Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

The State (CBI) filed a charge‑sheet against fourteen accused, including the respondent, under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and several provisions of the Indian Penal Code. The Special Court initially deferred taking cognizance of the respondent, directing the investigating officer to obtain a sanction order …

The appellant, a shopkeeper, was found guilty of selling adulterated chilli powder and convicted under Section 7 read with Section 16(1) of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954, receiving six months' simple imprisonment and a Rs.1,000 fine. The conviction and sentence were upheld by the Sessions Court and the …

Shakti Dan was convicted under Section 302 IPC for throttling his mother, who died as a result of the assault, and under Section 323 IPC for causing hurt. He appealed, contending that he had no intention to kill his mother and that the charge of murder was inappropriate. The Supreme Court examined the statutory distinc…

The appellant, Anwarul Haq, was convicted under Section 324 of the Indian Penal Code for inflicting grievous injury with a knife, based on the testimony of the injured victim and two eyewitnesses, despite the weapon not being recovered. He appealed, arguing that the weapon was not a 'dangerous weapon' and that the lack…

The respondent, a former commercial superintendent of the Delhi Vidyut Board, was convicted under Sections 7 and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs.1,500. The trial court sentenced him to 20 months and 40 months of rigorous imprisonment respectively, with fines, an…

The appellant, a Sub‑Inspector of Police, and a co‑accused were tried under Sections 13(1)(d) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The trial court acquitted them, but the High Court reversed the acquittal and convicted them, citing that the demand for illegal gratification on 24 January 1989 had not bee…

The case involved the death of Minta Devi, who was allegedly burnt to death by her husband Arvind Singh and his in‑laws. The trial court convicted all four accused under Sections 304B (dowry death) and 498A (cruelty) and sentenced them to life imprisonment; the High Court set aside the conviction of three relatives und…

The appellant was convicted by a Designated Court under Sections 3 and 5 of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987 and Section 307 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly storing lethal weapons, extorting money and threatening a police officer during a search. On appeal, the …

The case involved the murder of Shamsher Singh and Amar Singh, allegedly committed by Swaran Singh, Jagjit Singh and others using a 12‑bore double‑barrel gun. The prosecution relied on eye‑witnesses (PW‑3 and PW‑4), forensic evidence (site plan, photographs, blood‑stained earth, post‑mortem reports, chemical analysis a…

The appellant, Kirtikant Vadodaria, challenged a maintenance order granted to his step‑mother, Manjulaben, under Section 125(1)(d) of the Criminal Procedure Code. The trial court, sessions court and Gujarat High Court had held that a step‑mother could claim maintenance from her step‑son. The Supreme Court examined the …

Appellant No.1, Laxmi Raj Shetty, was convicted of murder, robbery and house trespass and sentenced to death, while his father, Appellant No.2, Shivram Shetty, was convicted of harbouring and possessing stolen property. The prosecution relied entirely on circumstantial evidence, including the accused's knowledge of the…

Dr. Partap Singh and his wife challenged the validity of a search warrant issued by an Assistant Director of Enforcement under Section 37 of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1973, alleging that the officer had no material to form a reasonable belief and failed to record the grounds in writing. The High Court had di…

The dispute concerned the sale of a six‑bigha property in Duffers Lane, Howrah, which had been under the custody of an Official Receiver appointed in a 1952 suit. The appellant, Sadhu Ram Bansal, offered Rs 4 lakhs, paid Rs 1 lakh and was accepted by the Receiver, but failed to pay the balance promptly. Respondents 1‑4…

Ranjan Dwivedi, an advocate charged with murder and conspiracy, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking a mandamus directing the Union to provide him with a counsel of his choice at fees comparable to those paid to state-appointed lawyers. He argued that Article 22(1) and the Directive Principle under Article 39…

The respondent, a government surveyor, was charged under Sections 13(2) and 13(1)(e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act for possessing assets disproportionate to his known income. After the Special Court dismissed his discharge application and the High Court dismissed the subsequent revision, the respondent filed a pe…

The appellant, Rekha Sharad Ushir, was accused of dishonouring a cheque issued to Saptashrungi Mahila Nagari Sahkari Patsansta Ltd., a credit co‑operative society, under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. The society filed a complaint before the Judicial Magistrate, alleging default on a loan and the non‑pa…

The appellant, Yadwinder Singh, complained that his brother was murdered in a politically motivated incident and that the private respondents were present at the scene, as testified by eye‑witnesses. The trial court issued summons against the private respondents under Section 319 of the CrPC, but the High Court set asi…

The deceased was attacked with weapons by his relatives while returning from work, resulting in his death. The trial court acquitted accused A‑2 to A‑6, but the High Court convicted A‑2 to A‑5 under s.302 read with s.149 IPC, finding the witnesses’ testimony credible despite minor inconsistencies. The appellants challe…

The State of Uttar Pradesh filed a writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution and Section 406 of the Code of Criminal Procedure seeking the transfer of criminal proceedings against sitting MLA Mukhtar Ansari from a Punjab court to a Special Court in Allahabad and the hand‑over of his custody from Roopnagar Jail…

The State of Madhya Pradesh seized a tractor and trolley used for illegal sand excavation from the Chambal river under Section 52 of the Forest Act, 1927 (as amended by MP Act 25 of 1983) and initiated confiscation proceedings under Section 52(3). The respondent sought interim release of the seized vehicle under CrPC S…

The appellant was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC and sentenced by the Sessions Court to ten years' rigorous imprisonment, which the State appealed under Section 377 of the CrPC for enhancement. The High Court, after serving notice and appointing an amicus curiae, enhanced the sentence to life imprisonment. T…

The complainant, a promoter‑director of a biomass power company, filed a private complaint alleging conspiracy, false declarations and cheating under Section 628 of the Companies Act, 1956 and Sections 1208 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code. The Special Judge for Economic Offences took cognizance, but the Andhra Pradesh…

An FIR (No.155/2001) was lodged under Sections 379, 406, 409, 418 and 506/34 IPC arising from a business dispute between the complainant and the accused. The parties executed a compromise deed on 25 January 2002, settling all differences. The complainant applied to the High Court for quashing the FIR, but the applicati…

The State of Himachal Pradesh filed a Special Leave Petition challenging the Himachal Pradesh High Court's order that summarily dismissed its application for leave to appeal an acquittal under Section 378(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code, without providing any reasons. The Supreme Court examined whether a judicial ord…

The respondent society applied for registration under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 1976, specifying a particular bank branch for receiving foreign contributions. It later received drafts from a foreign donor and deposited them in a different bank branch, failing to intimate the Central Government as requi…

A landlord and tenant dispute was taken to an executive magistrate under Section 144 of the CrPC, after which the landlord filed a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution in the High Court. The High Court, without notice or hearing, ordered the police to ensure the landlord’s ingress and egress, leading to …

