Indian Evidence Act, 1872

The victim was allegedly raped and set on fire by the accused, Shailendra Kumar Rai, and later died of septicemia caused by the burn injuries. While on her way to death she gave a statement to police officer Lallan Prasad, which was read back to her, signed, and later treated as a dying declaration. The Sessions Court …

The appellant, Reena Hazarika, was convicted under Section 302 IPC for allegedly killing her husband, based largely on circumstantial evidence and the "last seen" theory. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined whether the prosecution had established a continuous chain of circumstances that left no reasonable hypothesis …

Hari Om was convicted under Sections 304-B and 498-A of the IPC for the dowry death of his wife, Poonam, who committed suicide within a month of marriage after persistent dowry demands. The High Court upheld his conviction and sentenced him to life imprisonment, while acquitting co‑accused. Hari Om appealed only agains…

The State of Rajasthan appealed the acquittal of Balveer and Ram Niwas for rape (IPC 376(2)(g)) and murder (IPC 302 r/w 34). The sole eyewitness, Rajesh, was granted pardon under Section 306 CrPC and testified as an approver. The Supreme Court held that an approver need not incriminate himself or be privy to the crime;…

The appellant Rajeev Kumar was convicted for dowry death (s.304B IPC) after his wife Vandana gave two dying declarations alleging dowry harassment and set herself on fire. The Supreme Court examined whether the dying declarations were admissible despite the post‑mortem finding that her larynx and trachea were charred. …

The Supreme Court examined the appeal of seven accused whose convictions for offences under Sections 147, 148, 149 and 302 of the IPC were upheld by the Madhya Pradesh High Court. The Court clarified that a statement made by a deceased person before death can be treated as a dying declaration under Section 32 of the Ev…

The appellant Ganesh Lal was convicted for raping, murdering and stealing from an 11‑year‑old girl. The prosecution relied on a series of circumstantial facts: the recovery of the victim's silver ornaments (kuralias) and a blood‑stained axe at the accused's direction, possession of blood‑ and semen‑stained clothes hidd…

The case arose from a 1980 massacre in Paras Bigha, Bihar, where 13 people were killed and many injured. The appellants were convicted under Sections 302 and 149 of the IPC for participation in an unlawful assembly. They challenged the conviction on several grounds, including that the FIR should have been based on an e…

Mukesh Singh challenged his conviction under the NDPS Act on the ground that the police officer who lodged the FIR was also the investigating officer, alleging that this dual role vitiated the trial. The Supreme Court examined the statutory scheme of the CrPC (ss.154, 156, 157) and the NDPS Act (ss.41‑44, 50‑53, 58, 35…

The police intercepted a car on a highway in Himachal Pradesh and, after a mechanic opened concealed compartments, recovered 27.8 kg of charas. Two 50‑gram samples were sent to the forensic laboratory where they weighed 65.5606 grams, leading the accused to argue that the weight discrepancy undermined the prosecution's…

The appellant Yakub Ismailbhai Patel was convicted under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC for the murder of Nizamuddin. The prosecution relied primarily on the testimony of a single eye‑witness (PW‑2) who identified the accused, supported by a second witness (PW‑1), forensic evidence of a blood‑stained weapo…

The appellant Suresh alleged that his paternal uncle and the uncle's son, Respondent No.2, forcibly entered his house and the son shot his brother Rajesh, resulting in death. Respondent No.2 claimed juvenility, asserting he was 16 years old at the time, based on a school transfer certificate from the first school he at…

Lakshmi Sreenivasa Cooperative Building Society filed suits for specific performance of alleged sale agreements of land against Puvvada Rama (deceased) and others. The trial court dismissed the suits, finding the Society failed to prove execution of the agreements, payment of earnest money, and possession, noting the a…

The appellant Surinder Kumar Khanna was convicted under Sections 21(c) and 29 of the NDPS Act on the basis of statements made by co‑accused Raj Kumar and Surinder Pal Singh, who named him as a participant in a heroin trafficking operation. The High Court upheld the conviction despite the lack of any direct material lin…

The appellant Durga Burman (Roy) was charged with the murder of Manorama Devi by strangulation and the theft of a wrist‑watch and cash, together with co‑accused Ranjit Roy. The trial court convicted both under IPC ss.302, 380 and 34; the High Court acquitted Ranjit Roy but upheld Durga Roy's conviction. On appeal, the …

The National Housing Bank (NHB) sued State Bank of Saurashtra (later merged with SBI) for recovery of a large cheque amount, alleging that the cheque was drawn for the purchase of IRFC bonds and that the defendant had misappropriated the funds. The case was tried before a Special Court established under the Special Cou…

The deceased K.T. Subramanya had taken four life insurance policies naming his mother, Challamma, as nominee. After his death, his alleged wife Tilaga and their two children applied for a succession certificate under Section 372 of the Succession Act, 1925, claiming the deceased was married to Tilaga. Challamma contest…

The Supreme Court upheld the conviction of Sucha Singh and five co‑accused for murder under Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC and for abetment of suicide under Section 201 IPC. The Court examined whether the relationship of prosecution witnesses to the deceased affected their credibility, and held that a familial re…

The appellant, Ramkat Ronald, was convicted under IPC sections 376 (rape) read with 511 (attempt to commit rape) and 302 (murder) based largely on a dying declaration allegedly made by the deceased, Betty, to her brother (PW‑5). The Supreme Court examined the reliability of that declaration, noting inconsistencies, lac…

K. Ponnuswamy, a former lecturer who became Minister of Education in Tamil Nadu (May 1993‑May 1996), was charged under Sections 13(1)(e) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act for possessing assets disproportionate to his known income. The prosecution proved that large sums were transferred to his wife and daugh…

The appellant was charged under the Railway Property (Unlawful Possession) Act, 1966 for allegedly possessing railway property obtained through forged receipts. An RPF inspector recorded his statements during an inquiry, but the trial magistrate denied the appellant access to copies of documents and statements, leading…

The dispute concerned lands that were part of a Desgat estate held by two brothers, Narayanarao (elder) and Ramachandrarao (younger). In 1902 Narayanarao executed a deed (Exhibit 39) granting certain lands to Ramachandrarao for his maintenance and that of his male descendants. The plaintiffs, descendants of Narayanarao…

The Supreme Court examined the corporate insolvency resolution of Dewan Housing Finance Corporation Ltd (DHFL), where Piramal Capital submitted a resolution plan (RP) that allocated recoveries from Section 66 applications to itself. The plan was approved by the Committee of Creditors (CoC) and the National Company Law …

Balbir Kaur died from severe burns allegedly after her mother‑in‑law and sister‑in‑law demanded additional dowry. Two dying declarations were recorded by an ASI and a magistrate, but the trial court rejected them as unreliable because the victim had 100% burn injuries. The High Court, relying on the victim's father's s…

