2 under Section 302 IPC, while acquitting A3 and A4; the High Court upheld Al and A2's convictions and convicted A3 and A4. …

Sambhoo Nath Misra filed a private complaint against R.D. Tripathi, a government servant, alleging offences under IPC sections 409, 420, 465, 468 and 477A for forging his signature and misappropriating Rs.443.90. The magistrate dismissed the complaint on the ground that sanction under Section 197 of the CrPC had not be…

The case concerned fifteen accused persons charged with the murder of Appikatla Tataiah. Four of them (A‑1, A‑2, A‑5 and A‑11) were convicted under section 302 read with section 149 of the IPC, while the remaining eleven were acquitted. The central issue was whether section 149 IPC could be invoked to sustain the murde…

The appellants, Usmanbhai Menon and others, were arrested after an armed clash and produced before a Designated Court under the Terrorist & Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987 (TADA). Their bail applications were rejected by the Designated Court, and they sought bail from the Gujarat High Court under s.439 of …

The case involves multiple appeals arising from a Delhi High Court judgment concerning the division of powers between the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) and the Lieutenant Governor (LG) under Article 239AA of the Constitution. The Supreme Court Constitution Bench had earlier interpreted Artic…

Gagan Kumar was convicted by a Judicial Magistrate of offences under Sections 279 and 304-A of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced to two separate terms of rigorous imprisonment with fines. He appealed to the Additional Sessions Judge and then to the High Court, both of which affirmed the conviction and sentence. The s…

The petitioner, MD Mannan, was convicted of rape and murder of an eight‑year‑old girl and sentenced to death by the trial court, a decision affirmed by the High Court and the Supreme Court. He filed a review petition which was dismissed by circulation, but the Supreme Court reopened it following the Mohd Arif decision …

On 19 November 2006, a dispute over cutting a tree led three accused (Arjun, Lalaram and Padumlal) to assault the deceased Ayodhya Prasad with a katta, gandasa and a stone, causing fatal head injuries. The prosecution proved the case through the testimony of a related witness (the deceased's brother, PW‑6), four eye‑wi…

The Supreme Court allowed appeals against the acquittal of A2 to A4 (Sasikala, Sudhakaran, Elavarasi) in a disproportionate assets case under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The trial court had convicted them for conspiracy and abetment with A1 (Jayalalitha, since deceased) in amassing assets worth Rs.66.65 cro…

The appellant Birju was convicted for the murder of a one‑year‑old child, shot with a pistol after the child’s grandfather refused to give him money for liquor. The trial court and the High Court sentenced him to death, invoking his extensive criminal record as an aggravating factor. On appeal, the Supreme Court examin…

The appellants challenged the registration of FIR No. 442 of 2012 on the ground that a second FIR cannot be filed for the same incident after an earlier FIR had been lodged. The Court examined the scope of the "principle of sameness" and held that while a second FIR on identical facts is prohibited, a counter‑FIR prese…

The trial court convicted five accused of offences under Sections 148, 323, 324, 325 and 326 read with Section 149 of the IPC and sentenced them to imprisonment and fines. On appeal, the High Court reduced some sentences, enhanced the fine and ordered the accused to be released on probation under Section 360 of the CrP…

The appellant, S. Anand, was prosecuted under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act based on a complaint by Vasumathi Chandrasekar. The Metropolitan Magistrate acquitted him under Section 256(1) of the CrPC, citing the complainant's continuous absence and lack of representation. The High Court set aside the acq…

The appellant Suman Pandey alleged that her brother was murdered by Jitendra Pratap Singh, the sole accused. An eye‑witness, Priyanka Tiwari, had given a statement under Section 164 CrPC but was studying abroad and could not be examined until her summer vacation. The High Court, after several bail applications, granted…

Allarkha K. Mansuri was charged with murder under Sections 302, 504 and 114 IPC for allegedly stabbing Abdul Karim Ali Mohamed with a dharia. The trial court acquitted him, relying on alleged discrepancies in the FIR, the time of death, weapon identification and the alleged lateness of statements under Section 161 CrPC…

On 23 October 1989, two nephews of Hardip Singh were shot dead by Jugraj Singh and his accomplices who were armed with guns and a gandasa. The prosecution presented the two surviving relatives as eye‑witnesses, supported by a post‑mortem report that identified gun‑shot injuries, and the trial court convicted the accuse…

