Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

The original complainant, Smt. Chandra Narayan Das, filed a criminal complaint alleging offences under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 120B, 201 and 34 IPC. The complaint was dismissed by the magistrate and a subsequent criminal revision was also rejected. While a criminal miscellaneous petition was pending before the Hig…

The appellants, employees of Citibank/CWA, were implicated in an FIR alleging fraud under Sections 406, 420 and 120B IPC. They sought quashing of the FIR and anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the Cr.P.C., arguing that the allegations were civil in nature and that they would cooperate with the investigation. The Hi…

The appellant, accused of an offence under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, filed a petition under Section 482 of the CrPC seeking to quash proceedings in the Mangalore court, arguing that the court lacked jurisdiction because the constituent acts of the offence occurred in different places (Bangalore and…

The appellant, Shanti Kumar Panda, obtained a preliminary order and attachment of a shop under Sections 145 and 146 of the CrPC, while the real possessor, Shakuntala Devi, was not impleaded and was denied a hearing. The civil judge later granted her an ad‑interim injunction restraining the appellant from disturbing her…

The Supreme Court considered an appeal by Smt. Kuldeep Kaur, who had been awarded maintenance for herself and her child under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. The husband, respondent No.1, failed to pay the ordered amount, accruing arrears of Rs.5,090. While executing the maintenance order, the magi…

Balwant Kaur was convicted for the murder of her husband, Pritam Singh, based primarily on the testimony of co‑accused Ram Sarup, who turned approver. The prosecution alleged that Kaur conspired with Nand Singh and Sarup to murder her husband and that she had urged them to do so. The Supreme Court examined whether the …

The Supreme Court examined a writ petition filed under Article 32 by the Shia community of Mohalla Doshipura, Varanasi, seeking enforcement of their customary rights to perform religious rites on nine specific plots and structures, rights previously affirmed by civil courts and Wakf registrations. The petition challeng…

The case concerns the murder of MLA Brij Bihari Prasad and his bodyguard Lakshmeshwar Sahu at IGIMS Hospital in 1998. The trial court convicted several accused, but the Patna High Court acquitted all, prompting appeals by the State (through the CBI) and the victim's wife, Rama Devi. The Supreme Court examined the credi…

The appellants, two women related to a co‑accused, were charged under Sections 120‑B, 420, 468 and 471 of the IPC and Sections 13(2) read with 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act for alleged loan fraud involving a bank. The borrowers later entered into a One‑Time Settlement with the bank, paid the full amount …

The appellants, who were wives of borrowers, were charged by the CBI under sections of the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act for alleged fraud in a bank loan. The borrowers had settled the entire debt through a One Time Settlement and the bank closed the loan account, obtaining a No Dues Certificate. The appella…

The appellants, Pankaj Bansal and Basant Bansal, were arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) under Section 19(1) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) after being summoned in connection with two Enforcement Case Information Reports (ECIRs). They had earlier obtained anticipatory bail for the firs…

The case involved the gruesome murder of a two‑year‑old boy, Chirag, whose body was discovered in two parts inside the house of the main accused, Ishwari Lal Yadav and Kiran Bai, who claimed to be tantriks. The accused confessed to killing the child as a human sacrifice, and the confession was corroborated by independe…

The appellant was convicted of kidnapping, raping and murdering a 13‑year‑old girl and of destroying her body. The prosecution proved the case through a chain of circumstantial evidence corroborated by DNA, medical and forensic findings, including a slipper belonging to the victim recovered from the accused. The trial …

The appellant was found with a two‑year‑old girl under his bed after the child went missing; medical, eye‑witness, circumstantial and Y‑STR DNA evidence established that he kidnapped, raped (vaginal and unnatural intercourse) and murdered the child. The trial court and High Court convicted him under IPC sections 302, 3…

B.A. Umesh, an ex‑police constable, was convicted of murder, rape and robbery and sentenced to death by the Sessions Court, a decision affirmed by the Karnataka High Court and the Supreme Court. He filed review petitions contending that the trial court had not fixed a separate date for hearing on sentencing, alleging a…

The Supreme Court examined a writ petition highlighting severe overcrowding in 1,382 Indian prisons, with occupancy exceeding 150% of permissible limits, and the failure of prison authorities to implement earlier court directions. The Court noted the absence of a juvenile custody manual under the Juvenile Justice (Care…

The appellant, Jose @ Pappachan, was convicted under IPC s.302 for the death of his wife, Neena, alleged to be a homicide by strangulation and hanging, while also being acquitted of IPC s.498A. The prosecution relied on circumstantial testimony of three witnesses and a post‑mortem report that was inconclusive about hom…

The appellant, Benson, was convicted in twelve separate theft cases under Sections 379 and 414 of the IPC, each tried and sentenced individually. He petitioned for the subsequent sentences to run concurrently with the sentence already being served (Crime No.8). The Supreme Court examined Section 427(1) of the Criminal …

The appellants Vikas Yadav, Vishal Yadav and Sukhdev Yadav were convicted of murder, kidnapping and related offences (IPC ss.302, 364, 34, 201) and sentenced to life imprisonment with additional fixed‑term sentences. The State appealed for enhancement of the life sentence to death; the High Court instead imposed a fixe…

The appellant, a director of a construction firm, had obtained a large loan from a bank that later went into liquidation. The bank filed a liquidation suit and criminal proceedings for default. The appellant was granted temporary bail with conditions, but the High Court later vacated the bail and re‑imprisoned him. The…

Rajesh Mahatha was arrested for offences under Sections 304B and 306 of the IPC and claimed to be a juvenile, seeking protection under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000. The Juvenile Justice Board, after obtaining a medical board opinion that his age was between 17‑18 years and noting a v…

The Union of India initiated customs proceedings against Padam Narain Agarwal and others for alleged export fraud, issuing summons under Section 108 of the Customs Act to record their statements. The respondents, refusing to cooperate, were later charged with offences under Sections 174 and 175 of the IPC, and they app…

Sanghi Brothers (Indore) Pvt Ltd filed a complaint alleging that the directors of Chetak Construction Ltd had taken vehicles on lease and later sold eight of them, constituting cheating and criminal breach of trust under IPC sections 420 and 406 read with section 34. The trial magistrate framed charges, but the Madhya …

The respondent, a Development Officer of the Andhra Pradesh Khadi and Village Industries Board, was caught demanding and receiving a Rs.500 bribe from a loan applicant (PW‑1) to revive a lapsed loan. The trial court convicted him under Sections 13(2) and 13(1)(d)(i) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, sentencing…

The State of Uttar Pradesh charged Ram Balak and another with the rape and murder of a 14‑year‑old girl, invoking IPC sections 376, 302 and 201. The trial court convicted them on the basis of five circumstantial points, including a dog‑tracking lead and an alleged extra‑judicial confession, and sentenced them to death,…