The appellant, convicted in a TADA case based on a confession recorded by a police officer, was later charged in a separate proceeding for offences under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Arms Act. The prosecution sought to introduce the earlier TADA confession as evidence in the IPC trial, but the trial court and th…

The case concerned the conviction of Bal Mukund, Basanti Lal and a third accused under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 based primarily on confessional statements recorded after a raid conducted on secret information. The Supreme Court held that the police failed to comply with mandatory statuto…

The appellants, Hanumanthappa Bhimappa Dalavai and another, were convicted for murder and grievous hurt after a violent altercation in which they used a crow‑bar, stick and iron rod, resulting in two deaths. They appealed, claiming the right of private defence under Sections 96, 97 and 100 of the IPC. The Supreme Court…

The State of Andhra Pradesh appealed the acquittal of two public servants who were members of a tender opening committee and were alleged to have demanded and accepted Rs 5,000 each as gratification for clearing a tender file. The complainant lodged a police complaint and was caught in a trap; the money was recovered. …

The petitioners, a group of casual workmen employed by the Telecom Department for a temporary cable‑laying project, were terminated when the project ended in 1986‑87. They sought reinstatement, continuity of service and back wages, arguing that their termination fell under sub‑clause (bb) of Section 2(oo) of the Indust…

The Supreme Court examined an eviction suit under the A.P. Buildings (Lease, Rent & Eviction) Control Act, 1960 where the landlord, a co‑owner of a disputed property, sought possession of premises occupied by tenants who had transferred possession to third parties that had bought only part of the co‑owners' shares. The…

The petitioner, a common carrier governed by the Carriers Act, 1865, filed a petition before the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission alleging loss due to the carrier's negligence. The issue was whether Section 9 of the Carriers Act, which places the burden on the carrier to prove absence of negligence, appl…

Calcutta Chromotype Ltd., a manufacturer of playing cards, sold its entire output to its sole distributor, M/s Ganga Saran & Sons Pvt. Ltd. Both companies had common directors and their shares were held by members of the Sharma family. The Assistant Collector of Central Excise treated the distributor as a "related pers…

The State of Uttar Pradesh convicted Hanif under sections 7 and 16 of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 for selling adulterated milk, sentencing him to six months' rigorous imprisonment and a fine. The conviction was affirmed by the Sessions Court but set aside by the Allahabad High Court on the ground that…

The State of Tamil Nadu prosecuted accused Karuppusamy and Natarajan for the murder of Muthusamy and the attempted outraging of Anjali's modesty, alleging that the accused used aruvals to cut off the victim's head and assault the woman. Four eye‑witnesses, including a rustic woman (PW‑1) and a child (PW‑2), testified t…

The respondent, a Deputy Engineer of Gujarat Electricity Board, was transferred from Surat to Ukai and refused to join, citing his ailing mother. He filed a representation to cancel the transfer, which was rejected, and subsequently remained absent without sanctioned leave. The Board issued warning letters, including a…

The Supreme Court examined the murder case of five persons and injuries to three others in Kaila village, where ten accused were tried under sections 302, 120B and 149 of the IPC. The prosecution relied on three eye‑witnesses, a dying declaration of Sohan Singh, and firearms recovered from the accused, while the FIR fi…

Som Nath was convicted of murdering his wife by burning her, based largely on three dying declarations made by the victim. He filed a Special Leave Petition challenging the admissibility and credibility of those declarations under Section 32 of the Indian Evidence Act. The Supreme Court held that dying declarations, be…

The appellant, Karan Singh, was convicted under Sections 304-B and 498-A of the IPC for the alleged dowry death of his wife, Asha Rani, who committed suicide within two years of marriage. The prosecution's case relied on the testimonies of three witnesses, whose statements about dowry demands were found to contain sign…

The appellant, Bharat Sher Singh Kalsia, purchased a portion of land from a Power of Attorney (PoA) holder who had been authorized by the landowners to manage, sell, and register their property. A FIR was lodged alleging criminal offences under Sections 409, 467, 468, 471 and 420 IPC, claiming the sale deed was fraudul…

The Government of Goa filed a suit for declaration of title and injunction against Maria Julieta D’Souza, which the trial court dismissed for lack of a clear title document and alleged limitation. The High Court reversed the decision, holding that the plaintiff's predecessor’s title was established through deeds and co…

On 7 March 2000 Vikas Kumar Singh was shot by Pappu Tiwari and subsequently stabbed by five others, resulting in his death. All six accused were convicted under IPC sections 302 and 34 and, in Pappu Tiwari's case, also under Section 27 of the Arms Act. The appellants challenged the convictions on several grounds, inclu…

The appellant, Hiraman, was convicted of murdering his wife Chandrakala, who died from 91% burn injuries after allegedly being doused with kerosene. The conviction was based primarily on two dying declarations recorded at the hospital shortly after the incident. The appellant challenged the conviction, arguing that unc…

In the 2007 election for Sarpanch of Kulagada Gram Panchayat, the appellant Joshna Gouda was declared elected. The respondent Brundaban Gouda filed an election petition under Sections 31 and 34 of the Orissa Gram Panchayat Act, 1964, alleging that the appellant was ineligible because she had not attained the age of 21,…

Idrish Daudbhai (appellant) was convicted under IPC sections 302 and 34 for allegedly sharing a common intention with three co‑accused to murder Siddique Ahmed Patel and to cause hurt to Yusuf Adam Patel. The prosecution's case rested on the testimony of three eye‑witnesses and the FIR, alleging that the appellant stru…

The case arose from a shooting incident in which the complainant Amar Singh and his family were injured and his son Lakha Singh died. The trial court convicted Balwinder Singh and three others under Sections 302, 34 and 307 IPC based largely on the testimony of three injured eye‑witnesses and medical evidence. The Punj…

M/s. FabriL Gasosa entered into a written settlement with the employees' union in 1986 providing for Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA). The union later gave notice of termination and issued a fresh charter of demands, but did not alter the VDA rate. The employer unilaterally froze VDA and claimed an oral agreement to t…

The respondent, Manimaran, operated a medical shop without a valid drug licence and was charged under Sections 18(c), 27(b)(ii) and 28 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. The trial court and the first appellate court convicted him, imposing a one‑year rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs.5,000, but the Madras High …

In the 2003 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election for the SC‑reserved 35‑Gangath constituency, the respondent Bodh Raj was declared elected, claiming membership of the Scheduled Caste Lohar and supporting it with a caste certificate issued by an Executive Magistrate. The appellant Deshraj challenged the electi…

Tata Iron and Steel Co. Ltd. (the appellant) exported engineering goods using its own steel, which was not procured at the Joint Plant Committee (JPC) price that includes several levies. The Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC) later held that the appellant was not entitled to the International Price Reimburseme…

