Indian Evidence Act, 1872

The appellant, Santosh @ Rajesh @ Gopal, was convicted for the murder of Narayan Singh based on the recovery of a pistol from his possession and a ballistic report linking the weapon to the fatal bullet. The prosecution’s case relied on a disclosure statement made by a co-accused, which led to the discovery of the pist…

The appellant, Smt. Gargi, was convicted of murdering her husband by strangulation and subsequently hanging his body to simulate suicide, based largely on the testimony of the deceased's brother and sister. The prosecution alleged strained marital relations, illicit affairs, and a property dispute as motive, while the …

The appellant, Amarsingh Ramjibhai Barot, was intercepted by police along with a co-accused and was found in possession of 920 grams of a black liquid suspected to be opium; the co-accused possessed 4.250 kg. Samples sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory were reported as opium containing 2.8% anhydride morphine. The …

The Supreme Court examined the appeal of four accused convicted under the NDPS Act for a large heroin seizure. The appellants contended that their confessional statements recorded under Section 67 were involuntary, obtained through torture, and inadmissible because they were made to Revenue Intelligence officers rather…

The appellants were convicted under Section 120B IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987 for a shooting incident that resulted in death. They challenged the conviction on several grounds, chiefly that the confessional statements were not sent to the Chief Judicial Magi…

The appellant, Sd. Shabuddin, was convicted under Section 411 of the IPC for dishonestly receiving stolen property after being found in possession of cash amounts of Rs.25,000 and Rs.2,60,000, which he could not account for. Both he and co-accused Moulana were acquitted of theft (Section 379 IPC) by the Trial Court and…

K. Prabhakar Hegde, a former officer of Vijaya Bank (later merged with Bank of Baroda), was dismissed after disciplinary proceedings for alleged irregularities in approving temporary overdrafts. He challenged the denial of the preliminary inquiry report, the failure of the Inquiry Officer to generally question him as r…

In a title suit, the original defendant (Defendant No.1) failed to appear in court and her son (DW‑5) testified on her behalf. The High Court, relying on Section 120 of the Indian Evidence Act, held that the son was an incompetent witness and discarded his testimony, thereby allowing the second appeal and dismissing th…

The Greater Mohali Area Development Authority allotted a flat to Manju Jain under a hire‑purchase scheme, sending her an allotment letter by registered post and requiring acceptance and a 25% deposit within 60 days. Jain never responded, deposited no money, and after four years the Authority cancelled the allotment. Ja…

The appellant, a meter reader, was convicted under Section 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 for demanding a bribe, based primarily on a handwriting expert’s report linking him to a paper (Ex.PR) used in the alleged offence. The Supreme Court examined whether such expert opinion could be admitted witho…

The petitioner challenged the election of Dinesh Chaudhary to a Bihar Assembly seat reserved for Scheduled Castes, alleging that Chaudhary was a Kurmi (OBC) and not a Pasi (SC). The Returning Officer, despite lodging an FIR and having grave doubts about Chaudhary's caste certificate, accepted his nomination paper. The …

The appellants, members of a family that had a long-standing feud with their neighbours, entered the victims' house on 26 October 1989 and murdered four persons, including a five‑year‑old child, using weapons such as kulhari and hansia. The trial court and the Allahabad High Court convicted them under IPC Sections 302 …

The victim Rita was allegedly burnt alive by her husband Om Parkash, his parents Sheela Wanti and Rup Lal, and other relatives after they demanded dowry. Rita gave a detailed statement to the investigating officer after doctors confirmed she was conscious, which was later treated as a dying declaration. The trial court…

The appellants purchased half of a 3.40‑hectare land from respondent No.2 in 1985, and a sale deed was executed on 02‑12‑1985 but remained unregistered due to stamp‑duty deficiency until 14‑06‑2011. Respondent No.2 later executed a second conveyance in 2010 in favour of respondent No.1 for the same land, leading the ap…

On 30 September 1996, five accused ambushed Ganeshram and his companions at a river crossing. Rammilan Lodhi and Babula Lodhi, armed with shotguns, fired, killing Ganeshram and injuring Annilal, while Prahlad, Dullam and Hukum, armed with lathis, only exhorted the shooters. The trial court convicted all under IPC secti…