Preetam and his brother Ishwar Lal were tried for the murder of Chhita. The trial court acquitted both, but the State appealed. The High Court set aside Preetam’s acquittal, relying on a confession recorded by a magistrate and on property recoveries allegedly made pursuant to that confession, while rejecting eye‑witnes…

The Supreme Court examined the murder trial of Kundula Bala Subrahmanyam, who died from extensive burns after allegedly being set alight by her husband and mother‑in‑law over a dowry‑related dispute. The prosecution relied on a chain of circumstantial evidence: a clear motive (dowry and land registration), two oral dyi…

The appellants, promoters and directors of a public limited company, issued a prospectus inviting public subscription for shares, claimed that the application to list the shares on a stock exchange was rejected, yet retained the money collected from investors and transferred it to another company account. A complaint w…

The State of Andhra Pradesh prosecuted Y. Basavadevudu and S. Subha Rao for embezzling Rs.1,22,500 by falsifying entries related to fake RBI demand drafts in a Sub‑Treasury. The trial court found the accused and an approver guilty under IPC sections 409, 467, 471 and 477‑A, but the High Court acquitted them, holding th…

B. Hanumantha Rao, an Excise Sub‑Inspector, was charged with accepting Rs 50,000 as illegal gratification from an arrack contractor. He claimed the money was rent arrears that the contractor could not deposit because the bank was closed, and he refused to keep the cash. The prosecution conducted a trap, recovered the m…

The appellants, managers of an establishment exempted from the Employees' Provident Funds Scheme 1952 under Section 17, failed to make provident‑fund contributions to their own trust in 1974. The Provident Fund Inspector filed criminal complaints under Sections 14(1A), 14(2) and 14(2A) of the Employees' Provident Funds…

The respondent, a railway passenger, was found wearing a waist‑chain of 820 g that was pure gold coated with mercury to appear silver. A customs officer seized the chain and the respondent was charged under the Gold (Control) Act, 1968 and the Customs Act, 1962. The trial court acquitted him, holding the chain was mere…

The appellant was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC based on a dying declaration, eyewitness testimony, and the recovery of a weapon, despite serious irregularities in the investigation. The Supreme Court examined the purpose of criminal investigation, the role of the investigating officer, and the interplay be…

The appeal arose from matrimonial proceedings where the husband alleged his wife had an extramarital affair and made those averments in anticipatory bail applications before the Sessions Court and the High Court. The High Court held that the statements were false, found a prima facie case of perjury under Section 340 o…

Gajanan Dashrath Kharate was convicted of murdering his father, Dashrath, after the father was found dead in a pool of blood following a night of frequent quarrels. Two neighbours, PW‑1 and PW‑2, heard the altercation but did not intervene and later learned of the death from a third witness. The prosecution presented t…

The deceased, Truptiben, married in 1996 and allegedly faced repeated dowry demands and mental harassment by her husband and his relatives, leading her to commit suicide by hanging in 2000, within seven years of marriage. A criminal complaint was filed under Sections 498A, 304B, 306 and 114 of the IPC; the trial court …

The appellant, Dhirendra Kumar, was convicted of murdering Surat Singh by striking him on the head with a stone. The prosecution presented eye‑witnesses, the widow of the deceased, and corroborative testimony establishing prior enmity and a motive. The accused claimed he was falsely implicated and that the incident was…

The case arose from a violent clash between two rival groups over a land dispute in Rajasthan, during which Shivji Ram was killed and several others injured. The trial court convicted the accused under Section 302 read with Section 149 IPC, while the High Court later reduced the charge to culpable homicide not amountin…

The case involves the rape and murder of a six‑year‑old girl whose body was discovered after four accused were seen throwing it from a gunny bag. The trial court convicted the accused under IPC sections 302, 34, 201, 34, 376 and 377 based solely on circumstantial evidence and sentenced them to death, which the High Cou…

The case involved an acid attack on G. Janardhan, resulting in his death. The prosecution’s case against accused A‑1 and A‑2 rested mainly on a dying declaration recorded by a magistrate, which alleged that the deceased had named the accused. The trial and High Courts accepted this declaration despite the absence of an…

The appellant, a Scheduled Caste MLA, lodged a complaint before the Special Judge (constituted under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act) alleging that the Chief Minister made public derogatory remarks that encouraged untouchability. The Special Judge found an offence under Section 3(1)(x) of the 1989 Act and Sect…

Hans Raj was convicted under Section 306 IPC for abetting the suicide of his wife, Jeeto Rani, and also under Section 498A IPC for cruelty. The prosecution’s case relied on the presumption in Section 113-A of the Evidence Act, asserting that the wife’s suicide within seven years of marriage and alleged cruelty implied …

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was directed by the Delhi High Court on 18‑12‑1996, in an anticipatory bail application, to give the applicant three days’ notice before any arrest. The CBI issued such a notice on 18‑01‑1997, after which the High Court restrained the CBI from acting on the notice. The CBI appe…

The appellants, Vijaya Singh and his mother Basanti Devi, were convicted for the murder of Devaki, the appellant's wife, based largely on circumstantial evidence and statements recorded under Section 164 of the CrPC. The appellants challenged the conviction, arguing that the FIR was delayed, the circumstantial evidence…

The case concerns the murder of Debo! Kumar Ghosh on 16 June 2000, for which Anjan Dasgupta and Biswanath Paul were alleged to have directed shooters. The trial court acquitted them, citing alleged ante‑dating and ante‑timing of the FIR and discarding eye‑witness testimony. The Calcutta High Court reversed the acquitta…

Saraswathy, married to Babu in 2000, was subjected to dowry demands and was thrown out of the matrimonial home. She filed a petition under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 seeking protection, residence and maintenance orders. Although the trial magistrate granted these orders, Babu repeatedly re…

The State of Gujarat appealed against the High Court’s order upholding the quashing of a magistrate’s permission to add Sections 364, 394 and 398 IPC to a charge‑sheet that had already been filed after investigation of an FIR under Section 154 CrPC. The dispute centered on whether a magistrate exercising jurisdiction u…

The appellant filed complaints under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act in a Mumbai magistrate’s court, alleging that cheques were drawn and handed over in Mumbai, dishonoured in Delhi, and a legal notice was issued from Mumbai. The respondents sought to have the complaints returned under Section 201 of the …

The State of Haryana prosecuted Rajmal and another under Section 8 of the Punjab Prohibition of Cow Slaughter Act, 1955 for slaughtering cows in their house. The trial court and the Additional Sessions Judge convicted them based on seizure of beef, cow skins, and weapons, and eyewitness identification by the investigat…