The land originally owned by Smt. Kokilla was acquired by the State under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, with a notification on 15 April 1928 and a declaration on 28 July 1928 for a public purpose. Compensation was paid and, under Section 16 of the Act, the land vested in the State free of all encumbrances, extinguish…

The appellant, Gokak Patel Volkart Ltd., filed criminal complaints under Section 630(1)(b) of the Companies Act, 1956 and Section 406 IPC against former employees who, after retirement, failed to vacate company quarters. The trial magistrate dismissed the complaints as time‑barred under the six‑month limitation prescri…

The respondent, Prem Behari Khare, sued to be declared the sole owner of a suit house, alleging the appellant, Mithilesh Kumar, held the property benami. Trial and appellate courts upheld the respondent's claim, finding the house purchased by the respondent and held benami in the appellant's name. While the appeal was …

The case involved the murder and robbery of Premchand Jain and his family, for which three accused were initially convicted and sentenced to death. The High Court acquitted the accused, and the matter came before the Supreme Court on appeal by the complainant Ashish Jain and the State of Madhya Pradesh. The Court exami…

The appellants were convicted of murder (Sec. 302 IPC) for assaulting the deceased, Nripen Debnath, when his bullock cart entered the appellants' field. The Supreme Court examined the credibility of the eye‑witness PW‑3, the omission of certain details in the complaint, and the alleged political motive behind the prose…

Salman Salim Khan was convicted under Section 51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and sentenced to five years' imprisonment. The Rajasthan High Court suspended his conviction, allowing him to travel abroad for his acting profession, but the UK denied his visa on the basis of the conviction. The State of Rajasthan…

The State of Uttar Pradesh appealed against the Allahabad High Court's acquittal of A‑1, who had been convicted by the trial court for kidnapping, wrongful confinement and rape of a minor girl. The girl, aged about 17 years, was abducted from her village, taken to a city, and forced to have sexual intercourse under thr…

The case arose from a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. The accused obtained a High Court order under Section 482 CrPC allowing her to appear through counsel and the High Court issued sweeping directions to all criminal courts to dispense with personal attendance of accused in such cases an…

The appellant, a former Superintendent of Police, was implicated by a Special Judge for allegedly fabricating a false story that led to the recovery of opium and was issued a show‑cause notice under Section 58 of the NDPS Act. The Special Judge recorded adverse findings against her and other officers without giving the…

The appellant lodged an FIR alleging that his brother was murdered in Firozabad and that a separate FIR was falsely registered in Gwalior to provide an alibi for the main accused. The High Court quashed the criminal proceedings against several police officials, holding that sanction under Section 197 of the CrPC was re…

The case concerns the murder of a police officer for which two accused were acquitted by the trial court. The High Court reversed the acquittal and convicted them for life, relying on the testimony of police witnesses and a purported dying declaration. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined the scope of appellate review…

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence seized over 1.37 lakh tablets from four locations in Chennai, alleging they were psychotropic substances. Accused A-1, A-2, A-3 and A-4 (Bharat Chaudhary) were arrested; A-4 was detained based solely on statements of A-1 and A-3 recorded under Section 67 of the NDPS Act. A specia…

The State of Rajasthan prosecuted Leela Ram for murder after he, along with two co‑accused, attacked the deceased with an axe, inflicting a fatal skull injury. The trial court convicted him under Sections 302, 341 and 323 IPC, but the Rajasthan High Court reduced the murder conviction to culpable homicide not amounting…

The Telecom Department of the erstwhile Telecom Department reported theft of copper and lead alloy moulds, which were seized from the first respondent, Surya Metals, and placed under interim custody of the appellant, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), under CrPC s.451. The criminal trial resulted in the acquittal of …

The State of Uttar Pradesh prosecuted Prem Bhujva, Raghuvir, Mehngu and Prem Yadav for the murder of Lallu Singh, alleging an ambush and shooting on 30 July 2003. The trial court, relying on two eye‑witnesses, recovery of a pistol from Prem Yadav and a ballistic report linking the weapon to cartridges found at the scen…

The wife, Archana Hardenia, committed suicide, leading to criminal proceedings under IPC sections 498‑A (cruelty) and 306 (abetment of suicide) against her husband Amrish Hardenia, his parents, brother and sister‑in‑law. The Sessions Judge discharged the four relatives (parents, brother, sister‑in‑law) on the ground th…

