Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

The appellant, Anil Raju Namdev Patil, was convicted of kidnapping a five‑year‑old boy for ransom, the boy’s murder and related offences, and sentenced to death and five years’ rigorous imprisonment. He appealed, arguing that the charge of kidnapping for ransom with intent to murder (Section 364‑A IPC) was never framed…

Four brothers, including the deceased, were moving cattle through a field owned by Sonaram when Jalaram and six other accused, who were hiding in the field, assaulted them with lathis. Jalaram delivered a single blow to the deceased's forehead, causing instant death. The trial court convicted Jalaram under Sections 147…

The State of West Bengal appealed against the Calcutta High Court’s order quashing the sanction and the taking of cognizance in a TADA case involving a 1993 bomb explosion that killed 69 people. The High Court had held that the sanction order was invalid, that the Designated Court’s cognizance was not reasoned, and tha…

Ishvarbhai Fuljibhai Patni was convicted under Section 302 IPC and sentenced to life imprisonment. He appealed to the Gujarat High Court, which dismissed his appeal in a brief, cryptic judgment that merely affirmed the conviction without discussing the evidence or the arguments raised. The Supreme Court held that a Hig…

The case arose from FIR No. 735 (8 November 1993) alleging dowry death of Sunita, wife of Anil Kumar. The Additional Sessions Judge, Rohtak, granted anticipatory bail under Section 438 CrPC to the parents and brother of the husband, noting that they lived separately from the deceased as evidenced by the FIR and ration …

Ashok Sirpal was convicted under the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act for embezzling Rs 46 lakhs and was sentenced to seven years rigorous imprisonment (concurrent) and a fine of Rs 95 lakhs, with a default term of simple imprisonment for non‑payment of the fine. He appealed to the Delhi High Court, which suspe…

The appellants Imrat Singh and others were convicted by the trial court and the High Court for offences under Sections 148, 149 and 302 of the Indian Penal Code based primarily on the testimony of two eye‑witnesses, PW‑10 and PW‑11. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined the statements of these witnesses and found numer…

The case involved the murder of Zahida Begum and her son Ishlam, whose bodies were recovered from a septic tank after appellant No.1, Asar Mohammad, confessed and led police to the site. The trial court convicted all three accused under Sections 302 and 201 IPC, sentencing them to death (later commuted to life). On app…

The appellants, Kamala and her two children, claimed maintenance under Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code, asserting that Kamala was the legally wedded wife of the respondent, M.R. Mohan Kumar. The respondent denied any marriage and argued that without a valid marriage, maintenance could not be granted. The fam…

The husband, Ramachandra Reddy, murdered his wife Sujatha in a hotel in Pondicherry and subsequently committed suicide. Charges under IPC sections 302, 498A read with 34 were framed against him and his parents, Vidyasagar and Narasamma Reddy. After the husband's death, the charge against him abated, and the parents sou…

The appellant Joginder Singh was tried along with two others for murder, attempted murder and offences under the Arms Act arising from a land dispute that escalated into a shooting. The trial court acquitted all three accused, finding contradictions between eyewitness testimony, the ballistic report and the fact that t…

The State of Maharashtra appealed against the High Court’s order acquitting Ahmed Shaikh Babajan and four co‑accused of murder (Sec. 302 r/w Sec. 34 IPC) and house‑breaking (Sec. 456 r/w Sec. 109 IPC). The facts involved a dispute over possession of a flat, the alleged assault and death of the tenant’s son, and claims …

The appellant R. Kalyani lodged an FIR under Sections 409, 420 and 468 read with Section 34 IPC against three respondents, alleging that the third respondent operated her account without consent and forged a letter, while the first two senior officers of the company were claimed to be vicariously liable. The respondent…

Six armed men formed an unlawful assembly with the common object of killing Balan. They inflicted multiple injuries on his arms and legs, and he later died. The trial court convicted accused No.1 (the appellant) and others under Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC, along with other offences. The High Court acquitted a…

The respondents, convicted of offences including murder under the IPC, appealed their convictions and sought suspension of their sentences under Section 389 of the CrPC. The Rajasthan High Court granted suspension and bail without recording any written reasons. The Supreme Court held that Section 389 mandates that the …

The appellants were convicted for murder under IPC s.304(Part I) read with s.34 based primarily on the deceased's statements recorded in the FIR and under s.161 CrPC, which the trial and High Courts treated as dying declarations under s.32 of the Evidence Act. The Supreme Court examined the principles governing dying d…

The appellant Iqbal and a co-accused were charged with kidnapping and raping a girl who was under 14 years of age. The trial court convicted both under Sections 366A and 376 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) read with Section 34, and the High Court affirmed the conviction of Iqbal while acquitting the co-accused. On appea…

The accused, Kuntala Mishra, a midwife, was alleged to have murdered her daughter‑in‑law Geeta by strangulating her with a petticoat string after a dowry dispute. Geeta had undergone a D&C operation and was under the effect of phenargan, rendering her drowsy. She was found dead in the accused's quarters; the accused cl…

The appellant, Anukul Singh, challenged a FIR and charge sheet filed under Sections 420, 467 and 468 IPC alleging cheating and forgery arising from a dispute over a loan and property ownership. He contended that the FIR was a retaliatory measure linked to a civil dispute over land possession and that the complainant ha…

The Supreme Court examined whether the phrase “any property” in Section 102 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 includes immovable property. It held that the provision confers power only to seize movable property, as the word “seize” implies taking physical custody, which is impossible for immovable assets. The Cou…

The appellants were arrested in connection with a multi‑offence FIR and remanded to police/magisterial custody on 8 April 2018. The High Court, on 3 July 2018, ordered that the investigation be conducted by a gazetted officer of at least the rank of Additional Superintendent of Police and that a report be filed within …

The appellant filed a private complaint under Section 200 CrPC alleging forgery and fraud in connection with a machinery supply contract, leading the magistrate to take cognizance of offences under Sections 425, 468 and 471 IPC. The respondents obtained a stay of the cognizance by invoking Section 195(1)(b)(ii) CrPC, a…

The petitioners sought Supreme Court monitoring of a CBI investigation into the alleged police encounter killing of Dara Singh, claiming the investigation was incomplete. The CBI had completed its inquiry, filed a charge‑sheet against 16 accused, and the trial had commenced in the Sessions Court. The respondents argued…

The petitioner, convicted under Sections 420 and 120‑B IPC, sought quashing of the FIR under Section 482 of the CrPC on the ground that the dispute with the victim had been settled, although the offences were non‑compoundable under Section 320. The larger Bench examined the scope of the High Court's inherent power unde…

The case arose from a tripartite agreement between the Fertilizer Corporation of India Ltd (FCIL), Indian Explosives Ltd (IEL) and Bharat Coking Coal Ltd (BCCL) for the supply of ammonium nitrate. IEL later filed a criminal complaint alleging that senior FCIL officials (the appellants) and a third party suppressed the …