On 15 September 1997 three accused—Md. Mizazul Haq, Abbas Ahmad Choudhary and an absconding Ranju Das—kidnapped, gagged and raped a girl aged about 13‑15 years. The trial court convicted both appellants under Sections 376 and 336 of the Indian Penal Code, a decision upheld by the Gauhati High Court. On appeal before th…

The appellants Ashraf and Afras were convicted for murder under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC based primarily on the testimony of PW1, who claimed to have seen the accused stabbing the victim. The Supreme Court noted serious contradictions between the statements of PW4 (police constable), PW17 (investigat…

M. Viswanathan filed a criminal complaint alleging theft of documents, forgery, and intimidation by S.K. Tiles & Potteries Ltd. and others, leading to charges under IPC sections 379, 468, 471, 420 and 506(ii). The respondents sought quashing of the proceedings under Section 482 of the CrPC, arguing that the grievance w…

The case concerned a complaint filed by a Dubai‑based bank (Respondent No. 2) in the Special Judicial Magistrate Court, Ghaziabad, alleging that the petitioner, Om Hemrajani, had defrauded the bank by obtaining loans in the United Arab Emirates and then fleeing the country. The magistrate took cognizance of the offence…

Four accused (A‑1 to A‑4) were convicted under IPC sections 326/34 and 325/34 for causing grievous hurt. The trial court sentenced A‑1, A‑2 and A‑3 to one year imprisonment and a fine of Rs.500; A‑4, being a minor, received one month imprisonment and a fine of Rs.500. The Bombay High Court reduced the sentences of A‑3 …

The appellants were convicted for the murder of Sarjug Rai under Section 302 read with Section 149 of the Indian Penal Code, alleging that they formed an unlawful assembly with a common object to kill the victim. The Supreme Court examined whether the prosecution had proved the essential ingredient of Section 149 – a c…

The petitioners, convicted by a General Court Martial under the Army Act, 1950 and sentenced to imprisonment, were lodged in civil jails and sought to set off the period of their pre‑trial detention against the term of imprisonment under section 428 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). The jail and army authoritie…

The State of Madhya Pradesh charged Ramjan Khan, Musab Khan and Habib Khan with murder of Naseem Khan under Sec. 302 read with Sec. 34 IPC. The trial court convicted them based largely on oral testimonies of the deceased’s mother (PW‑8) and his two minor brothers (PW‑5, PW‑9), treating an alleged oral dying declaration…

Ramawatar, a resident of a Madhya Pradesh village, was convicted under Section 3(1)(x) of the SC/ST Act for allegedly insulting his neighbour Prembai, a Scheduled Caste woman, during a property dispute. The parties later entered into a voluntary compromise and the complainant sought to withdraw the criminal case. The S…

Miss XYZ, a personal assistant to the managing director of a company, filed a complaint alleging that the director repeatedly blackmailed her with nude photographs, threatened her employment, and raped her on several occasions. An FIR was lodged under Sections 376, 499 and 506(2) of the IPC. The director filed a specia…

The appellant Jitendra Kalla was convicted in two FIRs for murder and related offences, receiving rigorous life imprisonment in each case with a 30‑year cap on remission for the first and a consecutive life term for the second. The High Court, despite a statement that the appellant would not challenge the conviction, e…

The appellant Sudam Charan Dash sought justice for his son’s murder, leading to a non‑bailable warrant against accused Sweekar Nayak (respondent 2). Respondent 2 applied for anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the CrPC, which the Orissa High Court rejected but simultaneously directed that if he surrendered within fo…

The CBI prosecuted three police officers for grievously injuring a detainee, Jugta Ram, in police custody, including the amputation of his penis using a razor. The trial court convicted all three under sections 326, 308, 323, 342, 343 and 120B of the IPC, but the Rajasthan High Court acquitted the ASI and SHO and reduc…

The State alleged that the accused, Sanjay, set fire to his fiancée Veena by pouring petrol from a can on her while riding a scooter, leading to her death. The prosecution's case relied heavily on two dying declarations recorded at the hospital, statements of the victim's parents, and the testimony of a tea‑stall vendo…

The husband forced his wife to relinquish land given as stridhana, concealed her family’s mail, and, together with his parents, drove her out of the matrimonial home, leading her to commit suicide. The trial court convicted the husband under Section 498A IPC for cruelty and acquitted all accused of dowry death (Section…

Sadh Singh was convicted by a General Court Martial under Section 302 IPC and Section 69 of the Army Act for murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. He had served 11 years and 1 month in actual custody, 1 year 7 months 29 days in pre‑trial detention and had earned a remission of four years, which the Punjab and Hary…

The State Bank of Bikaner & Jaipur dismissed its employee S.N. Gupta on charges of accepting bribes, based on a departmental inquiry that incorporated witness statements recorded under Section 161 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The CBI investigation later found no reliable evidence, but the disciplinary proceedings co…

The complainant, a wife, filed a criminal complaint in 2013 alleging dowry demand, threats, and cruelty by her step‑mother‑in‑law, step‑brother‑in‑law, father‑in‑law and a munim, leading to an FIR under Sections 498A, 323, 504, 506 read with 34 IPC and a subsequent chargesheet. The appellants sought quashing of the FIR…

The case involved police officers accused of torturing a suspect, Shama @ Kalya, while in custody, leading to his death and alleged tampering with evidence. The prosecution relied on witness testimony, a fingerprint test linking an unidentified burnt body to the victim, and claims of a staged escape, while the defence …

The appellants Anwar Ali and another were convicted by the Himachal Pradesh High Court for murder and related offences based on circumstantial evidence, overturning a trial court acquittal. The trial court had found material contradictions in the prosecution's version of the recovery of a knife, rope, and other items, …

The Supreme Court examined whether it could compel Parliament to enact a law disqualifying candidates against whom serious criminal charges have been framed and whether it could direct the Election Commission to deny such candidates the use of a party's reserved symbol. The Court held that disqualification is a matter …

The appellant-wife filed a Section 125 CrPC maintenance petition in 2003 after her husband, a Canadian permanent resident, failed to bring her to Canada and allegedly obstructed her visa. The Family Court awarded Rs.10,000 per month from July 2003 to December 2010 and denied maintenance thereafter, finding the husband …

Manoj and Bijendra Singh, along with Ram Avatar, were convicted for voluntarily causing hurt with dangerous weapons under Section 324 IPC (originally under Section 307 IPC). The High Court altered the conviction to Section 324 IPC. The appellants sought to compound the offence with the complainant, Bahadur Singh, throu…

Vivek Gupta conspired with two State Bank of India officers to cheat the bank, causing substantial loss. All three were charged under Section 120B read with Section 420 of the IPC, while the two officers were additionally charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (PCA). The trial was before a Special Judge a…

