Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

The appellant, Chenoa (also known as Chanda Ram), was convicted under Section 302 IPC for the death of Ramgulal during a village quarrel and sentenced to life imprisonment. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined whether the killing qualified as culpable homicide not amounting to murder under Exception 4 to Section 300 I…

Jyoti Mishra, the estranged wife of Dhananjaya Mishra, filed an FIR under Section 498-A of the IPC against her husband and five others in Hyderabad. The case was pending before the 5th Metropolitan Magistrate, Cyberabad. After moving to Indore, she filed transfer petitions (Criminal Nos. 94‑95 of 2010) seeking to shift…

The appellant, Shaikh Sattar, was convicted under Sections 302 and 498A IPC for murdering his wife, who was found dead with head injuries and a heavy stone nearby. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, including the husband's demand for money, prior abuse, the location of the body and stone, and medical te…

Mohd. Qureshi filed a complaint alleging extortion by Arun Gawali and his gang, which was registered as FIR No. 241/2005. He later claimed that the police forced him to lodge the complaint and applied before the Metropolitan Magistrate to withdraw it; the application was rejected. The complainant and his wife approache…

Haru Ghosh was convicted of murdering a woman (Anima) and her 12‑year‑old son (Subhankar) and of attempting to murder a 60‑year‑old man (Jeevan Krishna) under IPC sections 302, 307 and 326, receiving a death sentence and additional rigorous imprisonments. The Supreme Court examined the voluminous eyewitness and medical…

Sardara Singh was acquitted by the trial court of offences under Section 15 of the NDPS Act. The State of Himachal Pradesh filed an application under Section 378(3) of the CrPC seeking leave to appeal the acquittal. The Himachal Pradesh High Court dismissed the application summarily with a one‑word order, "Dismissed", …

Girja Prasad, a lower‑division clerk, was alleged to have accepted Rs 200 as a bribe on behalf of his superior, the Divisional Ayurved Chikitsa Adhikari, after a trap was laid by the complainant and police officials. The trial court acquitted him, deeming the key witnesses (the complainant and a police inspector) as in…

The appellant Munna was convicted under the IPC, TADA and the Arms Act for participating in a robbery in which a lady’s gold bangles were taken. The prosecution’s case rested on the testimony of three eye‑witnesses who identified Munna for the first time in court, as no prior test identification parade (TIP) had been h…

The appellants conspired to rob Hazi Mohd. Yakub and, when he resisted, three of them stabbed him repeatedly with knives, causing his death and stealing cash and drafts. The trial court convicted them of culpable homicide not amounting to murder under Section 304 Part I IPC, but the Andhra Pradesh High Court altered th…

The appellant, Bhaskar Industries Ltd., filed a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act before a Judicial Magistrate in Bhopal. The magistrate issued summons, and when the second accused, Bhiwani Denim and Apparels Ltd., failed to appear, he applied for exemption from personal appearance under Sec…

The petition, filed by Smt. Sarojini Ramaswami on behalf of her husband Justice V. Ramaswami, sought a mandamus directing the Inquiry Committee constituted under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968 to furnish a copy of its report to the Judge before it was submitted to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, alleging a violation of n…

The Supreme Court examined a public interest litigation filed by H.S. Chowdhary under Article 51A challenging the Central Bureau of Investigation's request to issue a Letter Rogatory to Switzerland in the Bofors scandal. The Court held that the petitioner and intervening parties (Janata Dal, CPI(M), Indian Congress (So…

Lance Naik Gursewak Singh and Lance Naik Kala Singh, both serving in the Indian Army, consumed liquor and got into a heated argument over seniority. Singh seized Kala's rifle and fired a single bullet, killing him. A court‑martial convicted Singh under IPC s.302 read with Army Act s.69, sentencing him to life imprisonm…

The borrower, M/s R.D. Jain & Co., challenged the Bombay High Court’s interpretation that the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) and District Magistrate (DM) under Section 14 of the SARFAESI Act are not persona designata and that the terms include their additional counterparts. The secured creditor, Capital First Ltd.…

The Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of most provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA), including the definition of money-laundering, attachment of property, search and seizure, arrest, bail conditions, and burden of proof. The Court interpreted Section 3 to have a wider reach, c…

The Supreme Court examined a criminal appeal challenging the summoning of the husband’s relatives under Section 498A of the IPC in a dowry‑harassment case. It observed that a large number of 498A cases are filed in the heat of the moment, often without bona‑fide evidence, leading to uncalled‑for arrests and hardship to…

An FIR was lodged in April 1984 under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code alleging that the appellant, then Managing Director of a district agency, conspired with a Deputy Commissioner to award a contract to a private firm. The State Government denied sanction for prosecution on two occasions (19…

The Supreme Court heard an appeal by Bhaskar Lal Sharma and Vimla Sharma against a Delhi High Court order that quashed a summoning order issued under Sections 498A, 403, 405, 406 and 34 of the IPC. The Court examined the complaint filed by Monica, the wife of Vikas Sharma, and found that the allegations did not satisfy…

Monica filed criminal proceedings against her husband Satish Sharma and in‑laws, and sought attachment of a jointly‑owned property in Jaipur under Section 83 of the CrPC. She later moved transfer petitions to shift the revision petition, the execution proceedings, and a Section 482 petition from the courts in Jaipur to…

The appellant, Japani Sahoo, filed a criminal complaint on 5 February 1996 alleging assault and extortion by the respondent, an Inspector of Police. The Sub‑Divisional Judicial Magistrate took cognizance of the complaint only on 8 August 1997, more than a year after the alleged offence, and later issued summons and a n…

The case involved six accused, of whom four were convicted under IPC sections 307/34, 324/34 and 323/34 for a violent assault. The trial court sentenced them, and the High Court upheld convictions under sections 324/34 and 323/34 but acquitted on 307/34. On appeal, the accused argued that the High Court failed to consi…

In 1988, a senior police officer allegedly slapped the posterior of a female officer at a dinner party, an act reported to senior officials but not acted upon. The victim and her husband later filed a criminal complaint before the Chief Judicial Magistrate alleging offences under Sections 341, 342, 352, 354, 355 and 50…

The State of Andhra Pradesh filed FIRs under the Andhra Pradesh Excise Act, 1968 and the Prohibition Act, 1995 alleging that the accused had transported or stored black jaggery/molasses for the manufacture of illicit liquor. The accused obtained quashing of the FIRs from the Andhra Pradesh High Court under Section 482 …

The appellant, a woman who obtained a divorce by mutual consent under Section 13(B) of the Hindu Marriage Act, later filed an application for maintenance under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The trial magistrate dismissed the application, holding that a divorcee could not claim maintenance, but the Sess…