The appellant Rukmini Narvekar filed a criminal complaint alleging that advocate Ranjit Satardekar fraudulently obtained her signature on a Power of Attorney and used it to sell her property to his wife Vijaya Satardekar. The High Court quashed the criminal proceedings against both accused, relying on evidence from a r…

The Bank of Rajasthan alleged that the Bangur group siphoned its funds, prompting a CBI inquiry and the registration of sixteen FIRs. Concurrently, the Alipore Police registered FIR No.138/2001 against the Bangurs, which was later closed because the investigation was transferred to the CBI. The respondents filed revisi…

The State of Madhya Pradesh appealed a High Court order that reduced the conviction of Bala for rape (under IPC s.376(2)(g)) from the statutory minimum of ten years' rigorous imprisonment to the nine‑month period already served. The Supreme Court examined whether the High Court could lawfully depart from the minimum pu…

The Supreme Court examined appeals by several accused convicted under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) for murder and related offences. Their convictions were based primarily on confessional statements recorded by a Superintendent of Police under Section 15 of TADA, but the officer failed…

The State of Andhra Pradesh prosecuted Bimal Krishna Kundu and his son for conspiring to leak Public Service Commission examination question papers, alleging they used dummy firms to obtain printing contracts and printed the papers at their own press. Despite being blacklisted in 1994, the alleged leakage continued, le…

The Supreme Court examined the court‑assisted settlement of the Bhopal gas‑leak disaster claims, where Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) agreed to pay $470 million and all civil and criminal proceedings were to be terminated. The Court held that under Article 142 of the Constitution it had jurisdiction to withdraw the ma…

The deceased Anjali Agarwal was found dead after allegedly falling from the terrace of her matrimonial home. The trial court framed charges against her husband and in‑laws under sections 498‑A, 306, 302 and 201 IPC read with section 34, alleging abetment to suicide and murder. The High Court quashed these charges, hold…

The case arose from a violent incident on 03‑03‑2001 at the Barnala Court Complex where seven accused, including Manjit Singh and Sukhwinder Singh, attacked members of a complainant party, causing grievous injuries and the death of Dalip Singh. The prosecution relied primarily on the testimony of two injured eye‑witnes…

The appellant Prempal was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC for allegedly grappling his sister‑in‑law Anita, pouring kerosene on her and setting her ablaze. The conviction rested primarily on Anita's dying declaration recorded by a Tehsildar after a medical officer certified her fitness to testify, despite her …

The Supreme Court examined whether its own orders dated 11 April 2011 and 9 November 2012, issued under Articles 136 and 142 while monitoring the 2G spectrum scam investigation, could be recalled. The petitioners argued that the orders infringed their right to approach the High Courts under Articles 226, 227 and Sectio…

The case concerned Shyamadas Banerjee, a sitting MLA who was alleged to have forged medical bills in 1999. Although the offence was committed while he was an MLA, he ceased to be a member of the State Legislature in July 2000, long before a charge‑sheet was filed in 2003 and cognizance was taken by a Special Judge unde…

The case arose from a violent incident in which the deceased, Laiq Ram, fired a gun at the accused Durga Nand while trying to rescue his son, after which the accused seized the gun and inflicted fatal injuries on the deceased. The appellants Dharminder and Durga Nand were convicted under Sections 302/34, 307/34 and 323…

The case arose from a bomb blast in Bow Bazar, Calcutta, which demolished a building, killed 69 people and injured many others. The prosecution alleged that the accused conspired to manufacture and explode bombs to terrorise the public and disrupt communal harmony, charging them under Sections 1208, 302, 307, 326, 436 …

The accused Bodh Raj and others were charged with murder of a moneylender under IPC sections 302 and 120B, alleging a conspiracy motivated by a large loan. The trial court convicted three of the accused and acquitted six, while the Jammu & Kashmir High Court set aside the acquittals of four and convicted them as well. …

The police filed a report under Section 190(1)(b) CrPC and the trial court acquitted all accused. The complainant, Birbal, appealed to the High Court under Section 378(4) after obtaining leave, and the High Court convicted two of the appellants. The appellants challenged this conviction before the Supreme Court under S…

M.V. Chauhan, a Divisional Accountant, was caught in a trap involving anthracene‑treated currency notes and was prosecuted under Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 and Section 161 IPC. The Gujarat High Court, on a writ petition, directed the Secretary of the Vigilance Commission to grant sanction fo…

The State of Karnataka Lokayukta Police appealed against the Karnataka High Court’s order that discharged S. Subbegowda, an executive engineer, from charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The respondent had faced a charge of amassing disproportionate wealth and the prosecution had examined 17 witnesses a…

The Karnataka High Court had declared the election of N.S. Nandiesha Reddy void under Section 100(1)(c) of the Representation of People’s Act, 1951, and ordered the Registrar General to lodge a criminal complaint against Returning Officer Ashok Mensinkai under Section 193 of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly giving f…

The State of Haryana challenged a High Court order directing the State to draft a fresh remission policy under Article 161 and to apply the 2008 policy for premature release of Raj Kumar, who had served 12 years and 25 days of a life sentence. The Supreme Court examined the interplay between the constitutional power of…

The appellants were convicted for the murder of Pyara Singh, who died after being assaulted with lathis by four accused. The trial hinged on the testimony of three eye‑witnesses, including the victim's son and wife, while the post‑mortem report prepared by the government medical officer (PW3) claimed no injuries and fa…

The appellant State prosecuted Sanjeev Nanda for a 1999 hit‑and‑run accident in which six persons died and one was injured after he, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, drove a BMW at high speed and fled the scene. The trial court convicted him under Section 304(II) IPC (culpable homicide not amounting to murder)…

Vijay Kumar, the father of Ruchi Saxena, filed a complaint alleging that officials of the Nagar Palika demanded a bribe to settle a land dispute. Two officials were arrested and tried under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The accused sought to summon Ruchi Saxena as a court witness under Section 311 of the Code…

The plaintiff sued Kapil Corepacks Pvt Ltd and others for recovery, alleging that the defendants had executed a sale agreement that was later claimed to be a forged document. The defendants filed a criminal complaint alleging forgery and denied signing the agreement. The trial court examined the managing director under…

Amar Singh was convicted under Sections 498A and 3048 IPC for the dowry death of his wife, who died in a fire within ten months of marriage. The prosecution proved that the husband had repeatedly taunted the wife for not providing a scooter or Rs.25,000, establishing harassment in connection with a dowry demand shortly…

The petitioners, accused in a CBI case under the Prevention of Corruption Act for abetting the possession of disproportionate assets by a senior income‑tax officer, filed a transfer petition under Section 406 of the Code of Criminal Procedure seeking to move the trial from the Special Court, CBI, Greater Mumbai to a Sp…