Kishan Chand was convicted under Section 18 of the NDNDPS Act for allegedly possessing 3.8 kg of opium recovered from his scooter after a police raid based on secret information. The appellant challenged the conviction, arguing that the police failed to comply with the mandatory requirements of Sections 42(1) and 42(2)…

The appellant, a ball‑picker at a university tennis court, was convicted under Sections 363 and 376(2)(f) IPC for raping an 11‑year‑old maid after luring her with the promise of bangles and taking her into a storeroom. The trial court had acquitted him, but the High Court reversed that judgment on the basis of eye‑witn…

Budhi Singh, the younger brother of Ganga Ram, was charged with murder after he struck his drunken brother on the head with a small axe (tobru) when their father was being assaulted. The trial court convicted him under Section 302 IPC and sentenced him to life imprisonment; the High Court affirmed. On appeal, the Supre…

The appellant was arrested after a raid on his house on 4 February 1994, during which poppy husk was seized and he was convicted under Section 15 of the NDPS Act. The sole issue raised was that the investigating officer failed to reduce the secret information to writing and report it to his superior officer as required…

The case concerned an FIR alleging terrorist activities against Irshad Ali and another accused, who claimed to be informers and were allegedly falsely implicated. The Delhi Special Cell filed a police report under Section 173(2) CrPC, after which the High Court ordered a CBI inquiry and later a closure report. The tria…

The appellant, Sandesh alias Sainath Kailash Abhang, entered a house pretending to be a mechanic, robbed valuables, brutally assaulted the elderly resident and a five‑month‑pregnant woman, inflicted numerous injuries, amputated fingers, and raped the pregnant woman before killing the elderly lady. He was found to be un…

The appellant Sahabuddin and his brother‑in‑law Sarifuddin were convicted for the murder of Sahabuddin's wife, Sajna Begum, based on circumstantial evidence and the testimony of several relatives who observed injuries on the deceased. The prosecution established a chain of events showing the victim's reluctance to retu…

The appellant Yanab Sheikh was convicted for murdering Samim Ali by throwing a bomb, under IPC s.302 and the Indian Explosives Act s.9(b)(ii). The prosecution’s case rested on eyewitness statements and forensic evidence. The appellant challenged the conviction on five grounds, chiefly that the police entry recorded as …

The case concerned whether a second FIR could be registered in relation to communal violence in Gorakhpur and whether the accused was entitled to a hearing before such registration. The appellant, Anju Chaudhary, challenged a High Court order directing the magistrate to register a new FIR under Section 156(3) CrPC, arg…

Ashok Kumar filed a civil suit for a temporary injunction against Mona Sharma, seeking peaceful possession of a disputed land. While the suit was pending, Mona Sharma filed an application under Section 145 of the CrPC, leading the Sub‑Divisional Magistrate (SOM) to attach the property under Section 146(1) on the ground…

Haradhan Das was convicted for murder under Section 302 read with Section 149 of the IPC for a dacoity in which the deceased Barindra Nath Mukherjee was killed. The trial court had acquitted three co‑accused on the ground of non‑identification, but the Supreme Court held that the prosecution proved its case against the…

The appellants, Sanapareddy Maheedhar and his parents, were charged under Sections 498A and 406 IPC read with the Dowry Prohibition Act for alleged dowry harassment and cruelty towards the appellant's wife, who later obtained a divorce in the United States and remarried. The Metropolitan Magistrate took cognizance of t…

The State of Andhra Pradesh filed a criminal case against A.S. Peter for alleged false declaration of stock and insurance fraud, leading to an FIR under IPC sections 199, 200 and 204 and a charge‑sheet filed by the local police. After allegations of irregularities in the initial investigation, the Additional Director G…

The appellant, Rameshwar Dass, was convicted under Section 304B of the IPC for the dowry death of his pregnant wife, Sushma Rani, who allegedly committed suicide after being tortured for a dowry demand of Rs 40,000. The prosecution relied on the husband’s telegram to the father‑in‑law, testimony of the brother‑in‑law, …

The appellant challenged the validity of a lease agreement, alleging it was forged, and the Kerala High Court's Single Judge ordered a criminal complaint under Section 340 of the CrPC based on a handwriting expert's report. The High Court set aside that order, holding that Section 340 could not be invoked because the a…