The petitioners Shabnam and Salim, convicted of multiple murders and sentenced to death, challenged the issuance of death warrants by the Sessions Judge merely six days after the Supreme Court dismissed their appeals. The Court held that the warrants were issued in haste without allowing the convicts to exhaust their s…

The case involved the kidnapping, ransom demands and subsequent murder of Parkash Chadha. Respondent No.1, Vikas Choudhary, initially did not claim to be a juvenile but later applied for transfer to the Juvenile Justice Board, producing a school leaving certificate. The trial court relied on a medical bone‑age report a…

The wife and husband entered into a registered customary divorce agreement in 1996, with the wife receiving permanent alimony. The husband remarried in 1998, and ten years later the wife filed a complaint alleging cruelty under Section 498A IPC and bigamy under Section 494 IPC, leading to an FIR. The High Court exercis…

Dr. Monica Kumar and her brother filed petitions under s.482 CrPC to quash two criminal cases filed against them while they were MBBS students, alleging that the complaints were motivated by the vindictive actions of the college chairman, Dr. P. Mahalingam, after a loan dispute. The High Court refused to quash the proc…

The petitioner, a wife, filed a divorce on the ground of desertion and later challenged a criminal complaint filed by her husband under IPC s.497 accusing Dharma Ebenezer of adultery with her. She argued that s.497 violated Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution by discriminating against women and denying the alleged v…

The appellant, a known acquaintance of the victim's family, entered the home of a blind Scheduled Caste woman and raped her, after which he was apprehended at the scene. The trial courts convicted him under Section 376(1) of the IPC and Section 3(2)(v) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocit…

The Supreme Court entertained a suo motu contempt petition filed against Vijay Kurle, Rashid Khan Pathan and Nilesh Ojha for circulating letters containing scandalous and scurrilous allegations against two Supreme Court judges. The Court examined whether it could initiate contempt proceedings without the consent of the…

The State of Gujarat appealed the discharge of Mansukhbhai Kanjibhai Shah, a trustee of Sumandeep Charitable Trust which runs a deemed university, under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The charge sheet alleged that Shah demanded Rs 20 lakhs to allow a student to appear for examinations, constituting a corrupt p…

The appellants were named in FIR No. 53 of 2000 for offences under the IPC and the SC/ST Act but were not arraigned as accused. After the trial commenced, the complainant applied under Section 319 of the Code of Criminal Procedure to summon the appellants as additional accused. The trial court, relying solely on the co…

Harijan Bhalateja, the husband of pregnant Jivibai, was accused of murdering her by strangulation on 20 February 1985 and then hastily burying the body without informing her relatives. The body was exhumed and a post‑mortem revealed a half‑round neck injury, fracture of the hyoid bone and a protruding tongue, all indic…

Balram Yadav filed a suit in the Family Court of Ambikapur seeking a declaration that Fulmania Yadav was not his legally married wife. The Family Court decreed in his favour, declaring the marriage invalid. Fulmania Yadav appealed to the Chhattisgarh High Court, which set aside the decree, holding that the Family Court…

The appellant, a police officer, was summoned in a private complaint alleging assault, kidnapping and other offences while investigating a death. He moved the High Court under CrPC s.482 to quash the proceedings, contending that the magistrate could not take cognizance without prior sanction from the State Government u…

The case arose from the transfer of a corruption trial involving J. Jayalalithaa from Tamil Nadu to Karnataka. Karnataka appointed Bhavani Singh as Special Public Prosecutor for the trial, but Tamil Nadu later attempted to authorize him to appear before the Karnataka High Court for the appeal. The Supreme Court held th…

Masroor filed a criminal appeal against the State of U.P. seeking cancellation of bail granted by the Allahabad High Court to the second accused, Chhunnu @ Chhidda, who was charged with offences under IPC sections 147, 148, 149, 302 and 307 arising from a mob attack that resulted in two deaths and multiple injuries. Th…

The appellant, a watchman, was convicted of kidnapping, rape, robbery and murder of a ten‑year‑old girl based solely on circumstantial evidence and an extra‑judicial confession. The trial court sentenced him to death, a decision affirmed by the High Court. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined whether the circumstantia…

In a criminal trial (CC 341/99), the trial court allowed the examination of three defence witnesses. Respondent No.1 challenged this order by filing a revision petition. The Andhra Pradesh High Court, relying on an earlier stay order, suspended the trial court's order and directed the trial court to dispose of the case…

The accused Yusuf was convicted for murder under Section 302 IPC based primarily on the victim Sugra's dying declaration. The Rajasthan High Court acquitted him, holding that the dying declaration contained false statements about pregnancy, marital status, and family members, rendering it unreliable. The State appealed…

The case involved eleven accused who were convicted of offences under Sections 148, 149, 302 (Part II), 325, 324 and 323 of the IPC for forming an armed unlawful assembly that resulted in the death of Habib. The State and the complainant appealed the acquittals on the main charge of murder, while the accused challenged…

Respondent No.2 lodged a police FIR and, a week later, the appellant filed a criminal complaint. The respondent sought discharge of the complaint under Section 245 CrPC, which was denied, and then moved a petition under Section 482 CrPC alleging that the complaint was a retaliatory "counter‑blast". The Patna High Court…

The appellants were convicted by a trial court for offences under Sections 307 and 323 read with Section 34 of the IPC, which the High Court later altered to Sections 324 and 323 read with Section 34. Both the complainant and the accused filed an application under Section 320 of the Code of Criminal Procedure seeking p…

The case concerned the alleged abetment of suicide by Kailashi Bai, the wife of a deceased civil judge, under Sections 306 and 107 of the IPC. The prosecution alleged that she harassed her husband because of caste differences, leading to his suicide, and filed a charge sheet. Kailashi Bai filed a petition under Section…

The State of Madhya Pradesh charged Virendra Kumar Tripathi, a former Forest Department ranger, under Sections 13(1)(c) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 for possessing assets disproportionate to his known income. Tripathi contended that the investigation was conducted by an unauthorised officer and t…

On 5 August 1990 the deceased Sohan Lal was allegedly attacked by brothers Raj Pal and Jai Pal, who were said to have struck him with a pharsi and a lathi, leading to his death. The trial court convicted them under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC and sentenced them to life imprisonment, a decision upheld by…

V.K. Puri, a customs officer, was charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (s.13(2) read with s.13(1)(e)) for possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income during the 1988‑2002 check period. He owned bank accounts and immovable property in Delhi, the rental income from a Delhi flat being…

The appellant, armed with a knife, inflicted three blows on the victim who had been restrained by two co‑accused after a dispute over a Rs 5 loan. The victim died from injuries to the chest and back. The trial court convicted the appellant under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code for murder and acquitted the other th…

The State of Himachal Pradesh prosecuted Uttam Kumar and others for the murder of Ramesh Kumar. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, last‑seen testimony, and several disclosure statements made by the accused that led to the recovery of the victim’s body and related items. The trial court convicted the acc…