The petitioner, Sushil Kumar Sharma, filed a writ petition under Article 32 challenging the constitutional validity of Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code, alleging that it is misused to victimise innocent persons through false dowry‑related accusations. The Supreme Court examined whether the mere possibility of abus…

The appellants were convicted for the murder of Bhojraj, arising from a long-standing land dispute. The prosecution relied on the testimony of PW 11, the deceased's guard, who identified the attackers after a short delay, and on extra‑judicial confessions reported by PW 5 and PW 9 that an accused admitted to the killin…

The appellant, Kishori Lal, was convicted under Section 306 of the IPC for abetment of his wife Rajkumari's suicide. The Supreme Court examined whether the prosecution had established any act of incitement or assistance by the husband, as required under Section 107 IPC. It held that "abetment" requires direct or indire…

The appeal concerned an award of a Permanent Lok Adalat (PLA) that had granted Canara Bank repayment of a loan from G S Jayarama without any recorded conciliation. The High Court had set aside the award, holding that the PLA lacked adjudicatory power and had bypassed mandatory conciliation steps. The Supreme Court exam…

The appellant, the younger daughter of Smt. Amarjeet Mamik, sought probate of a 2003 Will that left the entire immovable property to her, while excluding her brother and elder sister. The Trial Court and the Delhi High Court rejected the probate petition, finding numerous unexplained suspicious circumstances, including…

The trial court acquitted six accused, including A‑1, A‑2 and A‑3, for the alleged murder of Malagounda under sections 302 r/w s.34 IPC, finding the prosecution evidence unreliable and the complainant's testimony contradictory. The State appealed under s.378 CrPC, and the Karnataka High Court reversed the acquittal, co…

The appellant, Mohd. Firoz, was convicted for the rape, sexual assault and murder of a four‑year‑old girl, under Sections 302, 376(2)(i), 376(2)(m), 363, 366 IPC and Sections 5(i), 5(m), 6 POCSO. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, the "last seen together" theory, DNA evidence and the appellant's own adm…

The Supreme Court considered appeals by four members of the Dandupalya gang convicted of murder and robbery. The trial court had relied on the accused’s voluntary statements recorded by police, shown on DVD, and a chart of gang activities to uphold death sentences under Section 396 IPC. The Court examined the admissibi…

The appellant, Balakram, was charged with murder and attempted murder and, after the prosecution's witness (the investigating officer) was examined, sought to produce copies of pages from the police diary obtained under the Right to Information Act to confront the officer. The trial court rejected the application, the …

The case concerns the murder of Jessica Lal on 30 April 1999, for which Sidhartha Vashisht (Manu Sharma) and two co‑accused were initially acquitted by the trial court. The State appealed, alleging that the prosecution had proved the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt through ocular testimony, telephone call …

The appellants were convicted of dacoity under Section 395 IPC based on eyewitness identification in court and a test identification parade conducted under a magistrate's supervision. They challenged the admissibility of the parade evidence, arguing that the delay in conducting it rendered the identification unreliable…

Pradeep Singh, an acting Naik in the Indian Army, was absent without leave for 21 months. Upon his return, his acting rank was withdrawn and he was tried by a Summary Court‑Martial under Sections 39A and 116 of the Army Act, which sentenced him to dismissal. He challenged the conviction on four grounds: the officiating…

In J. Yashoda v. K. Shobha Rani, the appellant sought to admit photocopies of documents as secondary evidence. The High Court had marked the photocopies as secondary evidence, but the Supreme Court examined whether such copies could be admitted under Sections 63 and 65 of the Indian Evidence Act. The Court reiterated t…

The deceased Sudha was shot dead in her husband Santosh Singh's house in 1982. The husband was seen with a gun and, together with eyewitness testimony, was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC. The father‑in‑law Onkar Singh and mother‑in‑law Rajeshwari were also convicted of murder under Section 302 read with Sect…

The appellants, senior officers of the Intelligence Bureau, were dismissed under clause (c) of the second proviso to Article 311(2) of the Constitution on the President’s satisfaction that an inquiry was not expedient in the interest of State security. They challenged the dismissal, arguing that the President’s satisfa…

The appellant, Mis. Shabi Construction Co., entered into a lease agreement with the New Town Development Authority (CIDCO) for a commercial plot, the agreement stipulating a maximum Floor Space Index (FSI) of 2. While the agreement was pending, the State Government issued a notification increasing the permissible FSI f…