The appellant Ujjagar Singh was charged with murdering his niece Mukhtiar Kaur and raping her. Both were found with gunshot wounds; the appellant also sustained a serious injury. The trial and High Courts convicted him under sections 302, 376 and 309 IPC and imposed death penalty. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined …

The wife, who had a prior marriage that was never dissolved by a court decree, married the appellant after his first wife's death. The husband filed a suit to declare the second marriage void under Section 5(i) and Section 11 of the Hindu Marriage Act, while the wife sought judicial separation and maintenance for herse…

The complainant challenged a High Court order that granted bail to one co‑accused (Irsan) in a murder‑related case, alleging that the order was laconic and failed to state reasons. The Supreme Court reiterated that the discretion to grant or refuse bail under the Criminal Procedure Code must be exercised with care, bal…

The respondents, railway employees, were caught stealing cement and an inquiry was conducted by a Railway Protection Force (RPF) inspector who filed a complaint before a Judicial Magistrate under the Railways Property (Unlawful Possession) Act, 1966. The accused argued that the RPF officer was not a "police officer" wi…

The Supreme Court examined the murder of 12‑year‑old Arun Rai, alleged to have arisen from a dispute over the price of milk. The trial court convicted Mithilesh Rai (Sec.302 IPC, death sentence) and Madan Rai (Sec.302 read with Sec.109 IPC, life imprisonment); Raj Naresh Rai was acquitted. On appeal, the High Court set…

The appellants Dhanabal and his brother were convicted of murder under IPC s.302 read with s.149 for the killing of their sister‑in‑law Rasayal. The conviction relied heavily on the testimony of PW‑1, 2, 3 and 5, whose statements were recorded in the committal court, later transcribed under CrPC s.288 and, for some, al…

The case arose from an FIR under IPC sections 363 and 366 and POCSO Act sections 3 and 4 alleging that a 14‑year‑old girl was abducted and sexually assaulted by Natuji Thakor. The victim’s later statements mentioned three other persons – Labhuji, Shashikant and Jituji – who were present in the vehicle used for the alle…

The State of Uttarakhand appealed a High Court order acquitting Jairnail Singh of charges under IPC s.307 (attempt to murder) and Arms Act s.25(1‑A). The Session Court had convicted Singh, but the High Court set aside the conviction, citing material infirmities such as the failure to forensic‑test the recovered pistol,…

Pashaura Singh married Kamaljeet Kaur in 1997, moved to Canada and obtained a divorce decree from the Supreme Court of British Columbia in February 2001. After returning to India he remarried on 2 January 2002. Kamaljeet's brother filed an FIR under IPC sections 494 (bigamy), 498A (dowry harassment) and 506/34 (crimina…

The appellants were convicted of murder under Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC for a fatal assault on the deceased during a quarrel. The Supreme Court examined whether the incident fell within Exception 4 to Section 300 IPC, which applies to killings occurring in a sudden fight without pre‑meditation, undue advanta…

The appellant Hasi Mohan Barman, who was in a relationship with PW‑1, allegedly forced her to abort a pregnancy by administering injections with the help of co‑accused Abinash Biswas, leading to a conviction under IPC s.313 r.w. s.34. While the trial and High Courts upheld the conviction, the sentence was reduced. Duri…

The assessee, Mohan Brickfield, was engaged in brick manufacturing and sales. During two surveys of its premises in 1984-85, it failed to produce its books of accounts, which were later produced at the time of assessment. The Assessing Officer rejected the books, citing the non‑production at the surveys and other discr…

The State of Andhra Pradesh prosecuted V. Vasudeva Rao, an Assistant Controller, for demanding a bribe to prevent his transfer and for accepting the money, which he claimed was a hand loan. A trap was arranged, the accused was caught with the money, and the complainant died before he could be examined. The trial court …

The Supreme Court examined whether a High Court, exercising criminal appellate jurisdiction under Section 374(2) of the Cr.P.C., could direct the State Government to file an appeal against an acquittal by a Sessions Judge. The High Court had ordered the Advocate General of Haryana to file a leave‑to‑appeal application …

Gurdial Singh transferred 94 kanals and 19 marlas of land to his wife Harmel Kaur in 1963 as maintenance, subject to restrictive covenants. After Singh's death, Harmel sold a portion of the land to the appellants. The second wife and three daughters of Singh sued, claiming a one‑seventh share, arguing that Harmel only …