The complainant Hamida filed an FIR alleging that her husband Balla was attacked, resulting in serious injuries and later death. The accused were initially granted bail by the Chief Judicial Magistrate for offences under Sections 324, 352 and 506 IPC, which are bailable. After Balla's death, the offence was upgraded to…

The Bar Council of India filed a writ petition under Article 32 challenging Rule 11 of the Kerala High Court Rules, which bars an advocate found guilty of contempt from appearing, acting or pleading in any court until he purges the contempt. The Council argued that the rule violated Articles 14 and 19(1)(g) of the Cons…

The appellant Joseph was convicted of murder (Sec. 302 IPC) and robbery (Sec. 392 IPC) for allegedly luring Gracy, a convent worker, away on a false pretext, assaulting her, stealing her ornaments and causing her death by laying her on a railway track. The trial court acquitted him on all charges, but the Kerala High C…

The appellants, Mangilal and others, were convicted under IPC sections 147 and 307 and appealed to the Madhya Pradesh High Court. While the appeal was listed, the counsel were absent because lawyers were on strike, leading the High Court to dismiss the appeal for want of prosecution and to comment on the reasons for th…

The appellant, R. Shashirekha, filed a complaint alleging that her husband had been cheated, blackmailed and forced to commit suicide by his business partners (respondents 2 and 3) and a manager (respondent 4). The FIR was registered under Sections 306, 420, 506 and 34 of the IPC, but the respondents obtained a quash o…

The Supreme Court examined whether the day on which a magistrate orders remand under Section 167(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 should be counted in the 60/90‑day period prescribed for filing a charge‑sheet, the expiry of which gives an accused an indefeasible right to default bail. Relying on the earlier d…

The appellant, convicted and sentenced to death for the 1994 murder of five women and two children, claimed he was a juvenile at the time of the offence, asserting an age of 12 years based on school birth certificates and other documents. After earlier petitions were dismissed, the Supreme Court referred the matter to …

The Central Government assigned the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) to investigate a group of companies under an order dated 20‑06‑2018, directing a report within three months. The SFIO arrested Rahul Modi and others on 10‑12‑2018, after the three‑month period had expired, leading the petitioners to file habe…

The Supreme Court, hearing a suo motu contempt petition (CrL.) No.1 of 2019, affirmed that advocate Mathews J. Nedumpara had committed contempt of court for statements made in the face of the Court. He tendered an affidavit of apology and was sentenced to three months' imprisonment, suspended on condition of future goo…

The case involved the murder of Murugan and his sister Poomari following marital discord between Murugan and his wife Muthulakshmi. Four accused—Ponnu, Ganapathi, Chitravelu, and Muthulakshmi—were charged under IPC s.302 and s.302/34. The trial court convicted all four; the Madras High Court upheld the convictions of G…

The appellant filed a complaint under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 alleging corruption in a drinking‑water project and sought investigation and FIR registration against several public servants, including the first respondent who was incorrectly described as Principal Secretary, PHED. The Special Judge dismiss…

Satpal Singh was charged under Sections 22 and 29 of the NDPS Act and applied for anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the CrPC, claiming parity with his brothers who had been granted anticipatory bail by a coordinate bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The High Court rejected his application, noting that the…

The petition sought directions to the Union and State governments to prevent honour crimes, including honour killings, by mandating a national and state plan of action, special cells, and prosecution of offenders. The Court held that any torture or interference with an adult's choice of marriage, even if sanctioned by …

The Supreme Court considered a petition under Section 482 of the CrPC seeking quashment of an FIR registered under Sections 307, 324, 323 and 34 IPC after the accused and complainant settled their dispute through a village Panchayat. The High Court had refused to accept the compromise, relying solely on the seriousness…

The Supreme Court examined a complaint alleging offences under Sections 323, 380 and 506 read with Section 34 IPC, where the accused resided outside the territorial jurisdiction of the Judicial Magistrate who had examined the complainant and two witnesses under Section 200 CrPC before issuing summons. The appellants co…

The case concerned an application by the CBI for a pardon under s.306 CrPC in a corruption investigation where the offence was triable by a Special Judge under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The Metropolitan Magistrate granted the pardon to the co‑accused during the investigation, a decision later challenged b…

Homi Rajvansh, an executive director of NAFED, was charged along with the managing director, Alok Ranjan, for alleged misappropriation of funds in non‑agricultural tie‑ups. The CBI filed a charge‑sheet under IPC sections 120B, 409, 411, 420, 467, 468 and 471. Alok Ranjan filed a writ petition under Section 482 of the C…

Sundeep Kumar Bafna, convicted of offences punishable with death or life imprisonment, applied to the Bombay High Court for surrender and regular bail under s.439 CrPC after his anticipatory bail was denied. The High Court dismissed the bail plea, holding that only a magistrate could entertain it and directing the appe…

Sunil Kumar was convicted under Section 7 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 for possessing and selling large quantities of blue kerosene and was sentenced to one year imprisonment and a fine. His appeal against the conviction was dismissed by the High Court, and a subsequent application seeking modification of the…

Kaliben Rabari was convicted under IPC Section 304 (Part I) and sentenced to ten years' imprisonment, with a compensation award of Rs.5 lakh under Sec.357 of the CrPC. The Gujarat High Court altered the conviction to Section 304 (Part II), reduced the imprisonment to two and a half years, and also reduced the compensat…

Mis Parakh Foods Ltd., the manufacturer of "Shaktimaan Refined Soyabean Oil", was prosecuted for alleged misbranding under Rule 37 D of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules, 1955 after a public analyst claimed that the label’s pictures of various vegetables exaggerated the quality of the oil. The High Court held t…

During a marriage party, the appellant Suresh Kumar took a knife from his trouser pocket and stabbed Sanjeev Kumar, the son of PW‑1, causing his death. The trial court convicted the appellant under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for murder, relying on the testimony of PW‑3 and PW‑4, which the appellant chal…

The Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board filed a complaint under the Water and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 alleging that Mohan Meakins Ltd. and its directors and manager discharged noxious effluents into the River Gomti, violating sections 24 and 43 of the Act. The Chief Judicial Magistrate iss…

Pattu Lal was convicted of murdering his wife Chameli Devi under Section 302 IPC. The prosecution’s case rested on the deposition of the investigating officer that the son, Bishan Dial, lodged the FIR and produced his father with blood‑stained clothes and the weapon (toka) at the police station. Bishan later turned hos…

The respondent, S.K. Sharma, a bank manager, was charged with temporary misappropriation of a loan amount and was removed from service after a departmental enquiry. The enquiry officer relied on statements of witnesses, but the respondent was not supplied copies of those statements nor of certain documents as required …