The State of Uttar Pradesh appealed against the Allahabad High Court’s acquittal of Krishna Master and two others for the homicide of six persons. The trial court had convicted them under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC and imposed death sentences, which the High Court set aside. The Supreme Court examined the reliabili…

The appellant, an informant, reported that his brother was murdered and the accused were charged with the crime. The accused applied for bail, which was rejected by the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate and the Additional Sessions Judge, but the Rajasthan High Court later granted bail without recording any reasons. …

Khanjan Pal was accused of stabbing his co‑worker Deep Singh to death in a factory. The trial court acquitted him, discarding eye‑witness testimony and finding reasonable doubt. On appeal, the Allahabad High Court accepted the witnesses, found Pal responsible for the death, and convicted him under Section 302 IPC (murd…

The case arises from the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984, by her security guards Beant Singh and Satwant Singh. The trial was held in Tihar Jail pursuant to a High Court notification. The Supreme Court considered whether the trial in jail violated the right to open public trial, whethe…

The appellant, a police guard, was convicted of murder and attempted murder for shooting a man inside a Delhi police station, motivated by the victim's alleged affair with the appellant's wife. The prosecution presented multiple eye‑witnesses, forensic evidence of close‑range gunshots, and a post‑mortem report showing …

Javed Gulam Nabi Shaikh was arrested in February 2020 with a large consignment of counterfeit currency and charged under Sections 489B, 489C, 120B read with 34 of the IPC and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. The investigation was taken over by the NIA and, after four years of custody, the trial court had…

Eight persons were convicted for the death of Subhash and injuries to others, originally under Section 302 read with Section 149 of the IPC and sentenced to life imprisonment plus additional terms. The High Court reduced the murder conviction to culpable homicide not amounting to murder (Section 304 Part II) and, relyi…

Indofil Industries Ltd. and others were prosecuted under the Insecticides Act for a misbranded insecticide and sought to quash the criminal complaint, contending that the spare sample had been sent to the Central Insecticides Laboratory (CIL) before any proceedings, violating Section 22(6)(ii) and depriving them of the…

The State of Madhya Pradesh prosecuted Anoop Singh for kidnapping, assault and rape of a girl, alleging she was under 16 years old at the time of the offence. The trial court convicted Singh based on the girl’s birth certificate and middle‑school examination certificate, despite a two‑day discrepancy between them, and …

Santosh Kumar Singh, a 26‑year‑old tutor, entered the home of his employers, assaulted the mother, son and daughters with an iron hammer, and looted jewellery and cash, resulting in the deaths of the mother and son. He was convicted under IPC sections 302, 307, 394, 397 and 450 and sentenced to death, with additional l…

In 1992 a bomb attack resulted in the death of Rupchand Sk, whose statement at the scene was recorded by the investigating officer (PW15) but not entered into evidence. The prosecution later sought, under Section 311 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, to recall PW15 to record this statement; the trial court rejected th…

The case arose from a land‑use dispute in Lagadwadi village where the accused assaulted the complainant (PW4) and his father with a cycle chain and stones, causing the father's death. The trial court convicted the accused under Sections 302 and 324 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code, relying on the testimony…

The appellant, Kashi Vishwanath, was convicted under Sections 498A and 302 read with 34 of the IPC for the death of his wife, who died from burn injuries. The prosecution's case rested on three dying declarations (Ex.P.12, Ex.P.22, Ex.P.29) that were recorded in Kannada despite the victim speaking only Telugu, and whic…

The State of Himachal Pradesh prosecuted Jai Chand and two others for the murder of his wife under Sections 302, 34 and 498‑A IPC. The trial court convicted Jai Chand, but the Himachal Pradesh High Court acquitted him, rejecting the post‑mortem doctor’s testimony and other material witnesses. On appeal, the Supreme Cou…

The appellant, Ranjit Singh, was convicted for the dowry death of his wife Jaswinder Kaur, who was found dead within four months of marriage. The prosecution proved that the deceased had been subjected to repeated harassment and demands for dowry, including a Maruti car, by the appellant and his in‑laws, leading to her…

The Union of India appealed the acquittal of Mohanlal and another by the Madhya Pradesh High Court, which had held that the prosecution failed to prove the destruction of 3.36 kg of opium seized under Sections 8/18(b) read with 29 of the NDPS Act. The Supreme Court examined whether the lack of proof of destruction inva…

The accused R. Mohan was convicted under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act for issuing a cheque without sufficient funds and was sentenced to three months' simple imprisonment and ordered to pay Rs.5 lakh compensation to the complainant A.K. Vijaya Kumar under Section 357(3) of the CrPC, with an additional …

Renowned journalist Vinod Dua was charged under sections 124A, 505(1)(b), 501, 268 of the IPC, sections 52 and 54 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and section 188 of the IPC for remarks made in a YouTube talk‑show about the COVID‑19 pandemic and alleged political use of the crisis. He filed a writ petition under Ar…

The case concerns the abduction, extortion and murder of former MLA M.K. Balan, whose body was cremated under a fictitious name. The prosecution relied on extensive circumstantial evidence, the testimony of two accomplices (PW10 and PW11), recoveries of vehicles, a false death certificate, and statements recorded under…

The Supreme Court examined the appeal of Satish Shetty, convicted under IPC sections 498A (cruelty) and 306 (abetment of suicide) for the death of his wife, who had left a ten‑month‑old son and was twenty weeks pregnant. The High Court had set aside the trial court’s acquittal, invoking the presumption under Evidence A…

Dr. Rini Johar, a doctor, and a senior advocate were arrested in November 2012 on a FIR alleging fraud under IPC sections 420 and 34 and the Information Technology Act. The arrest was carried out without complying with Sections 41 and 41‑A of the CrPC, nor the D.K. Basu guidelines, and the petitioners were taken to Bho…

The appellant, Achin Gupta, was the sole accused in a chargesheet under IPC sections 323, 406, 498A and 506 arising from an FIR filed by his wife alleging dowry demands and cruelty. The FIR was lodged in April 2021, more than two years after the husband had filed a divorce petition and after the wife’s mother filed a d…

The appellant was convicted of murdering his wife inside their home, where their five‑year‑old daughter also lived. The prosecution relied on forensic evidence, the appellant's blood‑stained clothes, and his conduct in leading police to the weapon, while the defence claimed unknown intruders were responsible. The key l…

The appellants were convicted under Section 302 read with Section 149 of the IPC for the murder of Sahabuddin Choudhury. They challenged the convictions on the ground that the prosecution witnesses' statements contained material omissions and contradictions, and that the "last seen together" theory and motive were not …