The respondent, a senior police officer, was investigated under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 for possessing assets disproportionate to his known income. After a FIR was lodged, the Maharashtra government granted sanction under Section 197 of the CrPC and a charge‑sheet was filed. The Bombay High Court, invoki…

The State of Himachal Pradesh charged Shri Pirthi Chand under Section 20 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 after police seized 1.015 kg of charas following a raid based on secret information. The Sessions Judge discharged the accused, holding that the mandatory safeguards of Section 50 of the …

The case arose from an armed assault on Birbal Nath's uncle and aunt in a Rajasthan field, resulting in the uncle's death and injuries to the aunt, an injured eye‑witness. The trial court convicted the six accused under Sections 302, 307 and related offences, but the Rajasthan High Court acquitted them of the murder an…

The State of Kerala prosecuted eight accused, including Rasheed, for the murder of Satheesan. During trial, the defence counsel for accused No.2 sought to defer the cross‑examination of five prosecution witnesses under Section 231(2) of the Cr.P.C., arguing that it would reveal its strategy. The trial court dismissed t…

The murder of environmental activist Amit Jethwa, who had filed a PIL against illegal mining near Gir Forest, led to the arrest of Dinubhai Boghabhai Solanki and his nephew. After a lackluster police investigation, the case was transferred to the CBI, which filed a charge‑sheet. During trial, 105 of 195 witnesses turne…

The appellants were convicted for the murder of a lorry driver and cleaner based solely on circumstantial evidence, including their alleged involvement in a road accident, medical treatment for injuries, recovery of a wrist‑watch belonging to the deceased, fertilizer bags and a blood‑stained wooden weapon, and their fa…

The State prosecuted four appellants for the murder of a 72‑year‑old man in Ulsoor, alleging they confessed to the crime while in police custody and led investigators to a knife and stolen gold. The trial court and the Karnataka High Court convicted them under IPC s.302 r.w. s.34 and sentenced them to life imprisonment…

The appellant, an elder brother, purchased the southern half of a family property from his younger brother by a registered sale deed that recorded a nominal consideration of Rs 3,000, after paying Rs 12,000 to discharge the brother’s debts and avert a court‑ordered auction. The brother and his wife later claimed the de…

The petitioners, Satish and Vikky, were convicted of kidnapping for ransom and sentenced to life imprisonment. They applied for premature release on probation under Section 2 of the Uttar Pradesh Prisoners Release on Probation Act, 1938, but the State repeatedly rejected their pleas without applying the statutory three…

The State of Bihar prosecuted three accused—Amit Das, Sidharth and Rohan Prakash—for the murder of a student named Abhishek, alleging a conspiracy in which Amit Das shot the victim with a country‑made pistol supplied by Sidharth. Amit Das made a detailed confession before a Judicial Magistrate (recorded under Section 1…

The American Home Products Corporation (the appellant) applied in 1958 to register the trademark ‘Dristan’ in India, claiming it would be used by the appellant. In fact, the appellant intended the mark to be used in India by its Indian associate, Geoffrey Manners & Co., which would become a registered user under a tech…

The petitioner, Ashiq Hussain Faktoo, was convicted by the Supreme Court in 2003 under TADA and the IPC for murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. Review and curative petitions filed earlier were dismissed. He subsequently filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking release on the ground of the doctrine of ex de…

The Supreme Court examined the convictions of thirty‑one accused arising from a "Rasta Roko" agitation during which a university bus carrying 47 female students was set ablaze, killing three girls and injuring many others. The Court upheld the death sentences of the three principal accused (Nedu, Madhu and Muniappan) f…

The deceased Roshani was married in 1985 and, five to six months later, her husband, mother‑in‑law and sister‑in‑law allegedly demanded additional dowry items such as a television, fan and buffalo. The mother‑in‑law allegedly inflicted a wound with a sickle; the deceased later ingested naphthalene balls and died of poi…

The victim Sushila's charred remains were recovered from a burning 'Bitora' in Village Kailash and DNA testing identified her. The prosecution alleged that the appellant Sunita, a cousin of the victim's husband, was the last person seen with the victim and her children, citing hostile witnesses who claimed to have seen…

The appellant, Arul Raja, was accused of murdering Aladi Aruna and of conspiring with co‑accused to commit the crime. The High Court convicted him on the basis of a post‑arrest statement by co‑accused A1, treating it as a dying declaration and a confession, and on alleged motive stemming from a rivalry over college aff…

Godrej Pacific Tech Ltd. applied to the trial court for re‑examination of certain witnesses under Section 311 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. The trial court rejected the application, and the Punjab and Haryana High Court upheld that rejection. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined the scope and object of Sect…

The accused Subash Chandra Panda, Kunja Ramana, Narayan Mazumdar and Kalpana Mazumdar were convicted for kidnapping and murdering a four‑year‑old boy allegedly as a human sacrifice. The prosecution’s case rested mainly on the testimony of PW‑14, an employee of Panda, who claimed to have witnessed the entire crime, and …

The State of Rajasthan appealed the acquittal of Thakur Singh, who was convicted by a trial court for murdering his wife Dhapu Kunwar inside a locked room. The prosecution proved that the wife died of asphyxia and that Singh had confined himself, his wife and child in the room, which was later forced open. The High Cou…

The appellant was convicted of murder (IPC s.302), misappropriation of property (IPC s.404), and unlawful possession and use of a firearm (Arms Act s.3, s.5) based largely on circumstantial evidence, including the last‑seen theory, forensic ballistics, and his subsequent abscondence. The Supreme Court examined whether …

The appellant Raju was convicted of kidnapping, gang rape and wrongful confinement under IPC sections 366, 376(2)(g) and 342, and of an offence under the SC/ST Act 3(2)(v). The prosecution relied primarily on the uncorroborated but consistent testimony of the prosecutrix, who described being abducted, gagged, and sexua…

The appellant, a manager in Bank of Baroda, was charged with forgery and related offences for opening a fictitious savings account to encash a refund cheque. He filed an application under Section 197 of the CrPC seeking discharge on the ground that prosecution sanction was required, arguing that he was a public servant…

The case arose from a labour dispute at BPL Engineering Ltd., where a bus carrying loyal employees was attacked, set on fire and several persons were injured and two women died. A charge sheet was filed against 49 accused; the trial court convicted seven of them. The High Court upheld those convictions and additionally…

The case involved six accused who were charged with dacoity, murder and gang rape of a minor girl and her family members. The trial court convicted all of them under Sections 302, 376(2)(g), 307, 34, 397, 395 and 396 of the IPC and sentenced each to death; the High Court confirmed death for three and reduced the senten…