In 1975 a nine‑year‑old boy, Sanjay, was kidnapped and murdered during a Holi festival in Tinsukhia, Assam. Henry Westmuller Roberts, Sunil Chandra Biswas and two others were arrested; all four made confessional statements before a Judicial Magistrate after being given only three hours for reflection. The trial court a…

The petitioners challenged the constitutional validity of the amendments to the Customs Act, 1962 and the arrest provisions in the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, arguing that offences under these statutes remain non‑cognizable and that authorized officers must obtain a magistrate's warrant, relying on the Om…

The appellants, a husband and wife, were charged in two FIRs (2010 and 2011) for offences under the IPC and the IT Act. They contended that the second FIR was based on a complaint under Section 156(3) of the CrPC that was not accompanied by an affidavit, thereby violating the Supreme Court’s direction in Priyanka Sriva…

The appellant, brother of the deceased, challenged the Bombay High Court's refusal to grant leave to appeal an acquittal of Mahesh Prakash Ahuja for murder. The trial court had acquitted the accused due to lack of reliable circumstantial evidence and inconsistencies in witness testimonies. The High Court denied leave w…

The State of Chhattisgarh appealed against the High Court’s order that acquitted accused Ashok Bhoi and upheld the acquittal of co‑accused Vikash Khubwani in a murder‑related case. The prosecution’s case was based solely on circumstantial evidence, notably the testimony of a witness who saw the deceased with Ashok Bhoi…

The deceased Shilpa alleged that her sister‑in‑law Chanchal/Babita set her on fire and, in a dying declaration, named only her sister‑in‑law. The FIR initially listed nine persons, including the appellants, for offences under Sections 302 IPC, 498A IPC and the Dowry Prohibition Act, but the charge‑sheet named only Chan…

The appellant, a young man, trespassed into the victim's house and poured acid on her head after his marriage proposal was rejected, causing grievous hurt. He was convicted under Sections 326 and 448 of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced by the trial court to one year of rigorous imprisonment with fines. The High Cour…

The appellant, State of Himachal Pradesh, appealed against the High Court's order that substituted the imprisonment of the accused, Ram Pal, with a fine of Rs 40,000 for causing the death of a 20‑year‑old girl by rash and negligent driving. The Supreme Court examined whether the fine was adequate and whether compensati…

The appellant Basappa was charged under IPC sections 279 and 304A and the Motor Vehicles Act for a tractor accident that killed a two‑year‑old child. The trial magistrate acquitted him, finding no cogent evidence that he was the driver at the time of the accident. The State appealed under Cr.P.C. s.378; the High Court …

The appellants were convicted for the murders of nine persons in a scheme that promised to "multiply" cash money, known as the "money shower" scam. The prosecution proved the deaths were homicidal and identified the victims through forensic, DNA, super‑imposition and material evidence, establishing the accused’s partic…

The appellants, managers of INSCOL Multispecialty Hospital, were charged with medical negligence, cheating, forgery and other offences after the complainant alleged that his wife died due to wrong treatment at the hospital. The Punjab & Haryana High Court single judge framed the issue on the premise that the patient di…

The petition arose from the kidnapping of a six‑year‑old girl, Lalita Kumari, whose father reported the incident to the police but the FIR was registered only after a month and no investigative action was taken. The petitioner sought a writ of habeas corpus, contending that the police had a statutory duty under Section…

The case involved the brutal murder of six members of a family, including women and children, by a group of accused persons. The trial court sentenced Sattan and Upendra to death under IPC s.302 read with s.149, while others were convicted under various sections. The Allahabad High Court altered the death sentences to …

The trial court convicted the accused of murder and offences under the SC/ST Act, but the Rajasthan High Court acquitted them, finding the prosecution's version of events implausible and the eye‑witness testimony unreliable. The State appealed, arguing that the High Court erred in discarding material evidence. The Supr…

The State seized a Maruti van loaded with hand‑sawn timber and, under s.59A of the Indian Forest Act, ordered its confiscation. The owner claimed the vehicle was lent to a friend and that he had no knowledge of the illegal timber. The High Court released the vehicle, holding that without proof of the owner's knowledge …

Lal Saij Khunte was elected to the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly but his election was challenged on the ground that he had been convicted under IPC sections 420, 34 and 468 and sentenced to two years' rigorous imprisonment, which under Section 8(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 disqualifies a person…

The appellant had executed a General Power of Attorney (GPOA) in favour of the first respondent, later cancelled it, but the first respondent still executed a sale deed in favour of the second respondent using the revoked GPOA. A private complaint was filed, leading to an FIR and registration of a criminal case for off…

The case concerned a double murder that occurred on 15 January 1985 when an alleged unlawful assembly, allegedly led by Probodh Purkait, attacked the houses of Payed Ali Laskar and Dr. Srinibas Roy, dragging out and killing Abdur Rahaman Laskar and Abdur Molla. The trial court convicted six persons under Sections 148, …

The Somvashi Arya Samaj Trust entered into an agreement with the accused to construct a community hall, which the accused failed to do, leading the Trust’s Chief Managing Trustee to file a criminal complaint under Sections 418, 409, 166 read with 114 IPC. The accused obtained a compromise with the Trust, and a connecte…

Harisingh M. Vasava was charged with murder under IPC 302 for killing a woman who lived with him as his wife. The crime occurred in the house of the complainant, who was a tenant of the deceased and witnessed the attack. The trial court acquitted the accused, holding that the prosecution failed to link him to the crime…

KanHai Mishra was convicted by the trial court and the Patna High Court for the rape and murder of Rita Kumari, based solely on six alleged circumstantial facts. The Supreme Court examined whether those circumstances satisfied the legal test that circumstantial evidence must be wholly inconsistent with the accused's in…

Criminal proceedings under the Income‑Tax Act were instituted against the respondents while appeals against the income‑tax assessments were pending before the Income‑Tax Appellate Tribunal. The respondents sought a stay of the criminal case, which was granted by the Metropolitan Magistrate, affirmed by the Sessions Cou…

The deceased Guddi, wife of the accused Kishore, suffered 80 % burns after kerosene was poured on her and she later died. Three dying declarations were recorded – one in the FIR, one under Section 161 of the Cr.P.C., and a judicial‑magistrate’s statement (Ex P‑8). The Sessions Court convicted Kishore under Section 302 …

Mantoo Majumdar and Basdev Singh were detained for over seven years in Bihar prisons on the basis of alleged involvement in 1971-72 offences, without any charge sheet or completed investigation. They filed a habeas corpus petition under Article 32 of the Constitution challenging the legality of their continued detentio…

The case arose from an incident on 15 November 2004 where a Head Constable Jagdish Singh fired at a car suspected of smuggling liquor, killing the passenger. The trial court acquitted three constables – Surendra Singh, Surat Singh and Ashad Singh – on the ground that the prosecution failed to prove they shared a common…