The appellant, Peethambaran, was charged under Section 420 IPC for allegedly cheating persons by promising jobs in exchange for money. The FIR led to two police final reports: the first concluded the case was false due to lack of evidence, while the second recorded a further investigation ordered by the District Police…

The petitioners, Vasanta Sampat Dupare, were convicted of raping and murdering a four‑year‑old girl and sentenced to death. They sought review, arguing that the trial court violated Section 235(2) of the CrPC by not granting a separate hearing on sentencing, that the State failed to discharge its burden under Bachan Si…

The appellants, a group of fifteen men, were convicted for firing on the complainant's family, causing two deaths and multiple injuries, under Sections 147, 148, 302, 307 read with Section 149 of the IPC. They challenged the convictions on grounds of alleged delay in lodging the FIR and forwarding the express report to…

The Government of Maharashtra framed a scheme to purchase land and allocate it to Scheduled Castes and neo‑Buddhists below the poverty line. While implementing the scheme, the appellant officials executed sale deeds in favour of the Government. A social worker filed a criminal complaint alleging that the land had been …

The appellant, Bhaikon @ Bakul Borah, was convicted of rape (IPC s.376) and murder (IPC s.302) of Rupamoni Dutta based on the testimony of an eye‑witness (PW‑1) corroborated by the victim's father (PW‑2) and the post‑mortem doctor (PW‑9). The trial court sentenced him to death for murder and life imprisonment for rape;…

Three petitioners convicted in the Junior Basic Trained (JBT) teachers recruitment scam appealed their convictions before the Delhi High Court. While the appeal was pending, the respondent, a television producer, sought to broadcast a dramatized episode of "Crime Patrol Dastak" depicting the scam. The petitioners obtai…

The case concerned a mob assault on 5 July 1983 in Siktahar village, where 200‑250 persons, including the accused, forced people out of their houses and attacked them with sharp and blunt weapons, resulting in one death and serious injuries to three others. The trial court convicted the appellants under Section 302 IPC…

Ankush Shivaji Gaikwad and two others were convicted of murder for the death of Nilkanth Pawar after a sudden quarrel over a barking dog, during which Gaikwad struck the victim on the head with an iron pipe. The appellant argued that the incident was a sudden fight without pre‑meditation and that Exception 4 to Section…

The appellant, Arjun, was convicted of murder (s.302 IPC) and causing grievous hurt (s.326 IPC) after he attacked Jagannath and his family during a property dispute, using a large knife to inflict fatal head injuries on the deceased and injuries on the deceased's wife. The appellant claimed he acted in private defence,…

Krishna Kumar Variar, accused under Sections 415 and 420 IPC, was summoned by a Delhi court. He contended that only a Bombay court had jurisdiction and filed a petition under Section 482 of the CrPC in the Delhi High Court, which dismissed his challenge. On appeal, the Supreme Court held that an accused must first appr…

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sought transfer of two kidnapping‑murder cases involving an NSCN (IM) activist from the Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court in Ukhrul, Manipur to a CBI‑court in Delhi under Section 406 of the CrPC. The incidents involved the abduction and killing of three government employees, sp…

The appellant and respondent were parties to commercial transactions in which five cheques issued by the appellant were dishonoured, leading to criminal proceedings under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881. After protracted litigation up to the Supreme Court, the parties reached a settlement and sought…

The petitioner sought anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which the Calcutta High Court rejected. He filed a Special Leave Petition before the Supreme Court challenging that order. The Court examined the record and found no justification to grant anticipatory bail. However, it clarified …

Dayal Singh was convicted under Sections 498A and 302 IPC for cruelty and murder of his wife, Tejinder Kaur, based primarily on her dying declaration recorded by a police head constable in the presence of a doctor. The appellant challenged the admissibility of the declaration, arguing it was not recorded by a magistrat…

Sahebrao and Bhausaheb, husband and brother-in-law of Sangita, repeatedly demanded additional dowry (Rs 10,000 and a tape recorder) after her marriage, subjecting her to mental and physical cruelty. Within four months of marriage Sangita complained of harassment, was beaten, and eventually committed suicide. Her father…

The appellants were charged under Sections 498‑A and 304‑B of the IPC for a dowry‑death. The Additional Sessions Judge granted them bail on 13 November 2000 without recording any reasons, prompting the father of the deceased to move the High Court, which cancelled the bail on the ground that the order was perverse and …

Sil Import USA issued post‑dated cheques that were returned for insufficient funds. Exim Aides Silk Exporters sent a notice of demand to the drawer by fax on 11‑June‑1996 and again by registered post on 25‑June‑1996. A complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act was filed on 8‑August‑1996, beyond the …

The State of Haryana appealed against the Punjab & Haryana High Court’s acquittal of five of eight accused in a murder case involving Tek Singh and Gurdev Singh. The Sessions Court had convicted all eight under Sections 148, 149, 302 and 449 IPC based on eye‑witness testimony, medical reports and circumstantial evidenc…

The petitioner, a mustard oil manufacturer, had 562 bags of mustard seeds and 262 tins of oil seized under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 for alleged licence violations. After the seizure, the Collector, invoking section 6E, ordered the release of the goods to the petitioner, even though confiscation proceedings w…

In 1967, court staff removed used court‑fee stamps from old High Court files and reused them in new cases, prompting an investigation that led to charge‑sheets under sections 262, 263, 467, 471, 380, 420 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code. The accused contended that the offences under sections 467, 471 and 120B IPC fell…

The Supreme Court considered the use of videography at crime scenes as a tool to improve criminal investigations. Submissions highlighted international practice, the benefits of body‑worn cameras, and the need for safeguards under evidentiary law. The Court examined prior judgments on electronic evidence and the admiss…

The appellant, Babubhai Bhimabhai Bokhiria, was summoned as an accused under Section 319 of the CrPC after the trial court relied on a letter written by the deceased a year earlier, in which the deceased alleged the appellant intended to kill him. The Supreme Court examined whether the letter qualified as a dying decla…

The appellant filed a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act against the respondent for dishonoured cheques, after serving a statutory notice on 23‑09‑2008. The complaint was lodged on 07‑10‑2008, i.e., before the expiry of the 15‑day period prescribed in the proviso to Section 138(c). The magist…

The appellant Daya Nand was convicted by the trial court and the High Court for murder under Section 302 IPC and Section 27 of the Arms Act for firing a shotgun that killed Chhajju Ram during an irrigation dispute. The Supreme Court examined whether the facts satisfied the statutory definition of murder under Section 3…

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a charge sheet in a fraud case and later sought the Special Court's permission to produce additional documents that were gathered during the investigation but not submitted with the charge sheet. The Special Court rejected the application, prompting the CBI to appeal to t…