The appellant, Ved Prakash, was convicted of a firearm offence arising from a land dispute. The trial court sentenced him without considering the provisions of Section 360 of the Code of Criminal Procedure or the Probation of Offenders Act, 1958. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined whether the sentencing court had a …

A First Information Report alleging fraud by TISCO against the railways led to a criminal case registered at Tatanagar. After the railway police filed a final report under section 173(2) of the CrPC, the State of Bihar, through the Chief Secretary and Chief Minister, directed the Inspector General (Vigilance) to conduc…

The appellant was charged with murder, attempt to rape and related offences after the deceased was found dead in a pool of blood. The trial court acquitted him, finding the prosecution's key witness (PW1) unreliable and noting the non‑examination of material witnesses and the absence of a fingerprint report. The High C…

The appellant Subramanya was charged with murdering Kamalamma along with co‑accused Gowri and Seetharam Bhat. The trial court acquitted all three, but the Karnataka High Court convicted Subramanya under IPC s.302 and sentenced him to life imprisonment, relying on an extra‑judicial confession by Seetharam, motive, and d…

The appellant, Md. Anowar Hussain, was convicted by the Sessions Court and the Gauhati High Court for murdering his wife, Samina Begum, based on circumstantial evidence and a post‑mortem report showing asphyxia due to throttling. The appellant claimed the victim died of an illness in hospital and that he had left home …

The appellant Ramanand (alias Nandlal Bharti) was convicted and sentenced to death for allegedly murdering his wife and four children, based largely on circumstantial evidence comprising a discovery statement of the murder weapon, extra‑judicial confessions to two witnesses, alleged motive stemming from an extramarital…

Senior IPS officer Sanjiv Rajendra Bhatt filed writ petitions under Article 32 seeking transfer of investigations into two criminal cases to the CBI or a fresh Special Investigation Team (SIT), alleging that he was present at a 2002 Gujarat meeting, that the Court‑appointed SIT leaked confidential material, and that hi…

The respondent was convicted under Sections 363, 366A and 376 of the IPC and sentenced to rigorous imprisonment. On appeal before the Rajasthan High Court, his counsel only sought a direction that the State Government exercise its power under Section 433 of the CrPC to commute the sentence, and the public prosecutor di…

The appellants Bur Singh and others were convicted for murder under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC for the killing of Surjan Singh. The prosecution relied on the testimony of two eye‑witnesses who were relatives of the deceased. The appellants argued that the witnesses were interested and that the doctrine…

The accused (respondents 2 and 3) were tried for offences under Sections 147, 452, 364, 302/149 and 201/149 of the IPC. Two prosecution witnesses, PW‑3 (Bhopalaram) and PW‑5 (Nandaram), had been examined and cross‑examined in the trial court and later again as witnesses before a Juvenile Court, where they gave statemen…

The appellants were charged under Sections 306, 498A read with Section 34 of the IPC for the death of Sharmila. The complainant sought to introduce a later death certificate dated 10‑04‑2004, which alleged a different cause of death from an earlier certificate dated 18‑05‑2000. The trial court kept the certificate issu…

The State of Andhra Pradesh filed a complaint under Sections 199 and 200 of the Cr.P.C. alleging that the appellants, through a telecast on E TV-2, intended to defame the Chief Minister, other ministers and public servants. The appellants sought to quash the criminal proceedings under Section 482 of the Cr.P.C., claimi…

Baldev Singh and his father were convicted by a Special Court for murder (Sec. 302 r/w Sec. 34 IPC) and for possession of an unlicensed weapon. The Supreme Court examined the evidence, including the FIR, eyewitness statements and post‑mortem report, and found that the injuries inflicted were not sufficient to constitut…

The appellant, a three‑time Chief Minister of Delhi, was arrested by the CBI in June 2024 in connection with an FIR registered in August 2022 under sections 120B, 477A IPC and section 7 PC Act. He challenged the legality of the arrest under Sections 41A and 41(1)(b)(ii) of the CrPC and also sought regular bail. The Hig…

The Supreme Court examined the appropriate procedure for police to conduct media briefings during ongoing criminal investigations, balancing the public’s right to information under Article 19(1)(a) with the accused’s presumption of innocence and victims’ privacy under Article 21. An amicus curiae was appointed who coll…