The case arose from a property dispute in which Madan Rai and his three sons fired gunshots, killing a teenage boy. The trial court convicted Madan Rai under IPC sections 302 and 440 and the others under section 440, but the Allahabad High Court acquitted all accused, setting aside the convictions. The father of the de…

The appellant was charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and the IPC, and obtained a stay of trial by filing a petition under CrPC Section 482 in the Rajasthan High Court, which was used to delay the trial for seven years. The High Court dismissed the petition, and the appellant appealed to the Supreme Co…

The case arose from a mob of about 200 armed persons who attacked labourers transplanting paddy on a field, resulting in the deaths of Razaullah and Ahmed Shah. The trial court convicted all accused under Sections 302/149 and 302/34 IPC; the High Court set aside the 302/149 convictions but upheld the 302/34 convictions…

The deceased Ranganathan was allegedly attacked by the appellants Periasami and Ramaswamy with a billhook, spear and lathi, leading to his death. Eye‑witnesses PW‑1 and PW‑2 identified the appellants, while the FIR was lodged after a delay and the inquest report contained an erroneous time of death. The Sessions Court …

Rampa! Sahu was detained on 17 December 1985 under section 3(2) of the National Security Act, 1980 for allegedly removing railway material and thereby prejudicing the maintenance of essential supplies. The State served the grounds, allowed a representation, referred the matter to the Advisory Board, and confirmed the o…

The petitioner, serving a life sentence for murder and a weapons offence, applied for premature release after 24 years of incarceration, claiming denial of remission and parole. The Remission Board rejected his applications twice, relying heavily on adverse opinions of the presiding judge, despite favorable reports fro…

The Central Bureau of Investigation filed charge sheets in English in Vyapam scam cases, and the accused, who claimed they could not understand English, sought Hindi translations. The lower courts rejected the applications, but the Madhya Pradesh High Court held that Hindi, being the language of the criminal courts und…

Rahmat Khan, a journalist and social worker, exposed alleged misappropriation of government grants to madrasas in Amravati district and filed RTI applications and complaints against officials. In retaliation, three FIRs were lodged against him under various IPC sections, and the Deputy Commissioner of Police issued an …

The State of Rajasthan appealed against a Special Judge's order granting Rs.1,50,000 compensation to two accused persons, Jainudeen and Shabbir, who were acquitted under the NDNDPS Act after a forensic report, delayed by two years, showed no contraband. The trial judge had based the compensation on alleged malice and t…

The appellant Gurdeep Singh was convicted under IPC sections 3048 (dowry death) and 498A for allegedly poisoning his wife Rajinder Kaur after a dowry demand. The prosecution alleged that the accused administered poison, that a dowry demand of Rs 25,000 was made shortly before death, and that the body was cremated hasti…

The respondent, a legislator and social activist, filed a writ petition alleging that the Rajasthan Chief Minister's Relief Fund was being distributed arbitrarily and discriminatorily among minor rape victims, seeking a uniform grant of Rs.5 lakh to each victim. The High Court ordered that Rule 5 of the Relief Fund Rul…

Gurmukh Singh was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC for delivering a single lathi blow to Hazoor Singh, who died six days later. The trial and High Courts upheld the conviction and life sentence. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined whether the facts—no prior enmity, spur‑of‑the‑moment incident, single fatal b…

The appellants were convicted under Sections 147 and 324 of the IPC for attacking Abdul Haque Laskar with deadly weapons in 1995. After the convictions, the parties entered into an amicable settlement and sought to compound the offences. The issue before the Supreme Court was whether the offence under Section 324 IPC c…

The case concerns the murder of Vyasdeo Yadav, who was allegedly dragged and shot by a group of armed men. The trial court convicted the accused under sections 364 r/w 302, 302 r/w 149, 201 and 148 IPC, but the Patna High Court acquitted them, holding that identification was impossible and that procedural lapses (delay…

The Assistant Commissioner of Commercial Taxes, GOONDLA VENKATESWARLU, inspected a business premises and later faced a criminal complaint alleging forcible seizure of books and extortion under IPC sections 448, 380, 384 and 506. The complaint was challenged on the ground that Section 37 of the Andhra Pradesh General Sa…

The father of a deceased woman appealed against the acquittal of her husband and his mother, who had been charged under IPC sections 302, 498A and Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act for alleged dowry harassment and murder. The deceased was found hanging in a bedroom, and the trial court had convicted the husband ba…

The appellants Bathusingh, Nar Singh, Bhal Singh and others were charged with the murder of Dhan Singh and Bhuru, based on the testimony of three eye‑witnesses and corroborating medical evidence showing multiple stab wounds and fractures. The accused pleaded self‑defence, alleging that their crops were set on fire and …

The State of Karnataka sought to summon Krishnappa as an accused under Section 319 of the Criminal Procedure Code after the prosecution evidence was recorded, despite a prior order in 1995 that had quashed the proceedings against him. The trial magistrate dismissed the State's application, noting that the likelihood of…

Seven accused were convicted of offences including attempt to murder (s.307/149 IPC) and assault (s.325/149, s.323/149, s.148 IPC). The High Court acquitted them of the attempt to murder charge, released them on probation under s.360 CrPC, and ordered each to pay Rs.2,500 compensation to the victim Joginder, who suffer…

The appellant, Jhummamal, was leased a shop by the mortgagee and took possession on 7 August 1982, which was contested by respondent No.2. The police initiated proceedings under Section 145 of the CrPC, and the Sub‑Divisional Magistrate eventually ordered that Jhummamal be entitled to possession. The respondent filed a…

The State of West Bengal charged four police officers with murder under IPC sections 302 and 34 for the deaths of Ranjit and Samir Chakraborty during a police operation in 1970. The trial court convicted them, but the Calcutta High Court acquitted, holding that the order to open fire given by the Deputy Commissioner wa…

The appellant, Sukdeb Saha, challenged the Andhra Pradesh High Court's refusal to transfer the investigation of his 17‑year‑old daughter's suspicious death at a coaching institute to the CBI. He alleged that the local police investigation was biased, incomplete, and that crucial forensic evidence and CCTV footage were …

The dispute arose between Sunair Hotels Ltd (SHL) and VLS Finance Ltd over a failed Memorandum of Understanding for a hotel project, leading to multiple FIRs and arbitration. SHL filed an application under Section 156(3) CrPC on 1 July 2005, prompting a Metropolitan Magistrate to order registration of FIR No.380/2005 f…

The appellant filed a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act alleging that the respondents had purchased Desi Ghee and that three cheques totalling Rs. 14 lakh were dishonoured. After summons were issued and before the complainant's cross‑examination, the appellant sought to amend the complaint t…

The appellant, a shareholder and former director of Seva Vikas Co-operative Bank, filed FIR No. 806 of 2019 alleging financial fraud by the bank's chief executive and former chairperson based on a forensic audit report. The Bombay High Court quashed the FIR, holding that Section 81(5B) of the Maharashtra Co-operative S…