The State of Rajasthan filed a Special Leave Petition challenging a cryptic order of the Rajasthan High Court that dismissed its application for leave to appeal against an acquittal of Chanda and others without giving reasons. The Supreme Court examined whether a High Court must pass a speaking order showing due applic…

The State prosecuted four accused for a dacoity during which the deceased was murdered, alleging that the accused were identified at the scene by the victim (PW‑I) and other witnesses using torchlight and a gaslight. The trial court convicted them under Sections 302, 149, 148, 323 and 395 of the IPC and sentenced them …

The Supreme Court examined whether prisoners sentenced to rigorous imprisonment may be compelled to perform hard labour without consent and what wages they are entitled to under Article 23 of the Constitution. It held that such labour is lawful as it serves a public purpose of reform and rehabilitation, but prisoners m…

The truck bearing No. 9493 was seized by a Divisional Forest Officer for carrying 22 logs of timber without a permit under the Madhya Pradesh Ven Upaj Vyapar Viniyaman Act, 1969. The driver compounded the offence by paying Rs.1,000, but the truck was not released because its value was not paid, leading to its confiscat…

Samaresh Bose authored the novel "Prajapati" which was published in the Bengali journal Desh and later as a book. Amal Mitra complained that the work was obscene under IPC s.292 read with s.109, leading to the conviction of the author and the publisher Sitangshu Kumar Dasgupta by a magistrate and affirmation by the Cal…

The appellant Mukesh Singh was convicted of murder, robbery and related offences based primarily on the identification of the injured eyewitness Sushil Kumar, who identified him in court after the accused had refused to attend a test identification parade (TIP). The accused argued that his refusal to participate in the…

The appellant, an Executive Engineer of the Jharkhand State Electricity Board (JSEB), was accused of financial irregularities and fraud in connection with the implementation of an arbitration award favoring Ramjee Power Construction Limited (RPCL). The prosecution alleged that he prepared an agenda for appointing an ar…

The appellant, Rajbir Singh, was convicted under Section 302 IPC for allegedly poisoning his neighbour's wife by mixing organophosphorus into milk he supplied. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, including a loan motive, alleged pronote, and chemical reports indicating poison in milk and viscera. The Sup…

An FIR (No.477) recorded the death of Amarjit Singh and injuries to his nephew Manjeet Singh, naming five persons as perpetrators. Only one accused, Sartaj Singh, was charge‑sheeted; the other four private respondents were placed in column‑2. During trial, the victim (PW1) reiterated the allegations against the private…

The appellants were served with show‑cause notices alleging encroachment on land forming part of a National Highway. The notices were issued under Section 28(2)(iii) of the Tamil Nadu State Highway Act, 2001 and were said to be backed by a notification issued under Section 5 of the National Highways Act, 1956. The appe…

Harjit Singh filed an FIR alleging that his father was murdered by a group of accused, including Inderpreet Singh (respondent No.1), who was alleged to have orchestrated the conspiracy from jail using a mobile phone. The High Court granted bail to Inderpreet Singh, reasoning that he was not physically present at the cr…

The appellant, Lala @ Anurag Prakash Aasre, was convicted for murder, unlawful assembly and related offences after a group assault with sharp weapons that resulted in the death of Balu Mandpe and injuries to several witnesses. The key dispute was that the appellant’s name was absent from the FIR, though he was identifi…

Saranya appealed the Madras High Court's order that quashed the chargesheet against Bharathi (respondent No.1) for offences under Sections 420, 302 r/w 109 IPC. The High Court had examined the evidence and concluded that the accused was likely to be convicted, thereby exercising its power under Section 482 CrPC to dism…

The State of Haryana prosecuted 148 workers for offences including murder arising from a factory fire. After the prosecution examined 102 witnesses and the accused gave statements under Section 313 CrPC, the defence sought recall of several prosecution witnesses under Section 311 CrPC, alleging that the lead counsel ha…

Dr. Subramanian Swamy filed a criminal complaint alleging that former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram conspired with Telecom Minister A. Raja in the 2G spectrum scam, seeking to make Chidambaram an accused under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The Special Judge, after examining the material, found no evidence of Chid…

Sudha Verma, the widow of Rajesh Kumar, appealed against the Allahabad High Court's grant of bail to Dinesh Kumar (respondent No.2), who was alleged to have shot and killed his elder brother during a family dispute over property partition. The High Court had held that the offence fell under Section 304 Part II of the I…

The appellant Jagdishmura was charged under Section 307 IPC for allegedly firing a pistol at the neck of PW‑2, a driver, in an attempt to murder him. The trial court acquitted him, finding the key witnesses’ statements contradictory, the motive unestablished, and the FIR ante‑dated and improperly investigated. The High…

The appellant, AteeF Nasir Mulla, was arrested in connection with a bomb blast on a local train and repeatedly remanded while the Special Court extended the statutory 90‑day investigation period under Section 49(2)(b) of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2002. The prosecution’s application for extension detailed a deep‑…

The appellant, Gilbert Pereira, was accused of murdering a young girl and robbing her of gold ornaments. The prosecution relied entirely on circumstantial evidence, including the victim’s body found in a house the appellant could access, blood‑stained clothes and knife matching the victim’s blood group, injuries on the…

The State of Madhya Pradesh appealed a Madhya Pradesh High Court order that quashed the conviction of Bhooraji and others and directed a retrial because the trial had been conducted by a specified Sessions Court without a prior committal order from a magistrate. The accused were charged under the IPC and the Scheduled …

The Supreme Court examined an appeal by S.M. Datta, the occupier of a factory, who sought to quash a criminal complaint filed by a Factories Inspector under Sections 61, 62 and 63 of the Factories Act, 1948. The complaint alleged that an adult worker was made to work beyond prescribed hours without his name being displ…

The appellant, a partner in a firm, filed a criminal complaint alleging offences under Sections 405, 406 and 408 IPC against two former partners. A civil suit for dissolution of the partnership and accounts was simultaneously pending. The respondents moved the Punjab & Haryana High Court under Section 482 of the Cr.P.C…

The appellant, a partner in a film‑exhibition partnership, was alleged to have colluded with another firm to misappropriate film prints and proceeds, leading the second respondent to file a complaint before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Patna. The Chief Judicial Magistrate examined the complainant and transferred the …

The Provident Fund Inspector filed complaints against the directors and factory manager of Burhanpur Tapti Mills Ltd for failing to pay the employer's contribution to the Employees' Provident Fund and Family Pension Fund Act, 1952, for the period February 1970 to June 1971. The accused contended that the complaint was …