The appellant, Rupesh Manger, was charged with murdering his grandfather using a sharp-edged weapon. He pleaded insanity, and the trial court, after considering psychiatric reports indicating acute psychotic disorder and abnormal behavior at the time of the offence, acquitted him under Section 84 of the IPC. The High C…

The wife of a deceased driver filed an FIR alleging that her husband was murdered by his employer, the appellant, with the help of friends. Based on her deposition, the prosecution invoked Section 319 of the Code of Criminal Procedure to summon the appellant, and the Sessions Judge ordered the summons, a decision uphel…

The case arose from the loss of two pistols during a T‑90 tank conversion exercise of the 71 Armoured Regiment at Pokhran. The accused soldiers, Neeraj Kumar Dhaka and Sandeep Kumar, were convicted by a District Court Martial for theft and sentenced to rigorous imprisonment and dismissal. The Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT…

The appellant Abdul Wahab K. challenged the order of a Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) that allowed the Public Prosecutor to withdraw prosecution under Sections 195A and 506 IPC, on the ground that the CJM had not applied the proper test under Section 321 of the CrPC. The petitioners, third parties, filed revision peti…

The Supreme Court examined a criminal case where the Public Prosecutor sought to withdraw prosecution under Sections 195A and 506 IPC, and the Chief Judicial Magistrate allowed the withdrawal. The order was challenged by the accused through revision petitions filed by third‑party petitioners, which the Kerala High Cour…

The appellant, a cardiologist, was charged under Section 304A IPC for the death of a patient after an unsuccessful angioplasty and subsequent bypass surgery. The police investigation concluded there was no evidence, but the magistrate proceeded with the case, and the High Court refused to quash the proceedings, citing …

The appellant, Sumit Mehta, was charged under IPC sections 420, 467, 468 and 471 and the Delhi High Court granted him anticipatory bail on the condition that he deposit a fixed deposit of Rs 1 crore in the complainant's name. Mehta appealed to the Supreme Court, contending that the condition was unreasonable, unrelated…

Manjit Singh and Paramjit Singh were convicted for the murder of Jagmohan Singh and the attempted murder of Amarjot Singh after a gang fired on a tractor following a political dispute. The appellants challenged the convictions on five grounds, chiefly that two material witnesses were not examined, that the maxim falsus…

The accused, MD Hussain, was charged with offences under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and other statutes, and the investigation was taken over by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). He filed a bail application before a single judge of the Bombay High Cour…

The Supreme Court examined whether a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act can be filed and verified by a power of attorney holder on behalf of the payee or holder in due course. The appellant, a company director, challenged the issuance of process based on complaints filed by a power of attorne…

The appellant, Ashwani Kumar Saxena, was convicted of murder under IPC s.302 r.w. s.27 Arms Act and appealed, claiming he was a juvenile at the time of the offence (19‑Oct‑2008). He produced school mark‑sheets and the school admission register showing a birth date of 24‑Oct‑1990, while the trial court relied on ossific…

The State of Rajasthan prosecuted fifteen persons for murder and kidnapping under Sections 302, 364 read with Section 34 IPC, alleging a land‑related dispute and a group assault on the deceased. Four eye‑witnesses, including a relative of the victim, identified the accused, while two of those witnesses turned hostile. …

The appellant Gajoo, the brother‑in‑law of the deceased Taradevi, was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC for allegedly assaulting the victim with a daranti and strangling her while her elder son held her down. The appellant challenged the conviction on grounds that the eye‑witnesses were relatives and thus unrel…

The appellant, the son of a woman who committed suicide, challenged the High Court's order quashing the charge of abetment of suicide (IPC s.306) framed against the accused property dealer. The Supreme Court examined whether the High Court had correctly exercised its revisional (s.397) and inherent (s.482) powers of th…

The case involved the murder of Kirori, where Mahesh and Kanhaiyalal were initially acquitted by the trial court but later convicted by the High Court under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC. The appellants argued that the FIR did not mention their role, that eyewitness statements were recorded after an eight…

Ajitsingh Harnamsingh Gujral was convicted of murdering his wife and three children by dousing them with petrol and setting them alight. The trial court and the Bombay High Court sentenced him to death. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined the circumstantial evidence, including the accused's last sighting with the vic…

The appellant, Santosh Kumari, widow of a murder victim, challenged the High Court's orders that set aside the trial court's charge and granted interim bail to the accused. The Supreme Court examined whether the charge, which listed only the relevant sections of the Ranbir Penal Code without a specific offence name, co…