The second respondent filed an application under Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure seeking anticipatory bail for alleged offences under IPC sections 406, 420, 467 and 468. The Patna High Court granted the bail but, in the same order, directed the cancellation of the licence of Kanchan Kumari, the appellant,…

The appellant, Sanjeev Kumar Gupta, alleged that his son was murdered and that the accused, the second respondent, was a juvenile at the time of the offence. The accused claimed juvenility based on a CBSE matriculation certificate showing a birth date of 17‑12‑1998, while school records, a transfer certificate, Aadhaar…

The case concerned Sukh Ram, a Gram Sewak, who was alleged to have forged loan applications and misappropriated government funds between 1983 and 1986. During the investigation, an executive magistrate obtained specimen signatures of two witnesses, which were later compared by a handwriting expert who testified that th…

The appellant, Narinder Singh, was accused of offering a bribe of Rs.10,000 to the Additional District Magistrate of Bharmour to obtain supply orders for double‑decker beds. The trial court acquitted him, but the High Court set aside that judgment, convicted him under Section 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 198…

The appellant, Kantilal Martaji Pandor, was married to two women; his second wife, Amriben, wrote a letter to the police alleging financial exploitation, starvation and threats, and subsequently died by jumping into a well. An FIR was lodged under Sections 498A and 306 IPC, leading to his conviction on both counts by t…

The appellant, B.C. Deva, was convicted by the Sessions Court and the Karnataka High Court for forcible sexual assault under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code, based primarily on the oral testimony of the prosecutrix and corroboration by her parents and independent witnesses. The appellant appealed to the Supreme Co…

The case arose from a dowry‑related dispute in which the complainant’s statement before the trial court differed from the statement recorded during investigation. An application under Section 311 of the CrPC seeking a fresh recording of the complainant’s statement was rejected by the trial court as an attempt to fill g…

The appellant State of Punjab proved that the accused, Swaran Singh, was apprehended on 17 May 1992 with a plastic bag containing approximately 5 kg of opium; a 10‑gram sample was taken, sealed and sent for forensic analysis, and the chain of custody was testified to by PW‑1 and PW‑4. The accused was examined under Sec…

The father of a minor girl lodged an FIR alleging that three men, including the appellants, had abducted her for rape. Police investigation found only one of the alleged persons, Prem Chand, involved and framed charges against him. During the trial, after the prosecutrix’s cross‑examination began, the public prosecutor…

The appellant, a former Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, was charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 for possessing assets disproportionate to his known income. He sought to quash the criminal proceedings, arguing that judges are not "public servants" under the Act and that no prior sanction was req…

The State of Madhya Pradesh appealed the acquittal of lorry drivers, cleaners and a coolie who were intercepted while transporting fertiliser bags from Indore to Maharashtra without the permit required under the Fertiliser (Movement Control) Order, 1973. The trial court held that the prosecution had not proved mens rea…

Syad Akbar, a bus driver, was convicted under Section 304A IPC for the death of a four‑year‑old girl who was struck when he swerved his bus to avoid her. The prosecution’s eye‑witnesses were treated as hostile and their testimony was discarded by the trial court. On appeal, the Supreme Court held that hostile witnesses…

The respondents, including Jaspal Singh Gill, were charged under sections 3, 5 and 9 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923 read with section 120‑B of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly passing classified military information to a foreign agency. While the trial was pending, Gill applied for bail before the Additional Sess…

The appellant, Gour Acharjee, was convicted for the murder of his wife Soma Acharjee, who died after being subjected to severe dowry-related torture. The prosecution alleged that Soma was beaten, sustaining head and chest injuries, and subsequently hanged to simulate suicide, while the defence claimed a voluntary suici…

The appellant, a 25‑year‑old student, was charged under IPC sections 376, 376(2)(n), 377, 504 and 506 for allegedly forcing sexual intercourse on a promise of marriage. The complainant, a previously married woman with a four‑year‑old child, claimed the appellant entered her house and had sexual relations after assuring…

The appellants Sunil Kumar and others were convicted under IPC sections 363, 366 and 376(1) and sentenced to separate terms of rigorous imprisonment without any indication whether the sentences should run concurrently or consecutively. Both the trial court and the High Court failed to specify the mode of running of the…

The appellant was convicted of rape under IPC s.376 based solely on the testimony of the prosecutrix, Indira, whose statement was recorded under Section 164 CrPC. The appellant appealed, arguing that the prosecutrix's evidence contained material contradictions, lacked corroboration, and was unreliable, especially given…

The appellant issued a cheque of Rs.1,25,000 which was dishonoured for insufficient funds. The respondent sent a legal notice by registered post, which was returned unserved with the endorsement "party not in station arrival not known". A complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act was filed and a cri…

The Reserve Bank of India issued Master Directions on Frauds to enable banks to detect and report fraudulent accounts, leading the appellant banks to declare the respondents' accounts fraudulent (an administrative action) and to refer the matter to the CBI, resulting in FIRs and criminal proceedings. The High Courts qu…

Rahul Kumar Yadav was convicted under Sections 302 and 394 of the IPC and Section 27(2) of the Arms Act, receiving a death sentence which was later commuted to life imprisonment. He claimed that he was a juvenile at the time of the alleged offence (27 July 2011) and filed applications under Section 7‑A of the Juvenile …

Harbhajan Singh, the registered owner of a truck that overturned and was found with narcotic powder, was convicted under Section 25 of the NDNDPS Act for allegedly permitting the vehicle's use in a drug offence. The prosecution relied on two witnesses who initially identified the driver and cleaner and named the owner,…

The appellant was convicted of raping his nine‑year‑old daughter under Sections 376, 377 and 506 of the IPC and sentenced to life imprisonment, with the trial judge adding a rider that no clemency could be granted before he served twenty years. The Delhi High Court affirmed the conviction and the same rider, and the ap…

The petitioner, Rajan, was convicted of multiple offences including dacoity, murder, and illegal possession of arms, receiving seven years' rigorous imprisonment for IPC 395, five years' rigorous imprisonment under the Arms Act, and life imprisonment for three counts of IPC 302 and four counts of IPC 307. He sought pre…

The appellant Baliraj Singh and co‑accused were convicted for murder under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC based on the testimony of three eyewitnesses who were relatives of the deceased and on a post‑mortem report indicating a fatal wound caused by a sharp object. The Supreme Court found serious contradictions among th…

The State of Madhya Pradesh appealed against the High Court's order quashing an FIR registered under Sections 307 and 34 of the IPC against Assistant Sub‑Inspector Rajveer Singh and others for allegedly shooting and beating a complainant. Rajveer Singh had filed a petition under Section 482 of the CrPC seeking to quash…