E. Satyanarayana was charged with murdering his wife and minor son. The trial court convicted him on the basis of an alleged extra‑judicial confession made to the Village Administrative Officer and the recovery of a blood‑stained sickle, sentencing him to life imprisonment. The Andhra Pradesh High Court acquitted him, …

The Supreme Court examined whether a will dated 25‑9‑1981 could be proved under Sections 68 and 69 of the Evidence Act, 1872 and Section 63(1)(c) of the Indian Succession Act, 1925. The will was attested by two witnesses, one of whom had died and the other, Harnek Singh, was alive but was not examined because the plain…

The case arose from a violent incident on 12 January 2000 in which a group of accused intercepted a bus, entered it armed with firearms and indiscriminately shot eight passengers, later chasing two survivors to a house where they were also killed. The trial court convicted five of the accused under Section 302 read wit…

Ravinder Singh was convicted under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987, the IPC, the Explosive Substances Act and the Arms Act for robbery, killing police officers and a train bomb blast that killed 12 and injured 65. The conviction rested on his voluntary confessional statement recorded unde…

The married couple Mannar Reddiar and Adhilakshmiammal executed separate wills bequeathing their properties to their two sons, excluding their daughter Kalavathy who had earlier received gifts. After the death of the testators, the daughter and the second son filed a suit for partition and contested the probate of the …

During a hearing of Criminal Appeal No.400/2006, Senior Counsel Mr. R. Basant highlighted several common inadequacies in criminal trial procedures, such as lack of standardized witness and exhibit lists, poor recording of depositions, and inconsistent referencing of parties and evidence. He urged the Supreme Court to i…

The appellant, K.K. Velusamy, filed a suit for specific performance of a sale agreement, which he claimed was merely a security for a loan. After the evidence was closed, he sought to reopen the evidence and recall two witnesses to cross‑examine them about admissions recorded on a compact disc, alleging that the record…

The Supreme Court examined land acquisitions made under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 for the "planned development of Delhi" and later for the development of Palam Airport, which were ultimately transferred to the International Airport Authority of India (IAAI). Petitioners challenged the acquisitions on grounds that …

The appellant, an army personnel, was convicted of murdering four persons and attempting to murder twelve others under IPC sections 302 and 307 and Arms Act sections 25 and 27. Prior to his arrest, a magistrate recorded statements of 27 witnesses under Section 299 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC). By the time of tr…

The State of Rajasthan appealed the acquittal of N.K., who had been convicted of rape under Section 376 IPC. The trial court had found the prosecutrix’s testimony reliable, corroborated by her father’s statement and medical evidence showing a ruptured hymen, and had accepted the five‑day delay in lodging the FIR as sat…

The dispute concerned the ownership of a 7‑acre Naroda Chawl, claimed by the plaintiff Vadilal Modi as part of a partition suit against his siblings and their heirs. Defendant Chandrakantaben (Def. No.6) asserted that the property had been gifted to her in 1946 and that she had acquired title by adverse possession, rel…

The mother of a deceased woman appealed against the High Court's order acquitting four accused of abetment of suicide under Sections 306, 498A and 34 of the IPC. The trial court had convicted them based on evidence of harassment, but the High Court set aside the conviction, finding no reliable proof of abetment. The Su…

The prosecutrix, a married woman with three children, entered into a long‑term sexual relationship with the appellant after he promised to marry her. She became pregnant in 2011, later divorced her husband in 2014, and filed a complaint in 2015 alleging that the appellant had given a false promise of marriage. The Sess…

The Supreme Court examined the admissibility of electronic evidence, particularly videography of crime scenes, in the petition Shafhi Mohammad v. State of Himachal Pradesh. It considered whether a certificate under Section 65B(4) of the Evidence Act is mandatory when the party producing the electronic record does not c…

Vijay entered into an agreement to sell immovable property with the Union of India on 4 February 1988 and later sued for specific performance. The defendant denied the agreement's existence, prompting Vijay to seek admission of a photocopy of the agreement as secondary evidence, arguing that the document was not charge…

The appellant, accused in a rape case, sought a cloned copy of the contents of a memory card/pen‑drive that the prosecution intended to rely upon, arguing that the electronic record should be treated as a "document" under the Evidence Act and thus be furnished under Section 207 of the CrPC. The trial court and High Cou…

The appellant, a co‑owner of a house in Jabalpur, proved her title to the suit property through a series of registered sale and partition deeds and served a quit notice on the respondent, who had been a tenant of the original owner, Rai Bahadur Motiram Mathuradas. The respondent denied any landlord‑tenant relationship …

Amar Chakravarty and other workmen were dismissed by Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. on allegations of grave misconduct without being afforded a domestic enquiry. The workmen raised an industrial dispute, which was referred to the Labour Court under Section 10(1)(c) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The Labour Court initi…

The appellant, an IAS officer, challenged disciplinary proceedings by filing an Original Application before the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) seeking quash of a charge memo dated 30‑11‑1999, asserting she received it only on 19‑6‑2002 and thus was within the limitation period. The respondents contended the memo…

The State of NCT of Delhi appealed against the acquittal of Sunil and Ramesh, who were convicted by a Sessions Court for kidnapping, raping and murdering a four‑year‑old girl, Anuradha. The High Court set aside the conviction, citing minor inconsistencies in the testimonies of three witnesses, the lack of independent w…

The appellant, the legal representative of the mortgagor, filed a suit for redemption of a usufructuary mortgage and possession of a shop. The defendant claimed the mortgage was a sham designed to evade rent‑control law and that the parties were landlord and tenant. The trial court and the first appellate court dismiss…

The case involved six accused persons charged under the Customs Act for allegedly exporting sandalwood and tiles clandestinely. The trial courts in two separate proceedings acquitted all accused, but the Madras High Court convicted them in a common judgment, relying on evidence from only one of the trials. The Supreme …

The Supreme Court considered whether officers invested with powers under Section 53 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act) are 'police officers' within the meaning of Section 25 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, and whether a statement recorded under Section 67 of the NDPS Act can be use…

Heem Singh, a Rajasthan police constable, was dismissed after a departmental enquiry found him guilty of misconduct for allegedly committing murder while on leave. He had been acquitted of the murder charge in a criminal trial because key witnesses turned hostile and the prosecution failed to prove guilt beyond reasona…

The plaintiff sought specific performance of a 1979 agreement whereby the first defendant, owner of a one‑third undivided share in a Bangalore property, through his brother (the second defendant) who held a registered power of attorney, agreed to sell the share for Rs 40,000. The plaintiff paid the full consideration b…

The appellant was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC based primarily on the testimony of a ten‑year‑old child who witnessed the crime. The appellant challenged the conviction, arguing that a child’s evidence must be unblemished and corroborated, and that the child was likely tutored by a close relative. The Supr…