The case arose from a 1990 kidnapping and murder of the Vice Chancellor of Kashmir University and his personal secretary, allegedly carried out by members of the JKSLF. The CBI charged several accused, including Mohd. Salim Zargar, under the Ranbir Penal Code and the now‑repealed TADA Act. The Special Court acquitted a…

The CBI filed a case alleging that R.C. Sabharwal, a former public servant, owned assets disproportionate to his known sources of income and that his son, Puneet Sabharwal, abetted him. The trial court framed charges under Section 13(1)(e) read with Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and Section 10…

The appellants, Gurcharan Singh and others, obtained a decree on 9 January 1995 confirming their ownership of a suit land based on a registered will (dated 2 September 1986) and a family settlement (dated 15 June 1994) executed by the sole defendant, Bhajan Singh. Bhajan Singh had admitted these facts in his statement …

The appellants, owners of land leased for 20 years to the respondent, sought possession after the lease was deemed terminated for non‑payment of rent and after part of the land was de‑notified following acquisition under the Land Acquisition Act. The respondent claimed a share of compensation for the unexpired lease te…

The appellant, a Rajya Sabha MP and JD(U) leader, petitioned the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha to disqualify respondent Sharad Yadav under paragraph 2(1)(a) of the Tenth Schedule, alleging that Yadav had voluntarily given up JD(U) membership by aligning with the RJD. The Chairman, after due process, disqualified Yadav on…

The appellant Dhanpat sought a declaration that he, his mother and sisters were entitled to equal shares in a suit land, challenging a Will dated 30‑April‑1980 that favored his brother’s sons. The trial court and first appellate court dismissed the suit, holding that the Will was duly executed and the property had been…

Rupali, married to Biswajit Halder, alleged that her husband and in‑laws repeatedly demanded additional dowry items after the marriage. She committed suicide within seven years of marriage. The trial court convicted the appellants under IPC Sections 304B (dowry death), 498A and the Dowry Prohibition Act, imposing multi…

The case concerns the murder of Asha, who was found strangled and allegedly raped in a maize field. The prosecution relied on eyewitness testimony, medical evidence of rape and strangulation, and an extra‑judicial confession made by co‑accused Babu to a witness in the presence of the appellant Akhlaq. The trial court a…

The appellant, the mother of a deceased youth, appealed against the Delhi High Court’s order that quashed the murder charge (IPC s.302) framed against the accused and directed the trial court to give detailed reasons for framing charges. The Supreme Court held that under Sections 227 and 228 of the Code of Criminal Pro…

The case involves the double murder of Ram Lal and his mother Gamni in a Rajasthan village. The trial court convicted six accused, including Teja Ram and Ram Lal, based on dying declarations, eyewitness accounts, and the recovery of blood‑stained axes. The Rajasthan High Court set aside the convictions, rejecting the d…

The incident occurred on 11 March 1998 when the victim, Mohan Mehtar, was stopped by four accused; Bharat Singh beat him with a lathi, Balvir Singh and Bhav Singh held him, and Harnam Singh shot him at close range, causing instant death. The trial court convicted all four under sections 341, 302 and, for Harnam Singh, …

The case concerned a dispute over land bequeathed by N. Saya Goud in a will dated 2 January 1956. The plaintiffs claimed title based on that earliest will, while the defendants argued that the original will had not been produced before the trial court and the High Court, which relied on secondary evidence. Both lower c…

The plaintiff filed a suit for specific performance of a sale agreement dated 5 January 1980, which the defendant denied executing. The agreement was written on two stamp papers purchased in 1973 and 1978, and the plaintiff failed to produce expert fingerprint analysis to prove the thumb impression on the document. The…

The appellants were convicted of murder and concealment of evidence under IPC sections 302, 201 and 34 for the killing of Saban Misal. The conviction rested primarily on the testimony of PW‑13, the deceased's daughter, who was about 12 years old at the time and described how her mother and others killed and buried her …

The case concerned a dispute over land bequeathed by N. Saya Goud in a will dated 2 January 1956. The plaintiffs claimed title based on that earliest will, while the defendants argued that the original will had not been produced before the trial court and the High Court, which relied on secondary evidence. Both lower c…

Padmini Chandrasekharan filed a suit claiming sole ownership of a house in Gandhi Nagar, Madras, and sought an injunction against R. Rajagopal Reddy. The dispute centered on whether the second defendant, Venugopal Reddy, was a benamidar for Rajagopal Reddy under the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act, 1988, and whet…