The appellants, police officers, challenged the prosecution for alleged fake encounters and custodial deaths, arguing that under Section 6 of the Punjab Disturbed Areas Act, 1983 (as amended 1989) and Section 197 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, prior sanction from the Central Government was required. The Court…

The petitioner, a wife, filed a dowry complaint against her husband and his family and later sought further investigation of her stridhan property and a palmtop communicator under Section 173(8) of the Cr.P.C. The magistrate ordered the investigating officer to conduct this additional inquiry under the supervision of a…

The Union of India moved a writ petition under Art. 32 seeking to quash a Tamil Nadu Government letter proposing remission of life sentences for seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, after the Supreme Court had earlier commuted death sentences of three of them to life imprisonment. The Court examined w…

The Supreme Court examined the convictions of three accused in a kidnapping‑for‑ransom case. It upheld the life‑sentence convictions of Gautam Kumar (A2) and Vijay Ranglal Chorasiya (A5), finding that eyewitness testimony, telephone‑booth records and voice‑spectrography reliably proved their guilt beyond reasonable dou…

Manjeet Singh and two companions were charged with murder (Sec. 302 IPC), attempted murder, and offences under the Arms Act after firing a carbine in a hotel hall, killing Rajnish (Rintu) and injuring others. The trial court convicted Singh under Sec. 302, Sec. 324 IPC and Sec. 27 of the Arms Act; the High Court affirm…

The Supreme Court, hearing Special Leave Petition (Cr.) No. 5073 of 2011 filed by the State of Karnataka against Shivanna, observed the persistent incidence of rape and the inadequacy of existing procedural mechanisms. It noted the absence of a fast‑track procedure for rape cases despite the existence of Fast‑Track Cou…

Laut Kumar Yadav alias Kuri was convicted for murdering an 18‑year‑old girl and attempting to rape her. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence: a sniffer‑dog trail, recovery of a blood‑stained sickle and the accused’s clothes, and prior eve‑teasing of the victim. The trial court sentenced him to death under …

Prem Kaur, a labourer, was abducted, beaten and allegedly raped by a father, his son and others. She was hospitalized, but the FIR was lodged three days later. The trial court acquitted the accused, citing the delay in filing the FIR and the improbability of a father and son raping together, without providing reasoned …

Shankar Kisanrao Khade, aged about 52, and his wife abducted an 11‑year‑old girl with moderate intellectual disability, repeatedly raped her and later strangulated her to death. The trial court and the High Court convicted Khade under IPC sections 302, 376, 366‑A, 363 r/w s.34 and sentenced him to death, while his wife…

Dinesh Dalmia was arrested in a CBI case and placed in judicial custody in Chennai. He voluntarily surrendered before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Egmore, on 27 February 2006, seeking production before the Calcutta court where two other cases (Nos. 300/2002 and 476/2002) were pending. He was produced befor…

The appellants Asharam and four others were alleged to have ambushed Nandan, Tikaram and Koshabai in a field, assaulting them with a spear (ballam) and lathis, causing multiple serious injuries. The trial court acquitted them, citing contradictions in the eye‑witness statements and questioning the timing of the FIR. Th…

The appellant Jitendra Ram (Jitu) was convicted of murder and abetment of suicide under Sections 302 and 201 of the IPC and sentenced to life imprisonment. He contended before the Supreme Court that he was a minor at the time of the offence (18‑11‑1985) and therefore entitled to the protection of the Bihar Children Act…

Bir Singh approached a police out‑post seeking police escort to his village amid a reported faction fight. The Assistant Sub‑Inspector declined, asking him to stay, after which Bir Singh assaulted the officer with a khukhri, inflicting multiple grievous injuries. The assault was witnessed by two constables who overpowe…

The appellant, an Assistant Engineer, removed a tea stall from a hospital campus on the explicit direction of the Executive Engineer, in accordance with a government policy to eliminate kiosks for public health reasons. A complaint was filed by the stall owner's husband, but it made no allegation against the appellant;…

The complainant filed a criminal complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 and Sections 420 and 114 of the Indian Penal Code against Gujarat State Fertilizer Co. Ltd. and several of its employees and directors. The accused filed applications before the Chief Judicial Magistrate seeking to have…

The Secretary of a Gram Panchayat was prosecuted for offences under the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act. He moved the High Court under Section 482 CrPC to quash the prosecution, arguing that no sanction under Section 122 of the Kerala Panchayat Act was obtained. The High Court first dismissed the petition on 3…

Kuldeep Singh, Mahendra Singh, Uttam Chand and Surjeet Kaur were charged with the murder of Sohan Singh. The prosecution alleged that Singh's objection to an illicit relationship between Kuldeep and Surjeet, and to her attempt to sell her share of the house, provided motive for a conspiracy to kill. The accused lured t…

The State of Tamil Nadu appealed to the Supreme Court seeking to uphold criminal revision petitions filed in the Madras High Court against the trial of Selvi J. Jayalalitha. The accused, through counsel, requested permission to withdraw those revision petitions without prejudice to her right to raise all contentions af…

The case concerned a violent incident on 22 September 1990 in which five accused formed an unlawful assembly and attacked two victims, resulting in the deaths of Mohan and Sekhar. The prosecution charged the accused under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including murder (302) and attempted murder (307). The …

Kashmeri Devi, the widow of a tonga driver who died in police custody, alleged that two sub‑inspectors and two constables beat her husband to death after arresting him. A complaint was filed and the case was initially registered under IPC Section 302, later converted to Section 304 and subsequently to Sections 323/342,…

The petitioners were accused in a complaint under the Mines Act, 1952 and the Metalliferous Mines Regulation, 1961. The Judicial Magistrate dismissed the complaint for default on 6 January 1972, but later restored it on 20 January 1972 upon the complainant's application. The accused argued that the magistrate had becom…

The Supreme Court examined whether a person who lodges a First Information Report (FIR) is entitled to notice and a hearing when a magistrate considers the police report under Section 173(2)(i) of the Criminal Procedure Code and decides to drop the proceedings. It held that if the magistrate chooses not to take cogniza…

The Supreme Court heard a special leave appeal (Civil Appeal No. 2182 of 1984) filed by the Election Commission of India against an ex‑parte order of the Punjab & Haryana High Court that stayed the election programme for a by‑election in the Taoru Assembly constituency. The High Court had intervened despite the imminen…

In July 2020, a group of tribal youths attacked non‑tribal youngsters playing basketball in Lawsohtun, Meghalaya. Journalist Patricia Mukhim posted a Facebook message condemning the attack and urging the state government and police to act, which was complained about as hate speech. An FIR was lodged under Sections 153A…

Four members of a political party filed a public‑interest writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution alleging that the Chief Minister of Sikkim had amassed assets disproportionate to his known income and misappropriated public funds. They sought a mandamus directing the Central Bureau of Investigation to launch…