The appellants, M/s Rimjhim Ispat Ltd. and related companies, were investigated for alleged illegal manufacture and removal of excisable goods, leading to departmental adjudication orders imposing large duties and penalties under the Central Excise Act, 1944. The Departmental order dated 31‑03‑2011 was set aside by the…

Shri Gurudatta Sugars Marketing Pvt. Ltd. entered into agreements with Cane Agro Energy Ltd., which failed to supply sugar and issued two cheques that were later dishonoured for insufficient funds. The appellant filed a complaint under the Negotiable Instruments Act and obtained an order of interim compensation under S…

The case involves an alleged honour killing where the victim, Vikash Panwar, was shot dead by three accused who were related to his live-in partner. The accused were charged under Sections 302 and 120B of the IPC and Sections 3, 25 and 27 of the Arms Act. The High Court of Rajasthan granted bail to all three accused in…

Bhima Rao Baswanth Rao Patil, a successful Lok Sabha candidate, was challenged by K. Madan Mohan Rao through an election petition under Sections 81 and 84 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, alleging false information, non‑disclosure of pending criminal cases and convictions, and non‑compliance with Election…

Nanjappa, a bill collector in a Karnataka gram panchayat, was accused of demanding a Rs 500 bribe for a resolution copy. The trial court acquitted him, holding that the prosecution failed to prove the charge and that the sanction for prosecution under Section 19 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 was invalid. Th…

The appellant was accused of raping a 15‑year‑old girl who later died by suicide. An eye‑witness, a cousin aged about 13‑14, testified that he saw the appellant committing the assault, and his testimony was supported by another witness and by medical and forensic reports that showed evidence of sexual intercourse. The …

The appellant, Anuj Kumar Gupta, was convicted for the murder of Chhotu Kumar Das based largely on a confessional statement he gave to the investigating officer (PW‑9) that led police to the victim’s body in a river. The trial court sentenced him to death, which the High Court later commuted to life imprisonment. The a…

The appellant was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC for stabbing and further assaulting the deceased, who later died. The prosecution relied on a dying declaration recorded by a police officer after medical certification of fitness, corroborated by an eye‑witness, forensic blood‑group evidence, the recovered kn…

The appellant Shudhakar was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC for allegedly setting his wife on fire. The deceased gave three dying declarations: the first, recorded by a Naib Tehsildar, exonerated the husband and claimed the fire originated from a stove; the second and third, recorded later by a Tehsildar and …

Undavalli Narayana Rao was convicted under Section 498A of the IPC for subjecting his wife, Malathi Devi, to cruelty and dowry harassment that allegedly drove her to suicide. The trial court found that the husband and his mother repeatedly demanded property, threatened the wife, and forced her to alienate land, leading…

The case involves the kidnapping of a 16‑year‑old girl in 1992. The girl was later found and gave a written report alleging kidnapping, but her trial testimony was later embellished with claims of sexual abuse and an attempt to sell her into prostitution. The trial court acquitted all three accused due to contradiction…

Suraj Singh and his wife were tried for the murder of Jagat Singh. The trial court acquitted both, relying on a perceived discrepancy between eye‑witness testimony and medical evidence. The Allahabad High Court set aside Suraj Singh's acquittal, convicted him under s.302 IPC and sentenced him to life imprisonment, hold…

Respondent No.1 filed a criminal complaint against Subha Raj and others alleging offences under several IPC sections. The Magistrate dismissed the complaint, and the complainant's first revision before the Additional District and Sessions Judge was also dismissed. A second revision petition, styled under s.401 r/w s.40…

The appellant, P.K. Pradhan, a former Secretary of the Rural Development Department of Sikkim, and the then Chief Minister were charged under Section 120‑B IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Acts for conspiring to award rural water‑scheme contracts at low rates. The Special Judge held that no prior sanction under Sec…

Dr. Lakshmansinh Vaghele, a Laboratory Officer of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, was appointed by the State Government as a Public Analyst under the Food Adulteration Act. A complaint was filed against him alleging offences under IPC sections 465, 468 and 201 for acts committed while performing his duties as Publ…

Manoj Pratap Singh was convicted of kidnapping, raping and murdering a seven-and-a-half-year-old mentally and physically disabled girl. The prosecution proved its case through a complete chain of circumstantial evidence, including DNA matches, blood‑stained clothing, the victim’s body recovered at the appellant’s direc…

The second respondent was charged with kidnapping and murdering a 13‑year‑old child for ransom, with the trial ongoing since 2014. The Delhi High Court granted him bail, a decision challenged by the parents of the deceased and the State. The Supreme Court examined whether bail under Section 439 of the CrPC was appropri…

The appellant aunt and nephew were convicted for murdering the deceased husband, an Upper Division Clerk, based on circumstantial evidence. The prosecution proved that the death occurred at 1.30 a.m., the victims were found dead in bed, the accused were present, and the nephew’s statement under Section 27 led to the re…

The appellant, Rajput Jabbarsingh Malaji, was convicted under Section 302 IPC for murdering his brother Jethusing by striking him on the face with an axe. The prosecution relied on the dying victim's wife (PW‑3) who identified the appellant, corroborated by two brothers (PW‑5, PW‑6) whose statements were recorded under…

The appellant filed an interlocutory application seeking clarification of paragraph 51 of the Supreme Court's judgment dated 27 March 2023 in Criminal Appeals Nos. 701‑702 of 2020, which had upheld a default bail order granted by the Bombay High Court under proviso (a)(ii) of Section 167(2) of the CrPC. The Court exami…

The deceased Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy was murdered in March 2019 and the case was transferred to the CBI, which filed charge sheets naming several accused including the first respondent Y.S. Avinash Reddy. The first respondent sought anticipatory bail and filed a writ petition, prompting the Telangana High Court to grant…

The appellant, Maghavendra Pratap Singh (Pankaj Singh), was convicted for the murder of businessman Goverdhan Aggarwal and related offences under Sections 302, 201, 120B of the IPC and the Arms Act, based largely on circumstantial evidence. The prosecution’s case lacked any eyewitnesses, direct forensic linkage, or rel…

The appellant, Dipakbhai Jagdishchandra Patel, was implicated in a counterfeit currency case after co‑accused 1‑3 claimed the fake notes originated from his residence. No counterfeit notes were actually recovered from his home and the only incriminating material was the co‑accused statements recorded by police under Se…

The plaintiffs alleged that the defendants had entered into an agreement to sell a Delhi property and associated business for Rs 55.50 crore, receiving Rs 5 crore as part consideration, and sued for specific performance. The defendants contested the agreement, claiming the document was forged, the signatures on pages 3…

The Delhi Administration appealed the acquittal of Vidya Gupta, a sweet shop vendor, who was charged under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 for storing adulterated ghee used to make jalebis. The Supreme Court held that Section 7, read with its explanation, deems any person who stores adulterated food for t…