Epoch Enterprises entered into a charter agreement, evidenced by a fixture note, with the disponent owner of the vessel M.V. Won Fu to export feldspar. The vessel failed to load the cargo, prompting Epoch to sue in rem in the Admiralty jurisdiction of the Madras High Court for arrest of the ship and damages. The trial …

The appellants, employees of the Steel Authority of India, claimed they were illegally denied promotion to the post of E‑1 despite their juniors being promoted, alleging a violation of Article 16 of the Constitution and that the promotion rules altered their conditions of service under Section 33‑A of the Industrial Di…

A civil dispute over a plot of land led to a violent incident on 16 December 1975 in which nine accused, armed with firearms and bladed weapons, attacked the complainants, resulting in several deaths and injuries. The trial court acquitted four of the accused and convicted the remaining five under sections 148, 149, 30…

In the 1980 Punjab Legislative Assembly election, Surinder Singh was elected but his victory was challenged on two grounds of corrupt practice under the Representation of the People Act, 1951: (1) alleged "undue influence" for disturbing an Akali Party meeting with firearms, and (2) alleged "bribery" for promising to h…

The appellant, Pandurang Jivajirao Apte, was the garnishee of property attached before judgment in a suit filed by the deceased R. G. Ashtakar for recovery of dues. Apte sold the attached property to Madhusudan Vasudeo Bavdekar under Section 176 of the Indian Contract Act after giving notice, but the sale proceeds were…

The appellants filed a declaratory suit challenging a relinquishment deed and were dismissed by the trial court on a preliminary issue of limitation, a decision affirmed by the first appellate court and the Delhi High Court. They contended that the limitation period should be extended to twelve years under Article 136 …

The State of Maharashtra prosecuted 34 accused for mob assault that resulted in the death of Tanaji Rathod. All prosecution witnesses except the deceased's wife (PW‑12) turned hostile; the trial court relied on PW‑12’s detailed testimony, corroborated by medical reports, spot‑panchnama and recovered weapons, convicting…

The Supreme Court examined an appeal by Balwant Singh and others against their convictions under Sections 498A, 304B and 306 of the IPC for the death of Renu Bala. The Court clarified that Sections 304B (dowry death) and 498A (cruelty) are distinct offences; cruelty as defined in the Explanation to 498A must be proved …

The appellant, Yedla Srinivasa Rao, repeatedly promised to marry a girl aged between 15 and 16 years, forcibly had sexual intercourse with her, and continued the liaison even after she became pregnant, later refusing to marry her and absconding. The girl reported the matter to the village Panchayat and the police, lead…

The appellant, Ritesh Chakravarti, was convicted under Section 8 of the NDPS Act for allegedly possessing 1,300 kg of opium seized during a raid based on a secret informer’s tip. The raid was led by a team that included Inspectors Sabiha Khatun and S.K. Bajpai, but only Sub‑Inspector Girwar Puri was examined, and his t…

Pentakota Srirammurthy executed a registered will in 1980 bequeathing a portion of his self‑acquired property to his first wife, Seetharatnam, and the remainder to his children by his second wife, Alla Kantamma. After his death, Seetharatnam and Krishna Bhagavan (who claimed to be an adopted son) filed suits seeking ma…

The State of Rajasthan appealed against the Rajasthan High Court’s acquittal of Teg Bahadur and others, who were charged under Sections 498A, 304B and 201 IPC for the death of Suman within seven years of marriage. The prosecution alleged dowry demand and harassment leading to her death, but many witnesses turned hostil…

The husband and mother‑in‑law of Dhanuben were alleged to have set fire to her and her son, resulting in their deaths. Two dying declarations were recorded – one by a police officer and another by an Executive Magistrate – but the trial court excluded them and acquitted the accused of murder while convicting them under…

The deceased, Sonali Karmakar, committed suicide by hanging in her matrimonial home within seven years of marriage. The prosecution alleged that she was subjected to harassment and dowry demands by her husband and in‑laws, leading to her death. The trial court convicted the sister‑in‑law, husband, and mother‑in‑law und…

The appellant, Mohammed Ajmal Mohammad Amir Kasab, was one of ten Pakistani terrorists who launched a coordinated attack on Mumbai on November 26, 2008, killing 166 people and injuring 238. He was convicted by the trial court on multiple charges including waging war against the Government of India, murder, and terroris…

Rajiv Arora, a commissioned officer of the Indian Air Force, applied for premature retirement and received a good conduct certificate, but a disciplinary proceeding was later initiated against him with seven charges. A General Court Martial was convened, but the witnesses for the first three charges were not examined, …

The State of West Bengal prosecuted Mir Mohammad Omar and six co‑accused for abducting a 29‑year‑old businessman, Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal, with the intention of killing him, and for his subsequent murder. The trial court convicted them under Section 364 read with Section 34 IPC but acquitted them of murder; the Calcutta …

The appellant, V.M. Mathew, contested the validity of a will executed by his sister V.S. Annama, while the respondents sought letters of administration. In the earlier proceeding, a witness named Kurian was examined, but he died before the case concluded. The appellant later sought to introduce Kurian's deposition in a…

The appellant was convicted under sections 302, 201 and 34 of the IPC for the murder and concealment of Joginder Singh, based primarily on three pieces of circumstantial evidence: identification by two liquor‑shop owners, an extra‑judicial confession to a village pradhan, and the recovery of a saw blade under a Section…

The appellant Dasrath was convicted under Section 3048 IPC for dowry death and Section 201 IPC for concealing the death of his wife Pinki, who died from burns after kerosene was allegedly poured on her. The prosecution proved that the death was unnatural, occurred within seven years of marriage, and was preceded by cru…

The respondent filed a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act alleging that the appellant had issued a pronote and a cheque which later bounced. The appellant claimed the documents were forged and applied to a magistrate for their examination by a handwriting expert; the application was dismissed…

The appellant, Sukanti Moharana, was convicted under Section 302 IPC for allegedly pouring kerosene on her sister-in-law and setting her on fire, resulting in extensive burn injuries and death. The conviction was based primarily on a written dying declaration recorded by a doctor and an oral dying declaration made to t…

K. Doddananjundaiah, a coparcener, had three daughters by his first wife and a son Dinesh by a second wife Yashodamma. After K's death, the daughters (appellants) claimed a one‑third share of the partitioned property, contending that the second marriage was void and that Dinesh, born after the Hindu Succession Act 1956…

The appellant Raju Devade was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC for allegedly pouring kerosene on an 18‑year‑old girl (Baby) and setting her ablaze. The prosecution relied on the victim’s oral statement to the police and two dying declarations recorded by an Executive Magistrate in question‑answer form, both be…

The case involved the murder of a young bride within six months of her marriage; her body was dismembered and dumped in a park. The prosecution proved that the murder occurred inside the appellants' house, that blood stains were found there, and that the mother‑in‑law was seen discarding the body. The appellants (the f…