Hariram appealed against judgments that upheld a permanent injunction ordering the removal of his alleged encroachment on a 10‑foot public street. He argued that the suit was barred by limitation, violated Order I Rule 8 of the CPC, and lacked proof that the land was a public street. The Supreme Court held that encroac…

P. Vijayan, a retired IPS officer aged about 85, was charge‑sheeted under IPC sections 302 and 34 for the alleged killing of a Naxalite in a 1970 encounter that was later claimed to be fake. The CBI investigation relied on an extra‑judicial confession by a constable and several statements. Vijayan filed a discharge pet…

In a matrimonial dispute between Aparna Goyal (wife) and Rakesh Goyal (husband), the parties appeared before the Supreme Court Lok Adalat on 6 December 2008 and, with the help of mediators, reached a settlement. The settlement provided that the husband would pay Rs.10,00,000 to the wife as full and final settlement of …

The State of Karnataka appealed the acquittal of Shariff, who was convicted by a Sessions Court for murdering his wife by setting her on fire. The High Court had set aside the conviction, discarding the victim's dying declarations and the testimony of an 8‑year‑old child witness. The Supreme Court held that the dying d…

Bakulabai filed a Section 125 CrPC application for maintenance for herself and her son, claiming a lawful marriage with Ganga Ram, who denied the marriage and alleged prior existing marriages. The Judicial Magistrate granted maintenance, but the Sessions Judge reversed the decision; the High Court dismissed Bakulabai's…

The deceased Kamail Singh was attacked by his neighbour Paul Singh, who struck him repeatedly on the head with the handle of a tractor, causing his death. Two eyewitnesses, Jagtar Singh and Kuldip Singh, were present and identified the accused, and the tractor handle recovered from the scene was found to be stained wit…

Smt. Yamunabai married Anantrao Shivram Adhav in June 1974 while he already had a living wife. The marriage, performed under Hindu rites, was challenged for maintenance under Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The trial court and the Bombay High Court dismissed her claim. The Supreme Court examined whether a w…

The petitioner was convicted by a Presidency Magistrate for offences under IPC 120B, the Customs Act and related rules and sentenced to imprisonment of two to four years with a fine. The High Court set aside the conviction, but the Supreme Court restored it. The petitioner had earlier been preventively detained under t…

The State of Karnataka appealed against the Karnataka High Court’s order acquitting Hemareddy alias Vemareddy of offences under Sections 467 read with 114 of the IPC and 193 IPC, and modifying the sentence of Pyatal Bhimakka. The case arose from a dispute over land mortgaged for twenty years, where a forged sale deed d…

The appellant, a District Town Planner (Enforcement), ordered the demolition of unauthorized construction at Anupama College after a show‑cause notice and a restoration order under the Punjab Scheduled Roads and Controlled Areas Restriction of Unregulated Development Act, 1963. The college’s chairman filed a private cr…

The case involved the brutal honour killing of a Jat girl, a Jatav boy and another Jatav youth who were tortured for twelve hours and murdered by a large group of villagers after the couple attempted an inter‑caste marriage. The trial court convicted 35 persons under IPC sections 147, 149, 302, 323, 324, 201 and s.3(3)…

Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Ltd sought to quash an FIR registered under Sections 34, 471, 468, 467, 420, 419 and 406 IPC for alleged installation of defeat devices in its vehicles. The High Court refused to quash the FIR, granting only protection against arrest. The petitioner argued that the police could not i…

The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) filed complaints against the City Municipal Council (CMC) of Krishnarajapuram and its former commissioners for discharging untreated sewage in violation of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. The High Court quashed the proceedings under Section …

The respondent, Abhijit Singh Pawar, applied for police posts in Madhya Pradesh and disclosed in an affidavit that a criminal case (Sections 323, 325, 506, 34) was pending against him. Within four days the parties compromised and the offences were compounded under Section 320 of the Cr.P.C., resulting in his acquittal.…

The State of Uttar Pradesh appealed against a Division Bench of the Allahabad High Court that had set aside its termination of several District Government Counsels and ordered a reconsideration of their renewal. The core issue was whether the State, under Section 24 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Uttar Prade…

The appeal filed by Ram Charan Singh Prajapati against the State of U.P. and others concerned the validity of a judgment rendered under Section 24 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, and the applicability of the Uttar Pradesh Government Legal Remembrance's Manual. The appellant challenged the impugned judgment, se…

Vasant Sampat Dupare was convicted of raping and murdering a four‑year‑old girl. The prosecution relied on a chain of circumstantial evidence – eyewitnesses who saw the accused with the child, forensic matches of blood on the stones and the accused’s clothing, and the accused’s own disclosure leading police to the body…

The Constitution Bench examined whether, for computing the period of limitation under Section 468 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, the relevant date is the filing of the complaint or the institution of prosecution, or the date a magistrate takes cognizance. The Court resolved a conflict between earlier decision…

The appellant, an unmarried woman, lived with the respondent, a married man, for about 14 years and claimed that his failure to maintain her constituted domestic violence under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005. The respondent argued that their relationship was a mere live‑in arrangement, not a "…

The deceased, Chirra Shantha, had a strained relationship with her brother‑in‑law, the appellant, who allegedly abused her. On 21 April 1999 she poured kerosene on herself and the appellant threw a lit match, causing severe burns. She later died of septicemia; a dying declaration was recorded by a judicial magistrate a…

The Supreme Court examined a criminal appeal filed by accused A1 (Thanga Prakash) against the Karnataka High Court’s order disposing of the appeal without addressing contradictory findings in the trial court’s judgment. The trial court had inconsistently held that some accused were acquitted while others, including A1,…

The State of Maharashtra appealed against the Bombay High Court’s order granting bail to Ramesh Taurani, who was arrested for allegedly conspiring to murder film producer Gulshan Kumar by financing contract killers. The High Court had relied on the fact that Taurani’s name did not appear in the remand applications of o…

R.C. Sood gifted a house to Anand Mayee Sangh with a stipulation that he could occupy it during his lifetime and, after his death, his widow could remain. The appellant, the widow of Sood's brother, was invited by Sood to live in the house in 1967 and continued to reside there after his death in 1973. The Sangh served …

The appellant filed a criminal complaint in 2013 alleging offences under the IPC and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. A magistrate took cognizance of the offences and committed the case to a Special Court constituted under Section 14 of the Atrocities Act. The High Court q…

The appellant-builder company entered into a Joint Development Agreement and a subsequent MoU with Respondent No.2 to develop a property and sell flats, but a dispute arose over the alleged sale of four excess flats beyond the agreed share. Respondent No.2 filed a criminal complaint alleging cheating and criminal breac…