The appellant was convicted under Sections 324 and 326 of the IPC for assaulting his cousin with a bat made of coconut leaf stem and a stone, causing grievous injuries. The High Court reduced his sentence, but the parties later reached a settlement and sought to compound the offences. The Supreme Court held that the qu…

The Supreme Court examined the murder of Patrangi Ramanaiah, who was stabbed by a group of accused during an unlawful assembly. The trial court and High Court had convicted most of the accused under Sections 302, 148 and 324 IPC, relying on eyewitness testimony, a dying declaration, and forensic evidence, while acquitt…

Ultra Tech Cement Ltd filed a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act against Rakesh Kumar Singh and another before the Metropolitan Magistrate, 11th Court, Calcutta. The issue was whether that magistrate retained jurisdiction after the Supreme Court’s decision in Dashrath Rupsingh Rathod v. State…

The Supreme Court examined a criminal appeal filed by Rajat Prasad and Arvind Vijay Mohan, who were charged under Section 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 read with Section 120‑B of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly conspiring to conduct a sting operation that exposed a Union Minister taking a bribe. The …

Ram Babu Tiwari was arrested along with two others for alleged murder under IPC sections 307 and 34. He obtained bail on 27 May 2008 from the Sessions Court. The State filed an application under CrPC s.439 seeking cancellation of bail, alleging that Tiwari fired the fatal shot, had threatened a witness, and that co‑acc…

The appellant Prem Singh was charged with shooting Preetam Pyare and his son, leading to the latter's death, under Section 307 IPC and Section 27 of the Arms Act. The trial court convicted him, and the Delhi High Court affirmed the conviction on the basis that the pistol recovered from the appellant matched the bullet …

The case concerned a petition under Section 482 of the CrPC filed by the accused (respondent No.2) seeking quashing of charges framed under Sections 307, 148, 323 read with 149, 341 and 294 of the IPC. The High Court allowed the petition on the ground that the injuries inflicted were simple and did not involve any vita…

The appellant, Nepal Singh, was charged with dowry demand and cruelty leading to his wife's suicide under Sections 304‑B and 498‑A IPC. The trial court acquitted him, finding no evidence of any dowry demand and granting him the benefit of doubt. The High Court reversed the acquittal and convicted him. On appeal, the Su…

The appellants and respondents settled their dispute and sought to compound the offences alleged against them under Sections 406 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code. The question before the Supreme Court was whether these offences are compoundable under Section 320(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, and whether t…

The Metropolitan Magistrate ordered the investigating officer to add Section 307 of the IPC to the case and to investigate that offence. The High Court upheld this direction, but the Supreme Court held that such a directive interferes with the statutory power of the police to investigate and exceeds the court's jurisdi…

The appellant, a public servant, conducted a raid on a medical shop and seized medicines, later filing an FIR against respondent No.2. In retaliation, respondent No.2 lodged a complaint alleging the appellant had committed offences under IPC sections 161, 167, 465, 466, 469 and 471. The District Magistrate issued a san…

T. Nagappa was charged under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act for the dishonour of a cheque. He applied to the magistrate, invoking Section 243 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (mistakenly cited as Section 293), seeking to have the cheque examined by the Forensic Science Laboratory to determine the age of…

The accused were convicted under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act for kidnapping an industrialist and extorting a Rs 1 crore ransom. The conviction rested primarily on a detailed confessional statement recorded by the DCP from co‑accused A‑12, which was later retracted. The appellants argued tha…

The case concerned L.D. Balam Singh, an Indian Army officer, who was tried by a General Court Martial under Section 69 of the Army Act for an offence punishable under Section 18 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The High Court had set aside his conviction on the ground that the search and se…

Shashikant Singh was convicted of murdering his brother, and during the trial the court, under Section 319 of the CrPC, summoned another person (respondent No. I) who appeared to have committed the same offence. The trial of the original accused, Chandra Shekhar Singh, concluded before the summoned person could be trie…

The deceased Raj Karan was attacked with lathis by the accused Bishna and Balbir, sustaining fatal head injuries. Two relatives, Sukhchain Singh (PW‑1) and Jai Karan (PW‑2), witnessed the assault, took the victim to the hospital, and later gave statements that formed the core of the prosecution case. The trial court co…

Vashram Narshibhai Rajpara, a fruit vendor, was convicted of murdering his wife and four daughters by pouring petrol on them and setting them alight while they slept, motivated by a dispute over a house. The trial court sentenced him to death, a decision affirmed by the Gujarat High Court. On appeal, the Supreme Court …

The three accused (Ezhil, Saravanan and Mohammed Iqbal) were charged with robbery, murder and related offences after a car they were travelling in was intercepted carrying articles belonging to the deceased, Masukuthu Ali, whose body was later found stabbed. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, including …

O.P. Sharma, a former DIG of the CBI, filed an application under Section 91 of the Criminal Procedure Code seeking the summons and production of documents he alleged would demonstrate that the CBI’s case against him was driven by malice. The Special Judge rejected the application, finding the documents irrelevant and i…

Smt. Santra, a poor labourer with seven children, underwent a sterilisation operation at a government hospital under the family‑planning scheme and was issued a certificate stating the procedure was successful. She later became pregnant and gave birth to a child because only her right fallopian tube had been operated o…

The case concerned the inter‑se seniority of Munsifs appointed under two different recruitment regimes in Bihar – the 15th Judicial Service Examination governed by the Bihar Judicial Service (Recruitment) Rules, 1955 and the ad‑hoc recruitment under the Bihar Civil Service (Judicial Branch) Rules, 1974. Thirty‑two resp…

The parents of two IIT Delhi students who died under suspicious circumstances filed complaints alleging caste-based discrimination and murder, but the police only conducted an inquest under Section 174 of the CrPC and concluded suicide without registering a First Information Report (FIR). The petitioners sought a writ …

The appellant, Firoz Khan Akbarkhan, was convicted along with a co‑accused for murder under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC, based on eyewitness testimony that he stabbed the deceased with a knife. He challenged the conviction, arguing that the delay of two to three days in recording witness statements unde…

The appellant was accused of raping the complainant three times, allegedly after promising to marry her. The complainant claimed she was coerced into sexual intercourse under threat and that the promise of marriage was a false inducement. The High Court rejected the appellant's application to quash the proceedings unde…

A complaint was lodged alleging that Charansinh, then President of a municipal council, had amassed assets disproportionate to his known income, invoking Section 13(1)(e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The Anti‑Corruption Bureau (ACB) issued a notice directing him to appear for an "open enquiry" and to furnish de…

Manju Devi, a Scheduled Caste woman, complained that the respondents assaulted her, outraged her modesty and insulted her caste, invoking Sections 323, 354, 452 of the IPC and Section 3(1)(xi) of the SC/ST Act. The High Court granted anticipatory bail to the respondents under Section 438 of the CrPC. The appellant chal…