The appellant Sonu @ Sunil was convicted along with four others for the robbery and murder of Bharosilal in September 2008, based largely on circumstantial evidence, the recovery of a mobile phone from his possession, and the testimony of a witness (PW‑5) who claimed to have overheard a conspiracy. The prosecution alle…

The case involved the murder of Nand Karan, for which three appellants were convicted of conspiracy and murder based largely on confessional statements recorded while they were in police custody and the recovery of a scooter allegedly used in the crime. The appellants challenged the admissibility of those confessions u…

The appellant, Rohtash Kumar, was convicted of murdering his wife, Sonia, an inter‑caste spouse, after she was found dead in a hostel garden. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, including the "last seen together" testimony of the hostel caretaker, the appellant's possession and use of the victim's mobile…

The deceased Ratna Kumari died from severe burn injuries after alleging that her ex‑husband, the appellant, had poured kerosene on her and thrown a burning stove at her. Three dying declarations were recorded: two on 15‑April‑2000, which described an accidental fire and did not implicate the appellant, and a third on 2…

The appellant Govindaraju was convicted under Section 3048 of the IPC for the death of his wife Susheela, who died from burn injuries within seven years of marriage. The prosecution alleged that the husband and his family demanded dowry, harassed Susheela for non‑payment, and subjected her to cruelty, leading to her un…

Bhairon Singh was convicted under Section 498A IPC for cruelty to his wife, based solely on the testimony of the deceased's brothers who recounted her alleged complaints of torture and dowry demands. The wife died accidentally by drowning, and the trial and High Courts acquitted him of dowry death and abetment of suici…

Visa Coke Ltd., an operational creditor, claimed that it had validly served a statutory demand notice under Section 8 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, by sending Form 3 to the Key Managerial Personnel (KMP) of Mesco Kalinga Steel Ltd. at its registered office. The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and th…

The deceased Ramanand Mahto was attacked by a mob of 10‑15 persons who pulled him from his scooter, severed his head with sharp weapons and dragged his trunk to a pond. Police arrived within fifteen minutes and recorded statements of eye‑witnesses, including the nephew of the deceased, whose FIR named some but not all …

The appellant, Madan Gopal Kakkad, sought to overturn a High Court judgment that convicted Naval Dubey, a medical graduate, only of outraging a woman's modesty under IPC s.354 and imposed a fine. The victim, an eight‑year‑old girl, testified that the accused stripped her, forced oral sex and slightly penetrated her vul…

Mohanlal Jatia was detained under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA) on the basis of documents seized from his brother‑in‑law and statements recorded by R.C. Singh of the Enforcement Directorate. His wife, Pushpadevi Jatia, challenged the detention before th…

The appellants were convicted under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC for the murder of Abbas Baig, based primarily on the oral testimony of three eyewitnesses. They challenged the conviction, arguing that the eyewitness evidence was unreliable, that the defence counsel's suggestions during cross‑examination …

The Municipal Committee of Barwala appealed against a decree granting the respondent, Jai Narayan & Co., a mandatory injunction to execute a sale deed for land allegedly won at a public auction in 1999. The respondent claimed to be a bonafide purchaser, having deposited the auction consideration, and argued that the Mu…

The appellant, a senior Income Tax officer, was convicted under the Prevention of Corruption Act for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs.15,000 from the complainant, Madhu Bala, during a CBI‑operated trap. The prosecution relied primarily on the complainant’s testimony and on the recovery of currency notes …

The appellant, Pattu Rajan, was convicted for the murder of his brother-in-law, Santhakumar, after a series of abductions and attempts to force the victim's wife, PW1, to become his third wife. The prosecution proved the murder through circumstantial evidence, including PW1's detailed testimony, corroboration by her mo…

The accused were convicted of murder under Sections 302, 148 and 149 of the IPC for chasing and assaulting the deceased, an act witnessed by three eye‑witnesses. The appellants challenged the conviction on several grounds, chiefly that the First Information Report (FIR) was not promptly lodged, that the copy of the FIR…

In a suit for perpetual injunction, the appellants sought to restrain Smt. Venkata Subbamma (deceased) from alienating property granted to her under a 1969 compromise decree in a partition suit. After her death, the respondents, as legal representatives, claimed that Subbamma had executed a will in their favour, but th…

The Supreme Court upheld the conviction of Mano Dutt and Ram Narain for murder under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC. The Court held that the accused had a pre‑planned common intention to assault and kill the deceased during a land‑dispute, and that the presence of fewer than five participants does not prec…

The case concerned two ancient Hindu temples in Muzaffarpur district whose status as public religious trusts was disputed. The respondent, Ramsubaran Das, claimed that the predecessor Raghubardas had filed returns treating the temples as public trusts under a mistake of law and fact, and therefore the properties should…

The appellants were acquitted of murder by the Sessions Court in 2005, but a criminal revision filed by the victim's father in 2006 was allowed by the High Court, which reversed the acquittal and sentenced the appellants to life imprisonment. The Supreme Court examined whether the High Court could convert an acquittal …

The appellant, Ajitsinh Chehuji Rathod, was convicted under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act for issuing a cheque that was dishonoured for insufficient funds. He claimed that the signature on the cheque was forged and sought a handwriting expert's comparison during trial, which the trial court rejected and…

The Supreme Court examined two questions referred to a larger bench: whether an order of anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) must be limited to a fixed period, and whether such bail terminates when the accused is summoned or when charges are framed. Relying on the Constitution Benc…

The case concerned the adoption of an eight‑year‑old boy by Smt. Laxmibai, a female Hindu, under the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956. The adoption deed was executed and registered on the same day as the ceremony, and the trial court held the adoption valid. The respondents claimed a special family custom proh…

The case concerns a police convoy ambushed by a land‑mine blast and subsequent gunfire, killing 22 people. Four members of Veerappan's gang (Simon, Gnana Prakash, Madhiah and Bilavendra) were convicted under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, IPC, the Explosive Substances Act and the Arms Act and…

The appellant claimed title to a two‑acre parcel of land in Hyderabad based on an unregistered 1954 perpetual lease and a later registered lease, asserting that he had acquired ownership by adverse possession. The State of Andhra Pradesh, asserting that the land was Government property, invoked the Andhra Pradesh Land …

The case concerned the promotion of candidates to the post of Assistant Purchase Officer in ISRO, where selection was based on a written test (50 marks), interview (30 marks) and assessment of confidential reports (20 marks) with a minimum of 50% in each component and 60% overall. Two candidates, dissatisfied with not …

Raghbir Singh was caught with opium during a police raid and was offered the choice of being searched by the police officer or before a Gazetted Officer; he chose the latter and the search yielded the contraband. He was convicted under Section 18 of the NDPS Act and sentenced to ten years' rigorous imprisonment. On app…