The appellant, accused under the NDPS Act, was remanded to judicial custody on 4 August 2018. After the statutory period of 180 days elapsed on 31 January 2019, he filed an application for default bail under Section 167(2) of the CrPC on 1 February 2019, offering to furnish bail. While the bail application was being he…

The appellant Raveen Kumar was stopped by police near the HP‑J&K border and charas weighing 1 kg 230 g was seized from his van. The trial court acquitted him, relying on a prosecution reply to a bail application that suggested prior knowledge of the appellant, deeming the seizure not a "chance recovery". The High Court…

The appellants, Rajesh Dhiman and Gulshan Rana, were stopped by police while riding a motorcycle and a search of a backpack on Dhiman yielded 3.1 kg of charas. The trial court acquitted them, holding that the prosecution had not proved the charge beyond reasonable doubt, especially because the complainant (PW‑8) was al…

The case involved six accused who were alleged to have fired on four persons, resulting in four deaths. The trial court acquitted Brahm Swaroop and Jagdish Baggar on the ground that the informant could not name their fathers and the weapon recovery was doubtful, while convicting the others. On appeal, the High Court re…

Parminder Kaur, a 74‑year‑old woman, was prosecuted under IPC sections 420, 467, 468 and 471 for allegedly altering dates in certified revenue records used in civil suits she filed in 2002. The FIR was lodged by her brother‑in‑law, Hargursharan Singh, and the High Court refused to quash the criminal proceedings under C…

Jayendra Saraswathy Swamigal, head of the Kanchi Mutt, was charged with conspiracy to murder the in‑charge manager of Devarajaswamy Devasthanam. He and 24 co‑accused filed a transfer petition under Section 406 of the CrPC, alleging that the Tamil Nadu State machinery was fabricating evidence, intimidating defence couns…

The accused were stopped while transporting 18 gunny bags of poppy husk on a bullock‑cart and were charged under Section 15 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. The trial court convicted them, but the Punjab and Haryana High Court acquitted on the ground that the mandatory requirements of Sectio…

Molai, a jail guard, and Santosh, a prisoner, were convicted of raping, strangling and murdering Naveen, the 16‑year‑old daughter of an assistant jailor, and disposing of her body in a septic tank. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, forensic findings of human blood on a knife, and recovered clothing wit…

The appellant Balbir was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC based on a private complaint, while a separate police‑filed case led to the acquittal of another accused, Guria, for the same killing. Both cases were tried before the same Sessions Judge but were not consolidated, and the appellant did not raise any ob…

The Supreme Court considered a writ petition under Article 32 filed by C. Elumalai, an adolescent offender convicted of a capital offence and sentenced to life imprisonment, who was detained in a Borstal School under section 10-A of the Tamil Nadu Borstal Schools Act, 1925. The issue was whether the State of Tamil Nadu…

The appellants, film producers of "Satyan, Shivam, Sundaram", were summoned by a Metropolitan Magistrate under sections 292, 293 and 34 of the IPC after a complaint alleging obscenity. They challenged the summons before the Delhi High Court under section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code, but the High Court treated th…

The former Tamil Nadu Transport Minister V. Senthil Balaji was arrested under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for alleged involvement in a large‑scale job‑racketeering scheme, with the Enforcement Directorate filing a complaint under Section 3 of the PMLA punishable under Section 4. The High Court rejecte…

The case involved a group of accused who were originally acquitted by the Sessions Court for offences arising from a violent property dispute that resulted in death and injuries. The State appealed under Section 378 of the CrPC, and the Karnataka High Court set aside the acquittal, convicting the accused under IPC Sect…

The Supreme Court examined disciplinary proceedings against a district judge who was charged with granting bail without noticing a High Court order and for closing evidence in an NDPS case without ensuring witness production. The Court held that Article 235 vests control of subordinate courts in the High Courts, but di…

The petitioners filed a writ under Article 32 seeking a declaration that Supreme Court proceedings of constitutional and national importance be live‑streamed and that a regulatory framework be established. The Court examined whether live‑streaming is compatible with the constitutional mandate of open courts, the rights…

Lok Prahari, a society, filed a public‑interest litigation seeking a declaration that a stay of conviction granted by an appellate court does not remove the disqualification of a sitting MLA/MP under Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and that the legislative seat becomes vacant from the date of c…

The State of Madhya Pradesh prosecuted Chhaakki Lal and his son Akhilesh for the murder of four persons, including a three‑year‑old child, based primarily on the testimony of the sole eye‑witness Kesar Bai (PW‑1). The trial court convicted them under Section 302 IPC and imposed death sentences, deeming the case "rarest…

Jagdish Narain Shukla filed a writ petition under Article 226 seeking the implementation of a Lokayukta report that alleged corruption by former minister Naseemuddin Siddiqui and former MLC Husna Siddiqui, claiming they had purchased assets at undervalued prices using income from unknown sources. The Lokayukta, under S…

The case involved the suicide of Renukaben Patel, a married woman, who alleged severe physical and mental cruelty by her husband and in‑laws before setting herself on fire in her matrimonial home. The trial court, after a hurried nine‑day trial, acquitted all accused except the husband (convicted under s.498A IPC with …

In 1974 a mob of 300‑400 persons, led by Surang Lal Yadav, attacked the Muslim Badhya community in Singhimari village, killing 14 people, burning 47 houses and looting property. The appellants, including Anup Lal Yadav, were identified by multiple eye‑witnesses as part of the mob and were convicted under Sections 302, …

The case arose from the alleged murder of Jumila in a dowry dispute, for which Liyakat, Ajeem Khan and others were convicted under Sections 302, 498A and 201 of the IPC. The High Court set aside the conviction, holding that material incriminating the accused had not been put to them under Section 313 of the CrPC, and r…

The petitioners, children of a former Director of Animal Husbandry, were charged under Section 56 of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA) for receiving foreign exchange. While the cases were pending before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, the State Government, with the High Court's resolution, transferred them to a…

The case involved 60 accused charged under TADA, the Arms Act and the Explosive Substances Act, of whom 11 were convicted by a Designated Court. The appellants contended that the FIR under TADA was registered without the mandatory prior approval of the District Superintendent of Police under s.20‑A(1) of TADA, renderin…

The State of Madhya Pradesh alleged that Surendra Kori, a Deputy Registrar, facilitated the registration of over one hundred forged sale deeds to enable fictitious buyers to claim benefits under a Special Rehabilitation Package for the Sardar Sarovar Project. FIRs and charge‑sheets were filed under IPC sections 420, 46…

The case arose from a complaint alleging that a police encounter on 1 July 2004 was fabricated and resulted in the death of the complainant's son. The police contended that the encounter was genuine, a fact supported by FIRs, a CID inquiry, and an NHRC report. The High Court quashed the criminal proceeding against a po…