The case involved a double murder where the deceased Irappa and his brother Kenchappa were killed after confronting Sangappa (A‑1) over an earlier assault on their son. The trial court acquitted all seven accused, but the Karnataka High Court convicted three of them (A‑1, A‑2, A‑4) under section 302 IPC read with secti…

The appellants were alleged to have issued two cheques on behalf of Karnataka News Net (Bangalore) Ltd. which were later dishonoured. A complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act was filed, invoking Section 141 to hold the directors vicariously liable. The complaint, however, failed to specifically s…

The accused, a school teacher, forcibly had sexual intercourse with his 4th‑standard student, who was about 14 years old at the time, and later became pregnant. The victim lodged an FIR after a delay, leading to trial where the accused was convicted under IPC sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation). The Hig…

The Supreme Court examined the convictions of seven accused in a murder case arising from a Naxalite attack in 1983. The key issue was whether identification of an accused for the first time in court, without a prior test identification parade or corroboration, could support a conviction, especially when the accused wa…

On 26 July 1986 the appellant Devinder allegedly attacked Ramphal with a knife, inflicting chest and abdominal injuries in the presence of two eyewitnesses. The victim was taken to a hospital, where a medico‑legal report recorded his details and the manner of injury but omitted the assailant's name; he died the followi…

The Supreme Court examined the criminal proceedings arising from the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy, where a leak of methyl isocyanate (MIC) from a Union Carbide India Ltd plant caused thousands of deaths and injuries. Twelve individuals, including Keshub Mahindra and other senior officials, were charged under IPC sections 30…

Raghbir Singh was convicted in a Sessions case on 1 February 1980 for offences under Sections 307 and 459 of the IPC and sentenced to rigorous imprisonment. While serving this sentence, he remained in judicial custody from 11 January 1980 for a separate case that later resulted in a conviction on 16 February 1981 by a …

The appellant Mathuralal disputed a house with Bhanwarlal, prompting the Sub‑Divisional Magistrate to issue a preliminary order under s.145(1) CrPC 1973 and subsequently attach the property under s.146(1) on the ground of emergency. The appellant contended that once the attachment was made, the magistrate lost jurisdic…

The appellant, the widow of a deceased clerk who worked in the Passport Office, challenged the conviction of her husband under Sections 7, 13(1)(d) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The prosecution alleged that the accused demanded an extra Rs.200 over the lawful passport fee of Rs.1,000 and that the…

The appellant, a chit‑fund company, advanced loans totalling Rs 21,09,000 to the respondent over several years. To partly discharge the debt, the respondent issued a cheque for Rs 19,00,000 which was returned marked ‘Account Closed’, leading to a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. The trial …

The appellant, James Kunjwal, was accused of offences under Sections 376 and 504 IPC and was granted bail by the High Court. The complainant sought cancellation of bail, alleging that Kunjwal had filed a false affidavit contradicting her statements. The High Court, finding the affidavit intentionally false, directed th…

Kaptan Singh, acting as power of attorney for Munni Devi, filed a complaint alleging assault and other offences arising from a disputed sale of a plot. An FIR was registered, investigated, and a charge‑sheet was filed for offences under Sections 147, 148, 149, 406, 329 and 386 IPC. The accused filed a petition under Se…

The State of Kerala appealed against the Kerala High Court’s order quashing an FIR that alleged offences under Sections 182, 194, 195, 195A and 306 of the IPC based on a suicide note left by the deceased, a senior investigating officer. The Supreme Court examined whether the suicide note established a prima facie case …

An FIR under Section 364 IPC was lodged against the appellants. The police investigation concluded that no case was made out and submitted a final report under Section 173 CrPC, which the magistrate accepted. Despite accepting the negative report, the magistrate also ordered the case to proceed as a complaint, recorded…

The complainant filed a criminal complaint under sections 498‑A, 406, 341, 323 and 120‑B IPC and sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act against her husband and his immediate relatives, including the married sister‑in‑law (Preeti Gupta) and the unmarried brother‑in‑law (Gaurav Poddar). The trial court issued summ…

The petition concerned whether a Judicial Magistrate could order a reinvestigation under Section 173(8) of the Code of Criminal Procedure after a charge‑sheet had been filed under Section 173(2) and charges were framed against some accused while others were discharged. The Supreme Court held that once a charge‑sheet is…