The case involved multiple writ petitions challenging the constitutional validity of a circular letter issued by the Law Minister on March 18, 1981, seeking consent from additional judges for appointment to other High Courts, short-term extensions of additional judges, and transfers of Chief Justices. The Court address…

The appellants Suresh and others were convicted for kidnapping and murdering Devender Chopra and his son Abhishek, and for concealing evidence, under IPC sections 302, 34, 364-A, 201 and 120-B. The Supreme Court held that the prosecution evidence, including the recovery of the victims' bodies and belongings at the accu…

The appellants Maohu @ Madhuranatha and others were convicted for the robbery‑murder of the son of PW‑22, based largely on circumstantial evidence, and were sentenced to death under Sections 302 and 364 IPC read with Section 34. The Supreme Court affirmed the conviction, holding that circumstantial evidence alone can s…

Gurram Chakravarthy was convicted under Section 304(8) of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced to seven years' rigorous imprisonment and a fine. The High Court upheld the conviction, but the Supreme Court observed that the High Court had not examined the defence witnesses who were called to rebut the presumption created…

The plaintiff, Shri Kusumanchi Kameshwara Rao, sued New India Assurance Co. Ltd. (the appellant) and a partner (defendant No.2) for Rs 1,25,000, alleging that a surety bond executed by the insurer on 26 April 1971 guaranteed payment of that amount if the partner failed to meet obligations arising from a dissolution dee…

The appellant husband and his mother‑in‑law were accused of dowry death after the bride, aged about 24, was found strangled and burnt in her matrimonial home within three years of marriage. The prosecution proved, on circumstantial evidence, that the accused repeatedly demanded a Maruti car as dowry, harassed the victi…

Lokashikshana Trust (LST), a public trust engaged in publishing, incurred several loans to fund its operations, with the loans secured by hypothecation of trust property and a guarantee executed by the deceased surety, H.R. Basavaraj. After prolonged litigation, the trust's assets were taken over by a government‑appoin…

The case arose from a violent altercation over a disputed plot of land in Bhadsa village, where the accused, armed with various weapons, chased and assaulted the complainants, resulting in the death of Prankrishna Mahato and injuries to several others. The accused claimed private defence of property and person, arguing…

Mahabir Biswas and Shiba (Bijoy Krishna Dutta) were convicted of murder under IPC 302/34 for the killing of two rickshaw passengers. The prosecution's case rested on retracted judicial confessions of the accused and physical discoveries (a sword, a watch, and a ring) linked to the confessions. The Supreme Court held th…

The Supreme Court examined an election petition that had been dismissed for the petitioner's failure to appear and produce evidence, despite statutory mandates for disposal within six months. The petitioner sought to delete a specific prayer, and the High Court allowed the deletion and later permitted withdrawal of a r…

The appellant, Chotkau, was convicted and sentenced to death for the rape and murder of a six‑year‑old girl based solely on the testimonies of three prosecution witnesses and circumstantial evidence. The Supreme Court found serious contradictions in the witnesses' accounts regarding the FIR filing, the handling of the …

The appellant was convicted under IPC s.376(2)(f) for sexually assaulting a nine‑year‑old girl. The victim initially identified the appellant in a test identification parade (TIP) but later turned hostile and refused dock identification. The High Court upheld the conviction on the basis of the FIR, medical report, seme…

The case concerned the abduction and murder of former MLA M.K. Balan. The prosecution’s case against appellants A‑3 (Manickam), A‑4 (Somasundaram) and A‑15 (Bomb Selvam) relied primarily on the testimony of two alleged accomplices, PW‑10 and PW‑11, supported by peripheral witnesses and documentary evidence. The trial c…

The appellants, the in‑laws of Amani Moharana, were convicted by the trial court for murder based on two dying declarations of the deceased, one recorded by a doctor (PW‑8) and another by a police officer (PW‑9) under Section 161 of the CrPC. The High Court discarded the doctor’s declaration as a Xerox copy but upheld …

Mohd. Yunus Khan, a Guard Commander in the Uttar Pradesh Police, left his post for 25 minutes to take tea and medicine, an absence later deemed permissible under the Guard and Escort Rules. The Commandant imposed a 10‑day punishment drill, which Khan protested; the punishment was then enhanced to 10 days of confinement…

The appellants, doctors Hardeep Singh Sohal and Surinder Singh Sandhu, were convicted for the murder of Dr. Megh Raj Goel based largely on a confession recorded from the alleged conspirator Balwinder Singh under Section 15 of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) and extra‑judicial confessions…

The case arose from a raid on a godown in Ahmedabad where 55 boxes containing 1,364 kg of ephedrine, a controlled substance under the NDPS (Regulation of Controlled Substances) Order 2013, were seized. Four appellants were convicted under Sections 25A and 29 of the NDPS Act based largely on the confessional statement o…

The appellant Prem Prakash was in judicial custody for a separate ECIR (No. 4 of 2022) when the Enforcement Directorate recorded statements from him under Section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for a new ECIR (No. 5 of 2023). The High Court had denied his bail, relying on those statements, but the …

Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) bought 17% NPCL bonds from Andhra Bank Financial Services Ltd (ABFSL) and later discovered that the bonds had been misappropriated by broker Hiten P. Dalal and Canara Bank Mutual Fund (CMF). SCB filed a suit for conversion and amended it to implead Dalal and CMF, but the Special Court held…

The appellants, Subramani and four others, were charged with murder, grievous hurt and criminal trespass after a violent clash over a disputed plot of land they had cultivated for over 50 years. The prosecution alleged that the deceased, a purchaser of the land, and his family attempted to plough the field, were assaul…

The respondents, engineers deputed from the Central Public Works Department to the National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) for projects in Iraq, were paid a foreign allowance of 125% of their basic salary. After the Fourth Pay Commission revised their basic pay, they sought a direction that the foreign allowa…

The appellants, G. Vijayavardhan Rao and another, were convicted of setting fire to a passenger bus, killing 23 people and injuring many, with the motive of robbery. They poured petrol into the bus, ignited it, and robbed passengers of cash, a wristwatch and clothing, as evidenced by recovered items and witness testimo…

Mahesh was charged with the murder of Krishna Kumar after a dispute over grazing cattle in a field. The deceased and two other labourers asked Mahesh to remove his cattle, leading to an altercation in which Mahesh struck Krishna Kumar once on the head with a pharsa, causing instant death. The trial court, after evaluat…

Three persons were tried for the murder of Sucha Singh. The trial court convicted all under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC. On appeal, the High Court acquitted two co‑accused but upheld the conviction of Shera Singh, relying on the testimony of an approver (PW‑13) and treating the statement of a witness (P…