Budhi Lal, who lived with two wives, was accused of murdering his second wife Jashu Devi on the night of 9‑10 August 1985. A guest, PW‑3, who was staying in the house that night, testified that he saw Budhi Lal sitting on the deceased's chest and assaulting her, and the accused admitted that he and the victim were toge…

The appellant Bihari Rai was convicted for the death of Sadri Rai. The trial court found him guilty under Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC, while the High Court altered the conviction to Section 304 Part I, invoking Exception 4 to Section 300, and acquitted the co‑accused. On appeal, the appellant argued that proce…

The complainants, Prabha Mathur & Anr., alleged that the respondents, Pramod Aggarwal & Ors., cheated them in a property sale and filed a criminal complaint under IPC sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 34 and 1208. The trial court dismissed the complaint as a civil matter, a decision affirmed by the revisional court. The com…

The appellant, Sayed Abul Ala, was arrested for possession of large quantities of heroin and other narcotics and was remanded to judicial custody. While still in custody, he was detained under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988 on the ground that he was likely to b…

The deceased Amarjit Kaur died from severe burns after allegedly being set alight by her husband Balbir Singh and mother‑in‑law Nachattar Kaur. Two dying declarations were recorded – one by a doctor in the hospital and another by a police sub‑inspector – both implicating the husband, while the second also named the mot…

The State of Uttar Pradesh, represented by the CBI, appealed against the Allahabad High Court's orders granting bail to Amarmani Tripathi, a former minister, and his wife Madhumani Tripathi in a murder case involving the killing of Madhumita Shukla. The prosecution alleged a conspiracy in which Amarmani, who had an ill…

The case involves the murder of eight members of two families in Punjab over a land dispute, for which Bachhitar Singh and two co‑accused were convicted under IPC sections 302, 460 and the Arms Act. The sole eye‑witness, Joginder Singh (PW‑3), testified that he saw the accused entering the victims' house and heard guns…

The State of Kerala prosecuted P. Sugathan (A1) and Krishna Kumari (A2) for the murder of Soman and for criminal conspiracy under Sections 302 and 120B IPC. The prosecution alleged that A1, a police Sub‑Inspector, and A2, his concubine, conspired to kill Soman after he tried to revive a past relationship with A2. The t…

The State of Punjab appealed against the acquittal of Hari Kishan and his brothers, who were originally convicted for the murder of Jai Rani under Sections 302 and 201 IPC. The prosecution alleged that the accused demanded dowry, ill‑treated the victim and strangled her, relying on circumstantial evidence, a purported …

The case arose from a brawl on 1‑2 July 1988 between Sambasiva Rao (second accused) and Suryanarayana Rao (PW‑1) over a dog. The next night Sambasiva Rao, his father (first accused) and a relative (third accused) went to PW‑1’s house, assaulted PW‑1, his wife and others. The deceased, Srinivasa Rao, intervened; while t…

Gurbachan Singh filed a special leave appeal after the Punjab & Haryana High Court acquitted Satpal Singh and others of abetment to suicide under Section 306 IPC. The deceased, Ravinder Kaur, had allegedly committed suicide by self‑immolation after severe dowry‑related harassment and taunts by her husband, his parents …

The Supreme Court examined the conviction of two accused, Putai and Dileep, for the rape and murder of a 12‑year‑old girl, based solely on circumstantial evidence and forensic material. The trial and High Courts had upheld the death penalty for Putai and life imprisonment for Dileep, relying on recovered items, a sniff…

The incident occurred on 17 March 1997 at a tea stall in Kalia Hotel where the deceased, Keramat Ali, was allegedly attacked by a group of nine accused. The trial court acquitted accused No.9 (Samsul Haque) and accused Nos.2 and 3 (Abdul Rashid and Imdadul Islam) citing lack of incriminating evidence, while convicting …

The appellant withdrew Rs 16.68 lakh from a bank, left the cash in the first respondent's car, and later claimed the money was stolen when the car's glass was broken. A police investigation resulted in a chargesheet under IPC sections 406 (criminal breach of trust) and 420 (cheating). The respondents sought quashing of…

The State of Madhya Pradesh appealed a High Court order that reduced the six‑month rigorous imprisonment awarded to Bablu for offences under Sections 323 and 354 IPC to the 21 days he had already served, on the ground that he was a first‑time offender. The Supreme Court held that sentencing must reflect the gravity of …

The Supreme Court examined whether a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act must be filed within one month of the cause of action arising, and specifically whether the day the cause of action arose should be counted in the 30‑day period prescribed by Section 142(b). Relying on Section 9 of the Ge…

Gurvail Singh was convicted of murdering four persons under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC and was sentenced to death. The High Court upheld the death sentence, but the Supreme Court commuted it to life imprisonment with a direction that the petitioner serve 30 years without remission. The petitioner filed a writ petit…

The appellant Kamlesh Prabhudas Tanna and his mother were convicted for dowry harassment, abetment of suicide and culpable homicide after the death of Sandhya, the sister of the informant, who allegedly committed suicide. The trial court found the prosecution evidence sufficient under IPC sections 304‑8, 306, 498A, 34 …

The appellant, Mohan Singh, was accused of extorting money from an informant by telephone and threatening the informant's brother, who was subsequently killed. The prosecution presented voice identification by the informant, call‑record printouts linking Singh to co‑conspirator Laxmi Singh, and testimony that the infor…

Two FIRs (CR No.1‑154/2008 and CR No.1‑155/2008) were lodged for communal clashes in Dhedhal village. The High Court quashed the second FIR, merged the investigations, and transferred the case to the State CID, also directing that the charge‑sheet of the quashed FIR be read into the surviving case. The Supreme Court he…

The State of Rajasthan appealed the Rajasthan High Court’s acquittal of Naresh, who was charged under Sections 302 and 394 IPC for murdering a woman, amputating her feet, and stealing her jewellery. The trial court had convicted him based on four strands of circumstantial evidence, but the High Court set aside the conv…

The appellant was convicted under IPC sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) based on the testimony of the prosecutrix and her husband, who alleged that the appellant had raped the woman in a factory and threatened her. Medical examination found no injuries and only semen on the victim's swabs and clothing…

Chattar Singh (husband) and his father‑in‑law Mange Ram were convicted for the murder of Guddi and her infant daughter Poonam, whose bodies were found in a well. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, the "last seen" theory, post‑mortem findings of smothering, and extra‑judicial confessions in which the acc…

The appellants, former Chief Ministers of Bihar, sought a joint trial and transfer of six corruption and conspiracy cases pending before various Special Judges in Jharkhand. They argued that a single conspiracy linked the cases, with common witnesses and documents, and that separate trials would cause undue hardship. T…

Dr. Narayan Warman Nerukar was charged under Sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923 and Section 120‑B IPC. After a prolonged trial, he invoked Section 482 of the CrPC to have the proceedings quashed on the ground of delay. The Delhi High Court quashed the case, holding that the right to a speedy trial had b…