The appellant Manmeet Singh (alias Goldie) was convicted under Section 396 of the Indian Penal Code for dacoity with murder, based on an alleged robbery of a large sum of money and the killing of Mohinder Singh. The prosecution alleged that five or more persons participated in the dacoity, but only the appellant was id…

The petitioners challenged the constitutional validity of Section 66A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, alleging that it infringes the right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a) and is not saved by the reasonable restrictions of Article 19(2). They also contested the validity of Section 69A…

The plaintiff purchased a tractor from a dealer, alleging that the dealer misrepresented the engine's horsepower. After a consumer forum dismissed his complaint, he filed a criminal complaint under IPC sections 1208, 420 and 468 against both the dealer and the tractor manufacturer. The magistrate dismissed the complain…

The State of Maharashtra convicted several respondents, including Madhukar Wamanrao Smarth, for cheating, forgery, abetment, criminal breach of trust and conspiracy, imposing consecutive sentences totalling twelve years. The respondents appealed and sought bail by suspension of sentence under Section 389 of the Code of…

The Drugs Inspector seized samples of Ozomen capsules and Ozomen forte, which were found to contain sildenafil citrate, an allopathic drug, in quantities ranging from 33.9 mg to 46.8 mg per capsule. The respondents, who held licences for Ayurvedic and allopathic medicines but not for manufacturing sildenafil citrate, w…

On the day of a West Bengal Assembly election, Assistant Commissioner Sankaran Moitra led a police lathi charge at a polling booth, during which the husband of complainant Sadhna Das was beaten to death. A private complaint was filed, the Chief Judicial Magistrate took cognizance and issued a warrant. The accused sough…

The State of Orissa, represented by forest officials, appealed against a complaint filed by G.C. Jew alleging assault, illegal seizure of ivory and other offences under the IPC, the Orissa Forest Act and the Wildlife Protection Act. The respondents claimed the officials acted without legal authority, while the official…

Smt. Nilabati Behera filed a writ petition under Article 32 alleging that her son, Suman Behera, died in police custody due to injuries inflicted by police and that his body was later dumped on a railway track. The State of Orissa contended that the son escaped custody and was killed in a train accident, denying liabil…

Sher Singh and others were convicted of murder under IPC s.302/34 and sentenced to death in 1977. After the High Court upheld the sentence and the Supreme Court dismissed their Special Leave Petition, the petitioners filed writ petitions under Art.32 claiming that a delay of more than two years in executing the death s…

The appellant Dagadu was convicted of murder under IPC s.302 and sentenced to life imprisonment. The Bombay High Court dismissed his first appeal summarily, using only the word "rejected" and providing no reasons. The Supreme Court examined the High Court's power under CrPC s.384 (formerly s.421) to dismiss appeals sum…

The appellant was accused, along with a co‑accused, of kidnapping and murdering a 16‑year‑old girl in Assam. The prosecution relied on three circumstantial links: the victim was last seen with the appellant, the appellant’s extra‑judicial confessions to several villagers, and the recovery of the dead body after those c…

The appellant, a senior BIS officer deputed as Director of FSSAI, acted as Presiding Officer of the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) investigating a sexual harassment complaint. She filed a counter‑affidavit on behalf of the complainant without the complainant’s consent, and later amended it when the complainant wis…

The appellant, a civil engineer, posted a viral picture of a sitting cabinet minister on Facebook and alleged that police, at the minister’s behest, forcibly took him to the minister’s residence, beat him and threatened him. He filed FIRs (Nos. 119 and 120 of 2020) but the minister was not named in the initial chargesh…

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) appealed against a Telangana High Court order that granted anticipatory bail to M. Gopal Reddy (respondent No.1) under Section 438 of the CrPC in connection with a money‑laundering case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA). The Supreme Court examined whether the …

The State alleged that Shyamal Saha and Prosanta (Kalu Kabiraj) abducted and murdered Paritosh Saha after taking him across the Ganges River. The trial court acquitted them, finding the prosecution's witnesses inconsistent and the basic fact of the victim boarding the boat doubtful, thereby granting the benefit of doub…

The appellant, MD Sukur Ali, challenged a conviction upheld by the Gauhati High Court, which had been decided in his absence because his newly appointed counsel, B. Sinha, did not appear due to a listing error. The Supreme Court examined whether a criminal case can be decided against an accused when counsel is absent a…

The Additional Sessions Judge convicted Narayan Dutt, Manjit Singh and Prem Kumar for murder under the IPC and sentenced them to life imprisonment. While their appeals were pending before the High Court, they filed petitions under Article 161 of the Constitution seeking pardon from the Governor of Punjab, who granted i…

The incident occurred on 12 February 1975 at Lalitpur bus stand where the appellant Mahendra Pratap Singh was alleged to have fired a single bullet from a rifle, causing the death of Devendra Singh and injuries to three others. The trial court acquitted him, but the Allahabad High Court convicted him under IPC sections…

The case arose from the killing of Lakhi Ram, who was shot by Rajpal Singh after a quarrel involving the accused Gajey Singh and his father Mehar Singh. The trial court convicted Gajey Singh and Rajpal Singh for murder under Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC, but the High Court acquitted them, holding that the prose…

The appellant was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC for stabbing the deceased with a dagger. The prosecution's case relied on eyewitness testimony that the appellant drew a dagger and inflicted fatal injuries, while the defence argued that the dagger was found enclosed in a sheath and bore no bloodstains, makin…

A senior District & Sessions Judge (the appellant) granted bail to two accused under Section 20(b)(i) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. The Patna High Court Single Judge cancelled the bail and harshly criticised the judge, alleging extraneous considerations, ignorance of Section 37, an…

S. Nagoor Meera, a Superintendent in the Collegiate Education Department, was convicted under IPC s.420 and the Prevention of Corruption Act s.5 and sentenced to one year rigorous imprisonment. The High Court suspended the sentence and released him on bail. The Deputy Director issued a show‑cause notice seeking his dis…

The case involved a murder at Sadar Hospital where Hare Krishna Singh and six others were alleged to have fired upon the deceased Jitendra Choudhary, resulting in his death. The appellants challenged their convictions on several grounds, including the prosecution’s failure to explain injuries sustained by Hare Krishna …

The State of Haryana charged Sher Singh and his two sons with the murder of Sher Singh's half‑brothers, alleging they assaulted and burned the victims in a village courtyard. The trial court convicted them under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC, sentencing Sher Singh to death and the others to life imprisonment; the High…

The appellants, parents of a man who had a relationship with a woman, sought to quash the chargesheet filed against them under Section 482 of the CrPC, alleging that the High Court erred in rejecting their petition. The complainant claimed the parents had assured her of marriage to their son, leading to an intimate rel…