Md. Shahabuddin, a sitting MP, was in custody with more than forty criminal cases pending. Because of serious threats to public order, the Patna High Court, exercising its power under s.9(6) of the CrPC, issued a notification that the Court of Session would hold its sittings inside Siwan District Jail, and the Bihar Go…

The appellants were convicted for conspiracy, cheating, forgery of a palmolein oil permit and offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act and Essential Commodities Act. The prosecution alleged that accused A1, A2 and A4 had interpolated and forged the permit, relying mainly on handwriting identification by witnesse…

The Supreme Court examined a petition under Section 482 of the CrPC filed by several family members of a rice‑mill proprietor who were charged under IPC sections 406, 420 and 424 r/w 34 for allegedly cheating paddy suppliers. The High Court had rejected the petition, holding that a prima facie case existed against all …

Sarvsheel Mago alleged that a police officer (respondent No.4) in collusion with private individuals (respondents No.5 and 6) repeatedly searched his vehicle and falsely implicated him for possession of contraband drugs, despite no incriminating material being found. He filed a petition under Section 482 of the Crimina…

The appellant, a financier under a hire‑purchase agreement, sought the release of a lorry seized under the Tamil Nadu Prohibition Act. The vehicle had been released earlier in favour of the hirer (respondent No.2) on certain conditions, which the hirer failed to fulfil. The appellant argued that the hire‑purchase agree…

The first accused in State of Maharashtra v. Shrishail Nageshi Pare was convicted of murder under Section 302 of the IPC by the Sessions Judge, a decision affirmed by the High Court. He filed Special Leave Petition (Criminal) No. 372 of 1985, challenging the High Court's view that an eye‑witness account was merely one …

The NKGSB Cooperative Bank, a secured creditor, sought possession of a mortgaged flat after the borrowers defaulted on a loan, invoking Section 14 of the SARFAESI Act. The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) appointed an advocate commissioner to take possession of the asset, a move upheld by several High Courts but str…

The appellant was charged under the UAPA and related statutes, and the trial court declared five prosecution witnesses as protected under Section 44 of the UAPA and Section 173(6) of the CrPC, sealing their statements. The appellant later sought, under Section 207 of the CrPC, redacted copies of those statements so tha…

The Supreme Court examined whether Section 23 of the Travancore‑Cochin High Court Act, which provides that a Chief Justice must refer a matter to a third judge when two judges of a division bench disagree, survives the repealing provision of Section 9 of the Kerala High Court Act and whether it is a special provision t…

Raj Kumar, a 32‑year‑old who was a regular visitor to a neighbour's house, was asked to stay overnight while the parents irrigated fields. He raped the 14‑year‑old girl Gounjhi, caused grievous injuries and she died of asphyxia by strangulation. A 10‑year‑old brother witnessed the assault; DNA analysis linked the appel…

A complaint alleging irregularities in construction works at the Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha was investigated by the Lokayukt, which referred the matter to the Special Police Establishment (SPE) under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The Vidhan Sabha Secretary issued letters claiming a breach of legislative privilege …

The father of a slain environmental activist filed a writ petition seeking transfer of the investigation into his son’s murder from the Gujarat police to an independent agency, alleging bias and protection of the accused, who was a sitting MP. The Gujarat High Court, after finding the state investigation unfair, partia…

The appellant, a senior police officer in Sikkim, was charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 for possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. He submitted a detailed statement of his assets (Exhibit D‑4) after the FIR, but the prosecution alleged a much larger unexplained amount and …

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) issued a show‑cause notice and later a restraining order under Sections 11, 11(4)(b) and 11‑B of the SEBI Act, 1992, prohibiting Ajay Agarwal from associating with any corporate body and from dealing in securities for five years, based on alleged mis‑statements in a 199…

The State of Uttar Pradesh appealed the acquittal of Dinesh, who had been convicted for murder under IPC s.302 and later acquitted by the Allahabad High Court. The High Court found material infirmities and contradictions in the testimony of two key eyewitnesses and noted that medical evidence contradicted the ocular ac…

Six accused, including Mubin and Amin, were alleged to have assaulted a person, stolen Rs.1.61 lakh and murdered a petrol pump owner. The trial court acquitted them of offences under Section 396 IPC and Sections 3 and 35 of the Arms Act. The State invoked Section 390 of the CrPC to have the High Court re‑arrest the acc…

The Supreme Court upheld the conviction of several accused who, amid a long‑standing family feud, assaulted and murdered Jagbandhan and Randhir and injured Mithan. The prosecution proved the offences under Sections 302, 149, 148 and 323 of the IPC using eye‑witness testimony, medical evidence and the existence of a com…

The appellant, brother of the deceased, challenged the acquittal of respondents 1 and 2 for offences under sections 498A, 302 and 34 IPC by filing a revision petition in the Delhi High Court. On the scheduled hearing, the appellant’s counsel could not appear due to an accident, and only the State’s counsel was present.…

The appellants were arrested for allegedly smuggling whisky from Haryana to Delhi; samples seized were sent to the Excise Control Laboratory, which reported the substance as whisky. They were convicted under Section 61 of the Punjab Excise Act, 1914 and sentenced to six months' simple imprisonment. On appeal, the quest…

The child Noor Alam, about 1½ years old, was left in the custody of accused Liyakat, Zahira, Jeewani and Riyasat by his parents. Within three hours the child went missing and his body was later discovered buried in Liyakat's hut. The prosecution relied solely on circumstantial evidence – the child's custody, the rapid …

M/s Goyal Enterprises filed an application under Section 378(4) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 seeking leave to appeal an acquittal. The Jharkhand High Court dismissed the application summarily without providing any reasons. The Supreme Court held that a judicial order refusing leave to appeal must contain at …

The State of Uttar Pradesh appealed against the Allahabad High Court’s order that dismissed its appeal against the trial court’s acquittal of the accused under IPC sections 147, 148, 149 and 302. The High Court had rejected the appeal without providing any reasons, merely stating that there was no ground to interfere. …

Medchl Chemicals & Pharma Ltd. entered into a supply agreement with Biological E. Ltd. for raw materials. The respondents allegedly failed to supply as promised, causing a loss of about one crore rupees to the petitioner, and the petitioner filed a criminal complaint under IPC sections 120B, 415, 418, 420 and 34. The A…

The petitioner, a wife, filed a writ under Article 32 challenging the constitutional validity of Sections 198(1) and 198(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code, arguing that the provision allowing only the husband of an adulteress to file a complaint under Section 497 of the IPC discriminates against women under Article 14.…