The State of U.P. appealed the acquittal of Sikandar Ali and others, who had been convicted by a trial court for the murder of two brothers‑in‑law, Shamsher Singh and Ramji Tripathi, based on the testimony of two eye‑witnesses (PW‑1 and PW‑2) recorded in the FIR within an hour of the incident. The High Court set aside …

The case concerned the alleged conspiracy by senior officials of the Jammu & Kashmir Power Department to award transport contracts for bamboo poles at inflated per‑kilometre‑per‑pole rates, causing wrongful loss to the State. The prosecution proved that the officials deliberately selected non‑transport firms, fixed unr…

The deceased wife was attacked by her husband, who beat her, poured kerosine on her and set her on fire. She gave two dying declarations, one to an Executive Magistrate on the day of the incident and another to a Sub‑Inspector the following day, both describing the accused's actions. At trial, the Sessions Court convic…

The case involved the murder of Hanumant Singh, allegedly over a dispute concerning gold ornaments, with Mahesh Chander and Mohinder Singh convicted on the basis of eye‑witness testimony. The appellants challenged the conviction, arguing that the FIR was delayed, the names of the accused were omitted, and the refusal t…

Be​gum Subanu, a Muslim wife, filed a petition under Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code seeking maintenance for herself and her minor daughter after her husband, Abdul Gafoor, married a second wife. The lower courts dismissed her claim, holding that the husband's offer to take her back and maintain her negated …

The appellant was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC for allegedly pouring kerosene on his wife and setting her on fire. The prosecution's case relied heavily on a dying declaration recorded by a Judicial Magistrate, which accused the appellant, while earlier statements by the deceased to a doctor and a police c…

The appellant was convicted under Sections 120B, 468 and 471 of the IPC for allegedly preparing a postal cover that transmitted a forged marksheet. The prosecution’s case hinged on the testimony of a handwriting expert who claimed the cover bore the appellant’s handwriting, but the original postal cover was never produ…

The appellants, K.S. Mehta and Basant Kumar Goswami, were non‑executive directors of Blue Coast Hotels & Resorts Ltd. and were implicated in criminal complaints under Section 138 read with Section 141 of the Negotiable Instruments Act for dishonoured cheques issued to repay an inter‑corporate deposit. They neither atte…

The appellant Premchand was convicted by the trial court of murder (s.302 IPC) and attempted murder (s.307 IPC) based on oral testimony of prosecution witnesses, while his written statement under s.313(5) CrPC was not considered. The High Court affirmed the conviction. On appeal, the Supreme Court observed that the tri…

The appellant Satpal was convicted for the murder of his wife Pooja Rani, who died from severe burns after he allegedly poured kerosene on her and set her ablaze. A dying declaration was recorded by a Judicial Magistrate while the victim was still alive and fit to speak, in which she identified the appellant as the ass…

The petitioners, two senior bank officials, challenged a criminal complaint filed under Section 200 of the CrPC alleging that they colluded with an auction purchaser to cause wrongful loss to the borrower, K. Virupaksha, after the bank invoked the SARFAESI Act to enforce a secured loan of Rs.2.68 crore. The borrower’s …

The appellant, a Kanungo, was accused of demanding and accepting a bribe under Sections 7 and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 after a trap was laid by the complainant. Although the trial court acquitted him, the High Court convicted him, sentencing him to one year imprisonment and a fine. On appeal, the…

The appellant, claiming to be the sole proprietor of Vijaya Automobiles, filed a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act against the respondent who issued a cheque in the name of the firm that later bounced. The trial court and appellate court convicted the respondent, but the High Court set aside…

The Supreme Court examined the legality of Shri P.J. Thomas's appointment as Central Vigilance Commissioner under Section 4(1) of the Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003, which was based on a recommendation by the High Powered Committee (HPC). The Court found that the HPC failed to consider material indicating pendi…

Mahesh Chaudhary, a partner of a carpet exporting firm, was alleged to have withheld commission payable to another firm under a 10% commission agreement, leading to a complaint of criminal breach of trust, cheating and forgery. A magistrate ordered an FIR and later took cognizance of offences under IPC sections 420, 46…

The appellants sought registration and mutation of a will dated 3 May 1998, which was contested by the testatrix's heir in both civil and criminal proceedings alleging forgery. While the criminal case (IPC 420, 468, 444, 34) was instituted before the probate suit under the Indian Succession Act, the appellants applied …

The Supreme Court was asked to resolve a conflict between two earlier decisions on whether the Special Tribunal or Special Court created under the Andhra Pradesh Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Act, 1982 could decide questions of adverse possession. The Court examined the provisions of the Act, its non‑obstante clause, and…

The appellants, Ramathal and others, were charged under Sections 120‑B and 420 IPC for allegedly cheating a buyer by misrepresenting the status of a mortgaged property and receiving a large advance. Anticipating arrest, they filed an application for anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.…

The appellants, accused of forging documents and cheating a complainant of Rs.62.62 lakh in a property transaction, sought anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the CrPC. The Madras High Court granted bail on the condition that they deposit title deeds worth Rs.20 lakh and furnish a personal bond. The Supreme Court he…

Renu Kumari, the wife of Respondent No.3, filed a complaint under Section 498A IPC and Sections 3 & 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act alleging dowry harassment. The police registered an FIR and a charge‑sheet was filed. The respondents sought discharge under Section 239 CrPC, which was rejected, and their revision was dis…

An FIR was lodged against several persons, including the appellant Kailash, for offences under various IPC sections, but Kailash was not named in the charge‑sheet. During trial the complainant moved an application under Section 319 of the Code of Criminal Procedure seeking to join Kailash as an accused. The trial court…

Vinay D. Nagar was convicted for the murder of Kalu, a chowkidar who had been a prime witness in an abduction case against Nagar. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence and on Kalu's statement recorded under Section 161 of the CrPC to establish motive. The Supreme Court examined whether that statement could …

The appellant, Reshma Bano, sister of an accused in a kidnapping case, filed a writ petition under Section 482 of the CrPC and Article 226 of the Constitution seeking to quash criminal proceedings initiated against her on the basis of FIR No. 316 of 2007. The FIR merely noted that questioning the sister might be advant…

The respondent, a former peon of K.L.E. Society, filed a private complaint alleging offences under IPC ss.403, 405 and 415 r/w s.34, claiming that salary deductions were made without justification. The Judicial Magistrate took cognizance and issued process, prompting the society to move the Karnataka High Court under s…

The appellant, married to the first respondent, alleged dowry harassment and a FIR was lodged under sections 498A, 323, 504, 506 IPC and sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act. The respondents filed a writ petition under Article 226 seeking quash of the FIR and a stay of arrest. The Allahabad High Court refused …

Bhaurao Punjabrao Gawande, a petroleum transporter, was alleged to have repeatedly engaged in black‑marketing of kerosene and faced several prosecutions under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. The Commissioner of Police, acting under the Prevention of Black Marketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodit…