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a chargesheet on 15 October 2022 against 75 persons, including Kapil Wadhawan and Dheeraj Wadhawan, for alleged conspiracy, fraud and corruption involving DHFL. The respondents applied for default bail under the proviso to Section 167(2) of the CrPC, arguing that the char…

The appellant, Talat Sanvi, was granted anticipatory bail by the High Court on the condition that he deposit interim victim compensation. The appellant challenged this condition, arguing that it contravenes Section 357 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. The Supreme Court examined the provisions of Section 357, no…

The case concerned the murder of Narayan in 1985, for which Munna Lal, Sheo Lal and Babu Ram were convicted under section 302 IPC based largely on the oral testimony of two eye‑witnesses, PW‑2 (Ram Vilas) and PW‑3 (Hemraj), and medical evidence. The Supreme Court examined the credibility of these witnesses, noting PW‑2…

The appellant purchased a plot by a registered sale deed in 1994. The father of the second respondent died in 1997, and the respondent filed a civil suit in 2008 seeking cancellation of the deed, alleging fraud but not forgery. In 2012 the respondent filed a criminal complaint alleging forgery and impersonation under I…

The State of Kerala prosecuted several accused for possession of large quantities of hashish oil, a commercial quantity under the NDPS Act. The High Court granted post‑arrest bail to the accused without recording the mandatory findings required by Section 37 of the NDPS Act. The State appealed, arguing that bail could …

Rameshbhai Chandubhai Rathod, a 27‑year‑old watchman, was convicted of raping and murdering a ten‑year‑old girl residing in the building where he worked. The trial court sentenced him to death under Section 302 IPC, a decision affirmed by the Gujarat High Court as a "rarest of rare" case. On appeal before a two‑judge S…

The appellant Vinod and others were convicted for kidnapping a nine‑year‑old boy, Amit Kumar, and demanding a ransom of Rs 10 lakh. The boy was released after the ransom was paid, and the police recovered the money and arrested the accused. The trial court and the Punjab and Haryana High Court sentenced the accused to …

Suresh Nanda, an NRI, had his passport seized by the CBI during a search on 10 October 2006. The Special Judge ordered its release with conditions, but the High Court reversed that order, refusing release. The Supreme Court examined whether the CBI could retain or impound the passport without an order under the Passpor…

The appellant, Shri Harendra Nath Borah, a police constable, was convicted under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code for the death of a truck driver who was assaulted by police personnel and later died in hospital. The appellant challenged the conviction, arguing that the facts did not constitute murder but only culpa…

The respondent entered into a contract through the appellant to purchase 1500 MT of polypropylene, but only 50 MT were delivered and the appellant claimed unforeseen circumstances for the shortfall. The respondent filed a private complaint alleging cheating under Section 420 IPC, claiming a loss of $236,250. The trial …

The appellant, his brother and father were tried for murder (IPC s.302) of the appellant's wife; the trial court acquitted them after witnesses turned hostile. The Karnataka High Court, however, convicted the appellant under IPC s.304B (dowry death) and s.498A without a specific charge for s.304B. The Supreme Court exa…

The respondents complained that the appellants fraudulently obtained their signature on a sale agreement and filed a criminal case under Sections 420 and 406 IPC. The Judicial Magistrate discharged the appellants, a revision before the Sessions Court was dismissed, and a second revision was filed before the High Court,…

The Supreme Court examined the constitutional validity of Section 45(1) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, which imposes two additional conditions for granting bail when the offence involves a scheduled offence punishable with imprisonment of more than three years under Part A of the Schedule. The Court h…

The appellant challenged a High Court order that, on the ground of his contradictory statements in a civil suit, directed the Registrar to file a criminal complaint under Section 340 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) for offences under Sections 199 and 200 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The Supreme Court examin…

The Supreme Court considered appeals by Sanjay Chandra and 16 co‑accused who were denied bail by the Special CBI Judge and the Delhi High Court in a telecom‑licence fraud case involving alleged loss of billions to the State. The appellants argued that the investigation was complete, the charge‑sheet filed, and there wa…

Gian Singh was convicted under IPC Sections 420 (cheating) and 120B (criminal conspiracy). While his appeal was pending, he sought to compound the offences and filed a petition under CrPC Section 482 to quash the FIR, which the High Court dismissed. The Supreme Court examined whether a non‑compoundable offence such as …

The Supreme Court heard a Special Leave Petition (CrL) No. 6568 of 2009 filed by Manoj Yadav against Pushpa @ Kiran Yadav concerning the grant of maintenance under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). The issue arose because several states (Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tripura and Uttar Prad…

The Supreme Court examined an appeal by Indian Overseas Bank against a Madras High Court order that stayed disciplinary proceedings against four bank employees who were also facing criminal charges for assaulting a rival union president. The employees had been suspended, served charge‑sheets, and a departmental enquiry…

The incident involved the assault and death of Vidya Ram on 20 December 1981, allegedly by the appellants wielding a lathi and bharcha. The sole eye‑witness, a minor named Mangal Singh, claimed he saw the assault from a mound, but his testimony contained material contradictions, including differing accounts of how he r…

The accused were acquitted by the trial court of charges under Sections 306 and 498A IPC for the alleged cruel treatment and abetment of suicide of the deceased wife. The mother of the deceased filed a revision petition, and the Calcutta High Court set aside the acquittal, directing a fresh trial and ordering the trial…

The appellant, Durgesh Chandra Saha, lodged a complaint that led to a police investigation completed on 8 February 1988 and a charge‑sheet filed under several IPC sections. The respondents, Bimalchandra Saha and others, sought discharge on the ground that the West Bengal Amendment Act (Act 24 of 1988) had amended Secti…

The case arose from a dispute over the management of a society‑run school where Ram Autar Shukla (petitioner) claimed to be the duly elected manager and Arvind Shukla (respondent) contested the same. After a series of orders by the Assistant Registrar and the High Court, the Supreme Court stayed the High Court's judgme…

The Supreme Court examined whether a magistrate's order to issue summons is an interlocutory or intermediate order and whether it can be challenged under Section 397 of the CrPC. It held that such an order is intermediate/quasi‑final and therefore revisable under Section 397 (and also under the inherent jurisdiction of…

The Supreme Court examined the custodial death of R.K. Jain, a Deputy Commissioner who suffered from asthma and died of asphyxia after being detained in a dust‑filled, windowless room by officers of the Lokayukta. The Sessions Court had framed charges under Section 304 Part II IPC but omitted Section 330 IPC; the High …

The appellants issued a Rs.2 lakh cheque to the respondents on 22 June 2003, which was presented and dishonoured three times within the six‑month period prescribed by Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. Notices were issued after each presentation, but the first notice was not served and the second was withdr…