The State of Uttar Pradesh appealed to the Supreme Court under Article 136 against the Allahabad High Court's acquittal of Anil Singh, who had been convicted by the trial court for the murder of his former classmate Keshav Kumar. The High Court had dismissed the prosecution's case, disbelieving the three eyewitnesses o…

The petitioners, three life convicts incarcerated in Haryana, claimed that under‑section 428 of the Criminal Procedure Code the period of their pre‑conviction detention should be set off against their sentences, making them eligible for premature release under Para 516‑B of the Punjab/Haryana Jail Manual. The State Gov…

The appellant Ghulam Hassan Beigh alleged that seven accused formed an unlawful assembly, assaulted him and his family, and caused the death of his wife, whose post‑mortem reported cardio‑respiratory failure. The trial court, after reviewing the medical report and limited oral evidence, discharged the accused of murder…

M/s Supreme Bhiwandi Wada Manor Infrastructure Pvt Ltd, a road‑construction contractor, alleged that four of its employees fabricated land‑ownership documents and misappropriated about Rs 5.08 crore intended for farmer compensation. A complaint led a Metropolitan Magistrate to order a police investigation under Section…

The appellant, Arvindkumar, was charged with murdering his first wife, Sita Devi, under Sections 302 and 201 read with Section 34 of the IPC. The prosecution relied solely on circumstantial evidence, including the last sighting of the appellant with the victim, blood‑stained clothes, recovery of a knife, post‑mortem fi…

Bipin Kumar Mondal was convicted for the murder of his wife and son and for causing hurt to another son under IPC sections 302 and 323. The prosecution’s case rested on the eyewitness testimony of the surviving son, Sujit Mondal, who lodged an Ejahar stating that his father attacked the family with a knife, and on corr…

The State of Uttar Pradesh appealed against the Allahabad High Court's acquittal of Abdul Karim and two others, who had been convicted by a trial court for murder under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC. The prosecution's case rested on the testimony of three eye‑witnesses – the victim's wife (PW‑1), her brot…

The State of Haryana appealed against the Punjab and Haryana High Court's order granting bail and suspending the life sentence of Hasmat, who had been convicted of murder (IPC s.302 r/w s.149) and related offences. Hasmat had applied under CrPC s.389 for suspension of sentence pending appeal, and the High Court relied …

The Supreme Court examined the murder trial of Ranbir Singh and three co‑accused, where the trial court convicted Ranbir Singh under Section 302 IPC and acquitted the others, but the High Court reversed the acquittals. The Court held that an omission in a statement under Section 161 CrPC can constitute a material contr…

The Department of Telecommunications invited tenders for cellular licences in four Indian cities, leading to a two‑stage evaluation and the selection of eight operators. Several rejected bidders challenged the final list before the Delhi High Court, alleging bias (due to a member’s son working for a bidder), arbitrarin…

The appellant, Mis Shankar Finance & Investments, a sole proprietary concern, filed a criminal complaint under section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act alleging a dishonoured cheque. The complaint was signed by the proprietor’s attorney‑in‑fact under a power of attorney, and the High Court held it non‑maintainable…

The petitioners were arrested in March 1988 for alleged narcotics offences and were remanded to jail. Because the charge-sheet was filed after the statutory 90‑day period, the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate released them on bail under proviso (a) to Section 167(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code. After the charge-sheet w…

Sanichar Sahni was convicted under Section 120‑B IPC for conspiring with his father and brother to murder Bhola Chaudhary. The co‑accused were charged only with murder and related offences, not with conspiracy. The appellant argued that the lack of a conspiracy charge against the co‑accused made his conviction illegal …

The Supreme Court considered a public‑interest writ petition seeking a declaration that the term "sexual intercourse" in Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code should be interpreted to include all forms of penetration, thereby expanding the definition of rape. The petition also sought procedural directions for recording …

The case arose when a flour mill owned by the writ petitioners was found to be stealing electricity, leading to an FIR and trial under the Indian Electricity Act, 1910. While the trial was pending before a Metropolitan Magistrate, Andhra Pradesh amended the Act (2000) to create Special Tribunals and Courts, increase pu…

The appellant married respondent No.1, who had previously concealed her existing marriage and presented a forged divorce decree, inducing the appellant to part with Rs. 2 lakh and later discover her pregnancy. The appellant filed a criminal complaint alleging cheating and criminal conspiracy under Sections 420 and 120‑…

The State of Odisha appealed against the High Court’s order that quashed the cognizance taken by the Special District Judge, Bhubaneswar, of offences under sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 477(A), 120(B) and 34 of the IPC relating to a conspiracy to forge documents and illegally transfer government land. The FIR, lodged in…

The petitioner sought the release of her husband, who had been repeatedly remanded in custody despite the filing of multiple supplementary chargesheets that did not complete the investigation. The core issue was whether a chargesheet can be filed piecemeal before the investigation is finished and whether such filing ex…

Non‑MBBS medical officers (Ayurveda, Unani, etc.) filed writ petitions seeking parity in pay with MBBS doctors, invoking the Tikku Pay Commission recommendations. The State of Gujarat, after initially extending higher pay scales to these officers, withdrew the benefit, leading to appeals before the High Court, which gr…

The appellant, Shraddha Gupta, was added as an accused in a murder case after call recordings linked her to the crime. A gang chart was prepared and she was charged under Sections 2 and 3 of the Uttar Pradesh Gangsters and Anti‑Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 1986. She filed a writ petition under Section 482 of the…

The appellant, Rathish Babu Unnikrishnan, challenged a summoning order issued under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act on the ground that the cheques were security instruments for a share buy‑back and not payable on a legally enforceable debt. The Delhi High Court dismissed his petition under Section 482 of …

P. Soupramian, a messenger employed by State Bank of India, stabbed two individuals with a broken soda bottle and was convicted under Section 324 of the Indian Penal Code, receiving a three‑month imprisonment. The bank discharged him under Section 10(1)(b)(i) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, which bars persons conv…

N. Ramamurthy was convicted under several IPC provisions and the Prevention of Corruption Act and sentenced to multiple terms, the trial court directing that all sentences run concurrently, resulting in a maximum imprisonment of seven years. He filed applications under Section 389 of the CrPC seeking suspension of the …

The appellant, a certified surveyor, was appointed by an insurance company to assess a fire insurance claim of M/s. Ram Company. After submitting a final survey report that led the insurer to repudiate the claim, the complainant filed a criminal complaint alleging that the appellant, with armed accomplices, threatened …

Amal Kumar Jha, the doctor-in-charge of a Primary Health Centre, was charged under IPC 304A for the death of a patient after he allegedly refused to provide a government jeep to transfer her to a district hospital. He sought discharge of the criminal proceedings under Section 197 of the CrPC, arguing that the omission …