The wife filed a complaint in Trichy alleging offences under Sections 498‑A, 406 IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act against her husband, his relatives and the husband’s sister, Gowri Ramaswamy. The accused filed petitions under Section 482 CrPC seeking quashment on grounds of frivolous allegations, l…

The case involved six accused who attacked and killed Buchi Reddi with knives, spears and an axe. The trial court convicted all of them under Sections 148 and 302 IPC, and also under Sections 307, 326 and 324 IPC. The High Court set aside the convictions of four accused, reasoning that the FIR did not specify the manne…

The State of Gujarat filed a criminal appeal against Dilipbhai Nathjibhai Patel challenging a High Court order that a prior hearing was required before granting sanction for prosecution under Section 147(1)(d) of the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Act. The appellant had obtained sanction from the District Registrar as m…

The appellant, Raja Yan, was married to Sanalkumari who later committed suicide. The prosecution alleged that the appellant repeatedly demanded dowry before and after the marriage, leading to mental and physical cruelty that caused her death. The trial court acquitted the appellant, but the Kerala High Court reversed t…

The Supreme Court examined an appeal by Deputy Superintendent of Police S.K. Viswambaran (appellant) who sought expunction of adverse remarks made against him by the Kerala High Court in an order relating to petitions filed by two police officers (respondents). The High Court, while considering the respondents' request…

The appellants, Wahid and Anshu, were convicted for robbery under IPC sections 392/397 and for possession of arms under the Arms Act, based on an FIR that named no specific perpetrators. The prosecution’s case relied on the complainant’s identification of the accused at a bus depot two days after the incident and the r…

The appellant, Ramu Appa Mahapatar, was convicted for the murder of his live-in partner Manda based primarily on an extra‑judicial confession he allegedly made to the landlord (PW‑1) and the deceased's brother (PW‑3), which was later endorsed by PW‑4 and PW‑6. The Supreme Court examined whether such a confession, coupl…

The respondent, an Assistant Engineer of the Airports Authority of India, was arrested and convicted for demanding illegal gratification, leading to his dismissal from service. After being acquitted on benefit of doubt in a criminal appeal, he sought reinstatement, but the Authority initiated fresh disciplinary proceed…

The dispute arose from a land acquisition notification where the original compensation award was Rs.24,033 per bigha. The respondents did not file an application under Section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act, but later a reference was made and a Lok Adalat, under Section 20 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, p…

An FIR was lodged under Sections 406, 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120‑B IPC against six persons, including Smt. Rekha Jain and Smt. Minakshi Jain, alleging misappropriation of deposits and the sale of an attached property. The FIR primarily implicated a co‑accused, Arun Kumar Maheshwari, while the only allegation against th…

An FIR was lodged alleging that the appellant and another accused had kidnapped a 17½‑year‑old girl for the purpose of marriage. The complainant later limited her allegations to the other accused, Vikram Roop Rai, and the prosecutrix testified that she had voluntarily married Vikram with family consent and bore two chi…

The appellant, a Sanitary Inspector, was charged under Sections 7, 13(2) and 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act for demanding Rs.500 and a cell phone as bribe from a supervisor to process a contract extension. The trial court acquitted him, but the Madras High Court reversed the acquittal and convicted him, r…

The Enforcement Directorate, invoking the Prevention of Money-Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA), issued a communication on 15 May 2020 directing several banks to debit‑freeze the accounts of Opto Circuit India Ltd. The company challenged the order, seeking its quash and the defreezing of the accounts to enable payment of sta…

The State of Rajasthan appealed against the High Court’s order quashing charges framed by a Special Judge against mining engineer Fatehkaran Mehdu and Kishan Singh Rawat under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The charges alleged that Mehdu, while granting a quarry licence, sanctioned an area of 80,000 sq. ft. on…

The appellants, editors and publishers of Sports World magazine and Anandabazar Patrika, reproduced a semi‑nude photograph of tennis player Boris Becker and his fiancée Barbara, originally published in the German magazine STERN, which was intended to protest apartheid and promote interracial love. A lawyer filed a comp…

The complainant filed a criminal complaint under Sections 147, 148, 149, 323, 448 of the IPC and Section 3 of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. The Sessions Judge held that a prima facie case was made out against the accused. The High Court, however, granted anticipatory ba…

Susanta Ghosh, a sitting MLA, was named in a fourth FIR lodged nine years after a 2002 incident in which seven persons were killed. The earlier three FIRs and charge‑sheets did not mention him. He had earlier been granted anticipatory bail, but the trial court denied regular bail, prompting an appeal to the Calcutta Hi…

The appellant, the complainant, challenged a bail order granted by the Allahabad High Court to accused Kamal Singh, who was charged with murder and related offences. The High Court had allowed bail on the basis of a ballistic report stating that the pellets recovered from the victim could not have been fired from the a…

The State of Madhya Pradesh prosecuted Ramesh (alias Chhinge) and three others for the murder of Ramavtar and attempted murder of two others. The trial court convicted them under IPC s.302 and s.302 r.w. s.34, and also under the Arms Act. The Madhya Pradesh High Court acquitted the accused, relying on alleged discrepan…

The petitioner, Dalbir Singh, filed a writ petition alleging that his 17‑year‑old son, Somvir Singh (Sonu), died as a result of custodial torture by Noida police and that the police attempted to portray the death as a suicide. The State of Uttar Pradesh responded that an FIR had been lodged, police officials were charg…

Jitendra Panchal was arrested in Austria, extradited to the United States and convicted under the US Controlled Substances Act for conspiracy to possess and distribute hashish, serving a 54‑month sentence. After deportation to India, he was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau and charged under the NDPS Act for imp…

Nine persons were convicted of murder under IPC s.302 read with s.149, 147 and 148 based largely on the testimony of PW‑6, the brother of the deceased. Three of the convicted appealed, arguing that PW‑6, being a close relative, was a partisan witness and that the dying declaration did not name them. The Supreme Court h…

Petitioner Sube Singh alleged that police illegally detained and tortured him and his family while trying to locate his son, who had killed a constable. He filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking directions to stop the alleged atrocities and compensation as a public law remedy for violation of Article 21. The Co…

The case arose from a criminal complaint alleging that the deceased Priyamvada Devi Birla (PDB) and her husband Madhav Prasad Birla (MPB) had created five mutual trusts intended for charitable institutions, which were later allegedly revoked and the assets misappropriated through a forged will in favour of R.S. Lodha. …

The deceased, a witness in a murder case, was shot dead at his home by the accused who sought to silence him. The trial court, relying on eye‑witness testimony and a post‑mortem report showing multiple gunshot injuries, convicted the accused under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC and sentenced them to life imprisonment. …