The petitioner’s daughter died in August 1986 and the petitioner filed a criminal complaint under Section 498-A IPC. After the Dowry Prohibition (Amendment) Act, 1986 inserted Section 304‑B IPC (dowry death) with effect from 19 November 1986, the petitioner sought to have the case transferred to a Court of Session for …

The father (A1) and son (A2) were charged with murder, conspiracy and abetment of the death of A2's wife, who was found dead in their house. The trial court acquitted them for lack of evidence of a conspiracy and of a homicidal death. The High Court convicted them under Sections 302, 201 and 120‑B IPC, sentencing both …

The Supreme Court examined the constitutionality of Air India Employees Service Regulations 46 and 47, which mandated retirement of air hostesses (AHs) at age 35, on marriage within four years of service, or on first pregnancy, and allowed the Managing Director to extend service up to age 45. The Court held that the pr…

During the 2015 Kerala budget presentation, several opposition MLAs climbed onto the Speaker's dais and damaged furniture, leading to a criminal case under IPC sections 427, 447, 34 and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984. The public prosecutor sought to withdraw the prosecution under Section 321 of t…

The Supreme Court examined the death of Archana Mishra, who died of poisoning within six weeks of marriage, and determined that she had been subjected to cruelty and harassment by her husband and in‑laws in connection with dowry demands. The prosecution established the essential ingredients of Section 3048 IPC and the …

The Gorakhpur Development Authority (GOA) sought to acquire land for a residential colony and, under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, invoked the urgency clause of Section 17(4) to dispense with the mandatory Section 5A enquiry. The appellants, land owners, challenged the validity of this dispensation, arguing that no m…

The appellant, Beere Gowda, was charged with murdering his two‑and‑a‑half‑year‑old daughter Pallavi by forcibly administering a mixture of nitric and sulphuric acid, obtained from a goldsmith, while his second wife Indramma was a co‑accused. The Sessions Court acquitted both, holding that the child might have ingested …

Satpal Singh was convicted of rape under Section 376 IPC for assaulting the minor Rajinder Kaur. He appealed, arguing that the FIR was lodged after an inordinate four‑month delay, that the victim was a major, and that the act was consensual because they were schoolmates. The Supreme Court held that the delay was explai…

The Supreme Court dismissed the appeals of Krishnan and others, upholding their conviction for murder under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC and for voluntarily causing hurt under Section 323. The Court held that the FIR was lodged immediately after the incident, negating any possibility of a fabricated stat…

Sahib Singh was convicted under the IPC and TADA for the murder of Om Prakash based on the testimony of three brothers—sons of the deceased—and a confession recorded under Section 15 of the TADA Act. The Supreme Court examined whether relatives of the deceased are competent witnesses, the effect of a delayed FIR, and t…

Gurmeet Singh was convicted under Section 304‑B of the IPC for the dowry‑related death of his wife, who died after consuming poison within four years of marriage. The appellant challenged the conviction, arguing that the prosecution had not proved the "soon before" dowry demand, that the presumption of causation under …

The appellants were convicted for dowry death (Sec. 304B IPC) and abetment of suicide (Sec. 306 IPC) after the victim died from severe burns within a year of marriage, allegedly following dowry harassment. The Supreme Court examined whether the prosecution had proved the essential ingredients of Sec. 304B, including th…

The appellant was accused of raping and murdering a three‑year‑old girl and was convicted under Sections 376(2)(f) and 302 IPC, receiving a death sentence which was later commuted to life imprisonment. The prosecution's case rested mainly on two circumstantial facts – the appellant pointing out the location of the vict…

Chunni Bai was convicted of murdering her two young daughters after the trial court and High Court upheld a Section 302 IPC conviction. She claimed she acted under the influence of an invisible power, asserting unsoundness of mind under Section 84 IPC. The Supreme Court examined the eyewitness testimony, medical autops…

The case concerns the honour killing of a Dalit boy, Murugesan, and his Vanniyar bride, Kannagi, in 2003. Police officers Sub‑Inspector K.P. Tamilmaran (A‑14) and Inspector M. Sellamuthu (A‑15) failed to register an FIR despite being informed of the murders and later fabricated evidence to implicate Dalit relatives whi…

The appellant Digambar, brother of the deceased Pooja, and his accomplice Mohan were convicted of murdering Pooja and her lover Govind, who were found dead after being taken on a motorcycle. The trial and high courts sentenced Digambar to death and Mohan to life imprisonment, deeming the case "rarest of rare". On appea…

The case concerned the murder of Hari Shankar whose body was found in an apartment rented by the appellant Santosh @ Bhure. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence – tenancy of the flat, the presence of blood, a suicide letter allegedly written by co‑accused Neeraj, and recovery of a knife and blood‑stained c…

The State of Odisha appointed a government teacher (Respondent No.1) after a higher‑ranked candidate (Respondent No.2) failed to join due to a mis‑addressed appointment letter. The Odisha Administrative Tribunal ordered that the post be given to Respondent No.2 and that the person appointed in her place (Respondent No.…

The appellant, previously acquitted of kidnapping and rape offences, repeatedly threatened and teased the victim, a teenage girl, leading her to set herself ablaze and die. The victim’s dying declaration, recorded by a Head Constable in the presence of a doctor, implicated the appellant as the sole cause of her death. …

The appellant, a hotel servant, was arrested after 2.1 kg of opium was recovered from a hotel room and he made two confessional statements to officers of the Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN). The trial court convicted him under Sections 8 and 18 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, relying on …

The State of Uttar Pradesh prosecuted several accused for the murder of members of two families. The sole surviving witness, Harbhajan Kaur (PW‑4), gave a statement that was recorded as a dying declaration, although she later survived. The trial court convicted five accused based on her statement and other evidence, bu…

The appellant, a police constable, was convicted under IPC sections 346, 366 and 376 for raping a young woman after abducting her and her husband. The appellant appealed, arguing that he was not positively identified by the victim or witnesses and that the failure to hold a test identification parade rendered the convi…

The appellants were convicted under TADA and the IPC for the murder of a police constable during the 1992 Bombay riots, based primarily on the in‑court identification by two constable witnesses. The trial court had rejected the identification parade evidence, finding a strong possibility that the suspects had been show…

Akhilesh Hajam was convicted of murdering his mother, sister, wife and daughter based largely on circumstantial evidence, including a timeline of the killings, an alleged disclosure statement leading to the recovery of a blood‑stained iron angle, and assertions that he had absconded and was intoxicated. The trial court…

The Enforcement Directorate seized Rs.4,28,713 in 1966 and recorded statements from appellants K.T.S. Mohammed and M. Jamal Mohammed under Section 39 of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA). Both appellants later retracted those statements, claiming they were obtained under duress, and the Income‑Tax Officer reco…