The informant appealed the Patna High Court’s order granting anticipatory bail to three respondents under s.438 of the CrPC. The Supreme Court held that the High Court erred in granting a blanket anticipatory bail without the applicant showing a specific ‘reason to believe’ of arrest based on reasonable grounds, and in…

The dispute arose when Hukam Chand's brother Udai Chand and his sibling went to a wheat‑threshing field and a quarrel broke out over a khes. Hukam Chand arrived armed with a pharsa (a deadly weapon) and struck Udai Chand on the head, causing fatal injuries; other parties also inflicted blows with lathi and ballam. The …

The State of Delhi filed a complaint under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 alleging that groundnut oil sold by Ahmed Oomer Bhoy's Delhi branch was adulterated. The complaint named the manufacturers, distributors, retailer, the person nominated under s.17(2) as responsible, and the two sales managers of th…

The appellant, Fuleshwar Gope, was alleged to be a director of a company used to collect funds for the People’s Liberation Front of India and was charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). He challenged the sanction order, arguing violations of statutory timelines, lack of independent review, misjoi…

Parveen Kumar was married to Raksha Devi, who filed multiple complaints alleging cruelty, including an FIR under Section 498-A and a maintenance petition under Section 125 CrPC. Within two years of marriage, she died by ingesting aluminum phosphide tablets, and her brother lodged an FIR accusing the husband of cruelty …

The appellants were arrested under the Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime Act, 2015 and the Special Court extended their judicial custody beyond 90 days to 180 days on the basis of reports from the Public Prosecutor, without producing the accused physically or virtually and without informing them of the a…

Navika Kumar, the anchor of a Times Now debate aired on 26 May 2022, faced multiple FIRs and criminal complaints in various states. She filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking quashing of the FIRs, their transfer to the IFSO unit of Delhi Police, a stay on any coercive action, and the clubbing of the cases. The …

The appellant filed an FIR alleging that his son was brutally murdered in broad daylight by a group of seven assailants, resulting in eight grievous injuries. One of the accused, respondent No.2, was granted bail by the Allahabad High Court on the ground of parity with other co‑accused who had also been released on bai…

The appellant paid Rs.3,50,000 as advance for the purchase of a house, later discovering the respondent had no title to sell it. The respondent issued a cheque for Rs.1,50,000 to return part of the advance, which was dishonoured, leading the appellant to file a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments …

The Supreme Court examined whether a Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) in non‑metropolitan areas could entertain a secured creditor's application under Section 14 of the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 (SARFAESI Act) for taking possession of secured ass…

S.P.S. Rathore, a senior police officer, was convicted under Section 354 IPC for molesting a minor girl, Ruchika, after she was forced into his office and embraced against her will. The prosecution relied primarily on the testimony of a single eye‑witness, PW‑13 (Aradhana), whose account was corroborated by other witne…

The appellant Dhal Singh Dewangan was accused of murdering his wife and five daughters. The prosecution relied on statements of village witnesses (PWs 1,2,3,5) that they heard the appellant’s mother (PW‑6) accuse him, and on circumstantial evidence such as the presence of a blood‑stained knife and the appellant’s uncon…

The appellant, Ranjit Sarkar, was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC for delivering a single blow with a wooden file to the head of the deceased, Anil Das, who later died from head injuries. The prosecution alleged multiple injuries, while the defence argued that only one blow caused the death, making it culpabl…

The Supreme Court examined petitions filed by the People's Union for Civil Liberties challenging the authenticity of nearly 99 police encounters in Mumbai between 1995 and 1997, which resulted in about 135 deaths. The Court was asked to direct the State of Maharashtra to investigate these encounters, register FIRs, and…

The appellant, S. Mahaboob Basha, was convicted under Section 498A IPC for subjecting his wife, PW‑1, to cruelty and dowry harassment, along with other offences. The prosecution presented testimony of the wife, her brother, and mother, and documentary evidence establishing repeated ill‑treatment and unlawful dowry dema…

The deceased Rajni died from severe burns after kerosene oil was poured on her and she was set alight. Her dying declaration named her husband Mahender Singh, her brother‑in‑law Prem Kumar Gulati and his wife Simla as participants, but did not specify who actually poured the oil or lit the fire. The trial court and Hig…

The appellant, a District Excise Officer, was charged with cheating for allegedly facilitating the replacement of a partnership deed dated 5‑Mar‑2002 with a forged deed dated 6‑Mar‑2003, thereby depriving the complainant of his share in an excise liquor contract. The complainant filed a criminal complaint under IPC sec…

A.B. Bhaskara Rao, a railway head clerk, demanded and accepted Rs 200 as illegal gratification for a transfer order on 14 Nov 1997 and was charged under Sections 7 and 13(1)(d)(ii) read with Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. He was convicted by a Special Judge and sentenced to six months rigorous…

The appellant, Sadhwi Pragnya Singh Thakur, was alleged to have been arrested on 10 October 2008 in connection with the Malegaon bomb blast and claimed that she was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, violating Article 22(1) and 22(2) of the Constitution, and that the charge‑sheet was filed after the 90‑d…

A complaint alleging that police refused to register an earlier FIR was filed before a Judicial Magistrate who ordered an inquiry under Section 202 of the Cr.P.C. The Gujarat High Court set aside that order and directed an inquiry under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C. The appellants challenged the High Court, arguing that once …

V.K. Jain, a Special Judge of the Delhi Higher Judicial Service, challenged harsh and derogatory remarks made by the Delhi High Court in an order that criticised his conduct in granting bail and imposing conditions on a CBI case. The appellant argued that the remarks were unmerited, violated natural justice, and damage…

The respondents were convicted of murder under IPC s.302 read with s.34 and sentenced to life imprisonment. While on trial they had been on bail and allegedly did not misuse that liberty, and later filed an application under CrPC s.389 seeking suspension of the sentence and bail. The Allahabad High Court granted bail o…

Kunti Devi (wife) filed a criminal complaint under Section 494 read with Section 109 of the Ranbir Penal Code alleging that her husband Som Raj contracted a second marriage while the first marriage was still subsisting. The High Court, relying on Krishna Gopal Divedi v. Prabha Divedi, quashed the complaint, holding tha…

The Government of Andhra Pradesh and a District Co-operative Central Bank appealed a High Court order that had quashed a criminal case against P. Venku Reddy for alleged acceptance of a bribe under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The High Court had held that Reddy was not a "public servant" within the meaning o…

The case concerned the death of Sudha, who was found burnt in a Delhi flat; the prosecution alleged that her mother‑in‑law Shakuntala and husband Laxman Kumar deliberately set her on fire to avoid dowry demands, while the defence claimed an accidental fire from a kerosene stove. The trial court convicted all three accu…

The petitioners, sentenced to death for murder, challenged the constitutionality of Section 354(5) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which mandates execution by hanging, alleging it is cruel, barbarous and violative of Article 21 of the Constitution. The Court examined whether hanging constitutes a cruel or degrading …