Six accused were tried for murder (IPC s.302). The Sessions Court acquitted them, but the High Court on appeal convicted one under s.304(II), another under s.325 and the remaining four under s.325 read with s.149, even though the trial court had not framed a charge under s.149. The appellants contended that conviction …

The appellants forged a certified copy of a Jamabandi (Rent Roll) and introduced it in a court of Executive Magistrate during proceedings under Section 145 of the CrPC. A complaint alleging forgery offences (IPC §§ 468, 469, 471) was filed before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, who forwarded it to police, leading to an …

The State of Uttar Pradesh alleged that a large mob of villagers attacked a scheduled‑caste marriage party, killing 14 and injuring 7. The key issue was whether the mob constituted an unlawful assembly with the common object of killing the Doms, and whether the accused could be held liable under Section 149 IPC based o…

The appellant was found with 200 gold biscuits concealed in his house and gave a written confession to Customs officers under Section 108 of the Customs Act, which he later retracted. The issue before the Supreme Court was whether such a statement, recorded before the appellant became an accused, was admissible under S…

The complainant, Archna Guha, filed a private complaint in 1977 alleging torture by five police officers in 1974. Two of the accused, Santosh De and Ranjit Guha Niyogi, sought discharge under Section 245(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code, arguing that the prosecution had failed to produce all evidence within four years…

The Allahabad High Court, hearing a writ petition filed by the Association of Retired Supreme Court and High Court Judges, directed the Uttar Pradesh Government to notify rules framed by the Chief Justice concerning domestic help and other post‑retirement benefits for former judges, and later held a recall application …

Satish P. Bhatt and Vishwanath R. Nayak, directors of Astral Glass Pvt Ltd, were convicted under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act and sentenced to ten months imprisonment with a compensation liability of Rs.1.10 crore. They entered into a settlement undertaking on 3 July 2018 to pay Rs.4.63.5 lakh to the c…

The appellants, Neeraj Sharma and Ashwani Kumar Yadav, abducted an 18‑year‑old student, attempted to murder him by strangulation and burning, and stole his money and phone. The trial court and High Court convicted them under Sections 307/120B, 364‑A, and 392/397 of the IPC, imposing life imprisonment for the 364‑A char…

The appellant, Brij Narayan Shukla, purchased a 3500 sq. ft. plot by a registered sale deed dated 21 January 1966 and sought an injunction with alternative relief for possession after the respondents obstructed construction in 1975. The respondents claimed title by adverse possession, alleging continuous possession sin…

The respondent was arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Indian Penal Code and the Arms Act, and the investigation period of 90 days expired on 15 September 2020. The investigating officer obtained two extensions, first to 11 November 2020 and then, on 7 November 2020, a further 30‑day extension …

The appellant, Perumal Raja, was detained during an investigation into a separate murder and gave a disclosure statement that led police to recover the body parts of his cousin, Rajini, and other stolen items. The key issue was whether the appellant was "in custody" for the purposes of Section 27 of the Evidence Act de…

Writ Petition (Criminal) No. 113 of 2016 and Special Leave Petition (Diary) No. 34629 of 2017 were referred to a Constitution Bench to answer five questions concerning the scope of freedom of speech under Article 19(1)(a) and the enforceability of fundamental rights against non-State actors. The petitions arose from st…

The appellant, a serving army Naik, was convicted under Section 498-A IPC for cruelty towards his wife and sentenced to three years' simple imprisonment. After his conviction, the parties entered into a genuine settlement, resumed cohabitation, and the wife was nominated as his service record nominee. The High Court, n…

The appellant, a retired bank employee, obtained a loan of Rs.27 lakh from a money‑lending company whose director (respondent No.2) later filed a criminal complaint alleging non‑payment and threats. The High Court dismissed the appellant's Section 482 CrPC application to quash the FIR and the charge‑sheet, holding that…

The Supreme Court examined the appeal of three accused (Nalini, Kishore Bhadke and Satish) convicted of murder, abduction and related offences arising from a land‑transaction dispute that led to the killing of Raman. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence – motive established by the land deal, the victim’s l…

The appellant, a husband, was charged with cruelty, dowry harassment and abetment of suicide after his wife, Girija, died by consuming poison in their matrimonial home within seven years of marriage. The trial court acquitted all accused, but the Karnataka High Court convicted the husband under Sections 498A and 306, r…

Jagat Singh (A‑1) and three others were involved in a land‑dispute altercation that escalated into a free fight during which the deceased, Bachittar Singh, was stabbed and later died. The trial court acquitted all accused, but the High Court convicted A‑1 under Sections 302 and 307 IPC read with Section 34, sentencing …

The State of Kerala appealed a Kerala High Court order granting bail to Dr. Raneef, a dental surgeon accused of aiding assailants who assaulted a college professor and severed his right palm. The prosecution alleged that Dr. Raneef, a member of the Popular Front of India (PFI), had pre‑arranged to provide medical treat…

The accused were tried for offences under several IPC sections, including arson and assault, and were acquitted by the trial court. The State of Himachal Pradesh sought leave to appeal the acquittal under Section 378 of the CrPC, but the High Court dismissed the application with a one‑word order, "Dismissed," without p…

The appellant, a police officer supervising a dacoity case, ordered a warrantless search of the residence of Respondent No.2, the father of a suspect, which led to a complaint alleging harassment. The Judicial Magistrate took cognizance of offences under IPC sections 342, 389, 469, 471 and 1208, and the appellant sough…

The appellant, Tuhin Kumar Biswas, was charged under IPC sections 341, 354C and 506 for allegedly restraining a complainant and voyeuristically photographing her when she attempted to enter a disputed property. The complainant claimed intimidation and intrusion of privacy, while the appellant argued that he was enforci…

Rousanara Begum married S.K. Salahuddin in 2005 and divorced him in 2011. At the time of marriage her father gave Rs 7 lakh and 30 bhori of gold, which the appellant sought to recover under Section 3 of the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986. Lower courts awarded partial amounts, but the Calcutta …

The appellant was accused of raping and murdering a ten‑year‑old girl in 2009, with the prosecution relying primarily on the testimony of the victim's seven‑year‑old cousin and recovered clothing items. The trial court convicted him under IPC sections 376, 302, 201 and the SC/ST Act, imposing the death penalty, which t…

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered an FIR in 2021 against 18 persons, including former Kerala Police and Intelligence Bureau officials, for allegedly filing false espionage cases against ISRO scientists. The FIR was filed following a Supreme Court‑directed committee report (Justice D.K. Jain) that rec…

The appellant, Nimay Sah, elder brother of the deceased's husband, was convicted under Section 498-A read with Section 34 IPC for alleged dowry harassment leading to the death of his sister‑in‑law, Asha Kumari. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses and found that, apart from…