Param Hans Yadav and Sadanand Tripathi were convicted for the murder of Collector Mahesh Narain Prasad, Yadav having thrown a bomb and later confessing that he acted on Tripathi's orders. Yadav's confession, both judicial and extra‑judicial, was obtained after he was assaulted and was therefore not voluntary. The Supre…

The complainant, Manno Lal Jaiswal, filed an FIR alleging that his son was murdered by a group of accused who were named in the FIR and whose statements were recorded on the same day. The Sessions Court rejected the accused's bail applications, but the Allahabad High Court granted bail, erroneously stating that the acc…

The Supreme Court examined whether a High Court, exercising revisional jurisdiction under Section 401 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, can set aside an acquittal and convert it into a conviction. It held that Section 401(3) expressly bars such conversion; the High Court may only remit the case for retrial or rehearin…

The appellant, a retired Brigadier and trustee of a regimental welfare trust, was convicted for cheating in the sale of trust agricultural land. He sought to introduce a 1989 trust deed and a resolution authorising the sale as additional evidence under Section 391 of the CrPC during his appeal, but the trial and appell…

The petitioner, Keshav Prasad Sharma, was tried for a criminal offence when the public prosecutor sought to implead respondents No.3‑9 as co‑accused under Section 319 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The trial court allowed the impleadment, but the Punjab & Haryana High Court set aside that order. The petitioner filed S…

Manoj Kumar Pradhan, a sitting MLA, was convicted under IPC sections 147, 326 read with 149 and sentenced to seven years' rigorous imprisonment. He and another convict appealed, and the Orissa High Court granted him bail on the same day, citing his status as an MLA. The appellant, Kanaka Rekha Naik, the wife of the dec…

The Supreme Court examined appeals against a Designated Court (TADA) judgment that convicted three men for the murder of Additional Collector L.D. Arora under the IPC and acquitted them of TADA charges. The key issues were the admissibility of confessional statements made by co‑accused under TADA s.15 against an accuse…

The appellants Vikram Singh, Jasvir Singh and Sonia were convicted for kidnapping a 16‑year‑old boy, Abhi Verma, for ransom, administering chloroform and pentazocine which caused his death, and for conspiracy under Sections 302, 364A, 201 and 120‑8 IPC. The Supreme Court examined the sufficiency of circumstantial and e…

The appellants were part of a group that assaulted three persons, pouring acid on their faces and bodies, causing severe burns. They were convicted by the trial court under Section 307 IPC and sentenced to ten years' imprisonment. The High Court altered the conviction to Section 307 read with Section 34 IPC, maintainin…

The Chief Enforcement Officer filed a criminal complaint under the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA) against Videocon International Ltd. on May 24, 2002. The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate took cognizance of the offence on the same day and later issued summons on February 3, 2003. The accused sought quashing of the…

Sunita Jain alleged that her husband Pawan Kumar Jain and his parents harassed her for dowry, physically and mentally torturing her, leading her to lodge an FIR. The trial court framed charges under IPC sections 498A, 506, 406, 34 and Dowry Prohibition Act sections 3 and 4. The High Court, invoking its inherent power u…

The appeal involved two convicted persons: the first under Section 326 of the IPC (a non‑compoundable offence) and the second under Section 324 IPC (compoundable with court permission). Both parties sought to compound the offences after reaching a settlement. The Supreme Court held that Section 320(9) of the CrPC bars …

The petitioners, all serving life sentences, claimed that having satisfied the detention periods prescribed in Paragraph 516‑B of the Punjab Jail Manual, they were entitled to have their cases considered for premature release. They argued that Paragraph 516‑B is a statutory rule and cannot be altered by the State Gover…

The appellants were convicted of murder based on circumstantial evidence that they had last seen the deceased alive, were seen walking near the crime scene, purchased meat, and allegedly pointed out the spot where a blood‑stained stone was recovered. The Supreme Court examined whether each circumstance was proved beyon…

The case involved a violent assault on the house of an informant during Holi, resulting in the death of Dhanpal. Thirteen persons were charged under IPC sections 147, 148, 149, 450, 452, 302 and 307. The trial court convicted all of them, but the High Court upheld convictions only of two accused and acquitted the remai…

The State of Bihar appealed against the High Court’s order granting bail to Rajballav Prasad, an under‑trial accused charged with multiple serious offences under the IPC, POCSO Act and Immoral Traffic Act. The accused had initially evaded arrest, later surrendered, and his bail application was rejected by the trial cou…

Shamsher Singh Verma was charged under IPC 354 and the POCSO Act for allegedly molesting his nine‑year‑old niece. The accused filed an application under Section 294 of the CrPC to have a compact disc containing a recorded conversation between the victim's father, the accused's son and his wife played in court and sent …

Bridgestone India Pvt. Ltd. presented a cheque drawn by Inderpal Singh on Union Bank of India, Chandigarh, at IDBI Bank, Indore, which was later dishonoured. The company served a legal notice and filed a criminal complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act in the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Indor…

The appellant, Atul Manubhai Parekh, was convicted under Section 120‑B of the IPC and sentenced to 15 days of rigorous imprisonment with a fine. He had already undergone 15 days of detention in connection with other cases and sought a set‑off of 30 days under Section 428 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, arguing…

The appellant was convicted for kidnapping two boys and for offences under Sections 364 and 365 IPC, read with Sections 120‑B and 201 IPC. The trial court sentenced him to ten years each for the two counts of kidnapping (total 20 years) and the High Court upheld the conviction and ordered the sentences to run consecuti…

Vikramjit Singh (Vicky) was convicted by the Sessions Court and sentenced to death for the murder of his wife, Meena Rani, based on a prosecution case that alleged he killed her due to an illicit relationship. The prosecution relied on a knife allegedly recovered after a confession, jewellery found nearby, and a series…

The appellants were stopped on a scooter and opium was seized from the vehicle, leading to their arrest under the NDPS Act. The trial court acquitted them, holding that the search and seizure were vitiated because Sections 42 and 50 of the NDPS Act were not complied with and the seizure witnesses were hostile. The High…

Babubhai Udesinh Parmar was convicted of raping and murdering a minor girl, Savita, primarily on the basis of a confession recorded by a Chief Judicial Magistrate under Section 164 of the Cr.P.C. The Supreme Court found that the confession was recorded without observing the statutory safeguards: it was taken on oath (w…

The appellants were convicted for kidnapping and murdering two children based largely on circumstantial evidence, including the testimony of a child witness, a taxi driver, extra‑judicial confessions, fingerprint matches, recovered clothing, and a ransom‑demand letter. The trial and High Courts upheld the convictions a…

The appellant, the brother of the deceased Achamma, alleged that his sister’s death was not a natural heart‑failure but a murder concealed as suicide. After exhumation and a post‑mortem indicating organophosphorus poisoning, the CB‑CID investigated and charged the husband under Section 306 IPC (abetment of suicide) and…