The Supreme Court was asked to decide whether two graves on a disputed plot in Varanasi could be shifted to alleviate recurring sectarian violence between Shia and Sunni communities. The Court held that moving the graves was not irreligious nor a violation of Sunni fundamental rights, as Articles 25 and 26 of the Const…

The appellant, Shajan Skaria, an online news editor, published a YouTube video alleging misconduct by the complainant, an MLA belonging to a Scheduled Caste. The complainant filed a complaint under Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(u) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and the Sp…

The appeals challenge the Special Judge’s order on charge (24‑12‑2021) and charge‑framing order (03‑03‑2022) against Karnataka Emta Coal Mines Ltd (KECML) and its former MD for alleged conspiracy to illegally sell coal washery rejects. The Court examined whether the CBI’s investigation was predicated solely on the 2013…

The complainant, a supplier of horse feed, alleged that Delhi Race Club (1940) Ltd. and its officers failed to pay Rs 9,11,434 for goods supplied and filed a private complaint invoking sections 406, 420 and 120B of the IPC. The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, after a magisterial inquiry under Section 202 CrPC, is…

The Supreme Court examined an appeal against a Rajasthan High Court order that granted bail to three accused in a gang‑rape case involving a 15‑year‑old girl. The FIR alleged offences under Sections 376D, 384, 506 IPC, Sections 3‑6 POCSO Act, Section 3(2)(v) SC/ST Act and Section 66 IT Act, with the complainant asserti…

The appellant, Irfan, was convicted and sentenced to death for allegedly setting fire to a room that killed his son and two brothers, based primarily on two dying declarations. The prosecution argued that the appellant had motive and that eye‑witnesses saw him pour inflammable substance and lock the door. The defence c…

The case arose from a fall of a guest from the terrace of the Hyatt Regency hotel in Delhi, leading to charges under Sections 336, 338 IPC read with Section 32 and Section 4 of the COTPA 2003 against the hotel company, its Managing Director (Shiv Kumar Jatia) and its General Manager (Aseem Kapoor). The High Court refus…

An FIR was lodged for corruption and a charge‑sheet was filed against 16 persons, while three individuals—Girish Sharma, Arvind Singh Dhruv and Jeet Ram Yadav—were recorded as witnesses under Sections 161 and 164 of the CrPC and not named as accused. Some of the accused applied under Sections 193/319 to have these thre…

Manoj Kumar Sharma, a serving Flying Officer, was accused of dowry‑related offences after his wife’s death was initially investigated as a suicide under Section 174 of the CrPC and closed with no foul play. Five years later, the deceased’s brother filed an FIR alleging murder, dowry cruelty and IPC sections 304B, 498A …

The husband and wife obtained a decree of divorce by mutual consent in 2008. The wife later filed a criminal complaint under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 alleging the divorce decree was a sham and that they continued to live together. The husband moved the trial magistrate under Section 482 …

The Union of India invited tenders for a telecom licence and, after receiving a tender, issued a Letter of Intent to Tata Teleservices, which later failed to fulfil its obligations. The Union claimed damages of Rs 50 crore and set‑off the amount, while Tata claimed Rs 654.25 crore for breach of contract. The Telecom Di…

The appellant filed a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act alleging that four cheques issued by the managing director of the respondent company were dishonoured. The magistrate recorded a rubber‑seal order stating that cognizance was taken and later issued process against the respondents. The r…

The State of Maharashtra appealed against the Bombay High Court's order granting bail to six accused, including Sitaram Popat Vetal, in a murder case (Section 302 IPC) concerning the death of Hanumant Vithal Chaudhary. The High Court had released the accused on the ground that they were falsely implicated due to politi…

Criminal complaints were lodged against the managing editor, chief editor and resident editor of several newspapers alleging publication of defamatory material. The magistrate took cognizance under IPC sections 319 and 500 and issued summons. The accused filed petitions under CrPC s.482 seeking quash of the proceedings…

The Supreme Court examined the appeal of Mehbub Samsuddin Malek and two co‑accused convicted for a communal riot in Baroda. The driver (appellant No.1) stopped his bus opposite a mob of armed Muslim youths, got down, and conversed with them, after which the mob attacked the passengers, leading to deaths. The Court held…

Ranjit Singh was convicted of murder in 1979 and sentenced to life imprisonment. While on parole he committed a second murder in 1980, for which the Supreme Court in 1983 sentenced him to another term of life imprisonment, directing that the second sentence would not run concurrently with the first and that any remissi…

The State of West Bengal appealed the discharge of four licensed gun dealers who had handed firearms to an unlicensed mechanic for repair at his own workshop. The Supreme Court examined whether such hand‑over amounted to delivery of "possession" under Section 29(b) of the Arms Act, 1959, and whether it violated licence…

The complainant filed Criminal Complaint No. 1828 of 2019 alleging offences under several sections of the IPC against the accused. The accused first filed a quashing petition under s.482 CrPC, which the High Court dismissed. Six months later they filed a second quashing petition on the same grounds, and the High Court …

A.S. Pharma Pvt. Ltd. filed a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 against Nayati Medical Pvt. Ltd. The respondents offered to settle and applied to compound the offence under Section 320 of the Cr.P.C., but the trial court dismissed the application. The Delhi High Court then exercised it…

The appellant was granted regular bail by a Special Court on 17 June 2023 in a PMLA case, after which the Enforcement Directorate sought cancellation of bail under Section 439(2) of the CrPC. The Delhi High Court, without hearing the appellant’s counsel, issued an ex‑parte interim stay of the bail order on 23 June 2023…

Prakash Gupta, a director of Ideal Hotels & Industries Ltd, was prosecuted by SEBI for alleged price rigging and insider trading during the company's 1995 IPO. Gupta applied to have the offence under Section 24 of the SEBI Act compounded under Section 24A, but the trial judge and the Delhi High Court rejected the appli…

Indra Devi alleged that a fraudulent land transaction involving a forged lease was carried out in collusion with municipal officials, including a clerk (Respondent No.2) who was not named in the FIR. Respondent No.2 sought protection under Section 197 of the CrPC, claiming his actions were performed in the discharge of…

The complainant Shiv Prakash Mishra alleged that five persons, including Subhash Chandra Shukla (respondent No.2), formed an unlawful assembly and attacked his brothers, resulting in the death of Sangam Lal Mishra. While the FIR named all five, the investigating officer, after examining witnesses, concluded that Subhas…

The State of Uttarakhand appealed the acquittal of Girish Singh and Jodh Singh, who were charged under Sections 304B r/w 34 and 306 r/w 34 of the IPC for the alleged dowry death of Ishwari Devi, who committed suicide by burning within seven years of marriage. The High Court convicted them, relying on unproduced letters…