In Paramvir Singh Saini v. Baljit Singh & Ors., the Supreme Court revisited its earlier directions (April 3, 2018) requiring the use of photography and videography at crime scenes. The Court noted that compliance affidavits filed by 14 States and 2 Union Territories were inadequate, lacking details on the exact locatio…

The appellants (husband, father‑in‑law and mother‑in‑law) were convicted under Section 304B IPC for dowry death based on a claim that the deceased was poisoned after demanding Rs 10 lakhs. The Supreme Court examined whether the prosecution proved the essential ingredients of a dowry death – marriage within seven years,…

The appellant and his son were involved in a family land dispute with their brother (the informant). After a verbal altercation, the appellant fetched a 12‑bore DBBL gun and fired at the informant, killing him, and subsequently shot at the informant's wife and two friends, killing one and injuring another. The trial co…

The case arose from the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, for which several accused were convicted and sentenced to death, later commuted to life imprisonment by the Supreme Court. The State of Tamil Nadu proposed to remit the life sentences of the convicts, prompting the Union of India to file a wri…

The appellant, Sujoy Mitra, was charged with rape of an Irish citizen (PW5) and the trial court recorded PW5's testimony via video conference. The appellant challenged the procedure under Section 482 of the CrPC, arguing it was unfair and seeking access to the video recording. The High Court had prescribed a set of saf…

A complaint alleged that a former MLA and her husband conspired to illegally obtain government land using forged documents. The Special Judge framed charges, which the High Court set aside, quashed the charges against all accused, and transferred the case to another court, claiming the accused were denied a fair trial …

The appellant, a Congress party member, was accused of instigating party workers to fire on BJP supporters, resulting in a murder eight days later. He applied for anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the CrPC, which the High Court rejected. The Supreme Court, relying on the Constitution Bench decision in Sibbia's cas…

Julien Educational Trust, which runs a school, sought to purchase adjacent land owned by eight co‑sharers for expansion. An oral agreement was reached, draft deeds were prepared and approved by most sellers, but execution was delayed and the sellers later attempted to sell the land to third parties. The Trust filed a s…

The dispute arose when a servant, Shanichar, left Satish Chandra's tea shop over wage issues and joined Rakesh Bahal. This led to a heated altercation during which Rakesh Bahal, armed with a knife, inflicted injuries on Satish Chandra. Rakesh, his mother Raj Bahal and sister Neelam Bahal were convicted by the trial cou…

The appellant issued a cheque of Rs.95,000 to discharge a lawful debt, which was later dishonoured for insufficient funds. He was convicted under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act and sentenced, with the conviction affirmed by the High Court. The parties subsequently settled their dispute and sought to comp…

The case involved six accused persons charged under IPC sections 302, 149 and 148 for the murder of four individuals. The trial court convicted four of the accused and sentenced them to death. The Allahabad High Court, however, acquitted the accused and dismissed the State's appeal. The complainant (informant) and the …

The trial court acquitted the accused of murder, but the High Court convicted them under Sections 302 read with 149 and 148 of the IPC. The appellants argued that the FIR was lodged late, that the eye‑witnesses (PW‑1 and PW‑4) gave contradictory and unreliable statements, that their testimony conflicted with the post‑m…

The accused were intercepted while carrying opium and were served a notice under Section 50 of the NDPS Act informing them of their right to be searched before a gazetted officer or magistrate. They declined that option and were searched by a narcotics officer, leading to the seizure of 200 g of opium and conviction un…

P. Muniappan, an assistant professor, was charged with murdering his wife Nagammal after she was found hanging in their kitchen with burn injuries and signs of struggle. The prosecution relied on extensive circumstantial evidence—Muniappan's motive to obtain a divorce and a second marriage, his exclusive presence in th…

The Supreme Court examined the murder of Divakaran, for which four accused, including Pushparajan (A‑3) and Murali (A‑4), were convicted under IPC sections 302 and 324 read with section 34 and sentenced to life imprisonment. The appellants argued that A‑3 should only be liable for the assault (section 324) and that all…

The State of Maharashtra filed a criminal appeal against the quashing of FIR No.185/2019 and the charge‑sheet against Dr. Maroti, a medical practitioner, who was alleged to have failed to report sexual assaults on minor tribal girls in a hostel as required under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) A…

A two‑and‑a‑half‑year‑old girl was abducted, brutally raped and murdered by her maternal uncle, Shatrughna Baban Meshram. The trial court convicted the appellant under Sections 302, 376(1), 376(2)(f,i,m) and 376A of the IPC and Section 6 of the POCSO Act, imposing death sentences on the charges of murder and rape‑resul…

The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) was granted lease of government land to build a world‑class cricket stadium, later receiving additional land for a club house and a hotel at commercial rates. Two FIRs were filed alleging illegal lease grants, cheating, criminal breach of trust and violations of the Preve…

The case involved twelve accused members of an ashram who were charged with murdering a woman, Leelavathi, who was a trustee of the ashram. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, including the fact that the accused were last seen with the deceased, distress cries heard by a neighbor, commotion in the ashram…

The State of Maharashtra transferred a group of under‑trial prisoners from Arthur Road Jail in Bombay to other jails, citing overcrowding and security concerns, and the jail authorities later used force to quell a disturbance involving some of those prisoners. The prisoners filed writ petitions alleging that the transf…

The appellant Savitri Goenka challenged a Delhi High Court order that had converted a criminal miscellaneous petition filed under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CPC) into a bail application under Section 438 CPC and granted interim protection, without serving notice on her. The High Court had earlier di…

The respondents, life convicts sentenced in 1988 for murder, challenged a 2002 executive policy of the State of Haryana that set new criteria for premature release of life prisoners based on the nature and number of murders. The Punjab Prison Rules and Section 433A of the CrPC required a minimum of 14 years’ imprisonme…

The appellant was charged under Section 138 read with Section 142 of the Negotiable Instruments Act for dishonouring a cheque. The complainant sent a legal notice to the appellant, which was returned stamped "house locked". The trial magistrate dismissed the complaint on the ground that the notice was not served. The A…

The State of Himachal Pradesh appealed the acquittal of Lekh Raj and Diwan Chand for the alleged rape of a 55‑year‑old widow. The prosecution relied on the victim's testimony, her injuries, and forensic evidence of blood and semen on her torn salwar. The High Court had set aside the conviction on the grounds that the i…

The State of Haryana prosecuted Manoj Kumar for the death of Chetan, alleging that Kumar repeatedly pursued the brothers on a motorcycle and deliberately ran Chetan over with his car, causing fatal injuries. The sole eye‑witness, Rohan, the victim’s brother, testified to the entire sequence of events, and his testimony…