The State of Uttar Pradesh investigated Ram Babu Misra for offences under Sections 120‑B, 420, 468 and 471 IPC and asked the Chief Judicial Magistrate to order the accused to provide a specimen writing for comparison with disputed documents. The magistrate refused, holding that Section 73 of the Evidence Act did not em…

The Supreme Court examined a partition suit concerning agricultural lands of the late Muthusamy Gounder, where the trial and high courts had rejected the claim of certain parties as coparceners on the ground that the marriage of their mother to the propositus was not proved. The appellants argued that, despite the alle…

The respondent, a clerk‑cum‑cashier of Indian Overseas Bank, was dismissed after a departmental inquiry found him guilty of multiple charges including forging his sister‑in‑law's signature to open a joint account and withdraw a demand draft. The Industrial Tribunal upheld the dismissal, but the Allahabad High Court set…

The case concerned the conviction of Sudevanand and co‑accused for an attempted murder of the Chief Justice of India, based largely on the testimony of an approver, Vikram, who later retracted his earlier statements while in jail. The appellants filed three criminal miscellaneous applications after a delay of more than…

The appellant, Ramdas Bansal, held a 21‑year lease of a building (Grace Cinema Hall) on premises in Kolkata and, after the lease expired, the respondents filed a suit for vacant possession and rectification of the lease description. Bansal sought to introduce documents alleging that the respondents were "Thika" tenants…

The appellant, P. Manikandan, was originally convicted of kidnapping and murdering a four‑year‑old girl and sentenced to death, but the Madras High Court acquitted him on the ground of reasonable doubt. The High Court, however, ordered the transfer of the case file to the CBI and directed a de‑novo reinvestigation and …

The deceased, Chander Kalan, suffered 40-45% burns after an alleged kerosene incident on 18 June 1998 and died on 4 August 1998 from septicemia. The trial court acquitted the accused of Section 3048 IPC (death caused by burns) but convicted them under Section 498A IPC (dowry harassment). The High Court reversed the acq…

The deceased Veeraganesh was stabbed by four accused and later died. Two eye‑witnesses (PW‑1 and PW‑2) testified to the assault but their conduct—leaving the victim and failing to report the incident until police interrogation—was deemed implausible. The victim gave two dying declarations: one before a Judicial Magistr…

Vinod Solanki's office was searched and cash seized; he subsequently made statements to Enforcement officials under the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA) admitting to foreign exchange remittances, but later retracted those statements alleging coercion. The authorities imposed a Rs 10 lakh penalty based largely on …

Shri Najmuddin and others filed a writ petition in 1985 challenging a 1948 notification and a 1962 offer under the Resettlement of Displaced Persons (Land Acquisition) Act, 1948, claiming a one‑third share in certain lands in Delhi. The Delhi Development Authority counter‑claimed possession based on an award. The High …

The appellant, a District Malaria Officer, was convicted by the Sessions Court and the Orissa High Court for rape (IPC s.376) and wrongful confinement (IPC s.342) based primarily on the testimony of Ms. X, a lady supervisor who alleged she was taken to the appellant's house at night and forced to have sexual intercours…

The Supreme Court entertained a public‑interest writ petition filed after media reports of deaths and torture in police lock‑ups, seeking guidelines for preventing custodial violence and for awarding compensation to victims or their families. The Court held that torture, rape and death in police custody violate Article…

The DIG of Police, S.A. Khan, filed a contempt petition seeking suo moto proceedings against Chief Minister Ch. Bhajan Lal, alleging that a press statement made by the latter interfered with pending corruption proceedings before the Supreme Court. The petition also contained interlocutory applications for punishment, s…

The plaintiff, a respondent in a suit for pre-emption, claimed he was a tenant of the disputed land at the time it was sold to the appellants in 1967. The appellants contended they had been tenants since 1965 under a lease from the vendor. The revenue records (Jamabandi for 1959‑60 and subsequent Khasra‑Girdawaris) lis…

The Supreme Court examined two convictions under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act – one involving a 12‑year‑old girl (Satish) and another involving a 5‑year‑old girl (Libnus). The central issue was the interpretation of Section 7, specifically whether "touch" or "physical contact" required "s…

The appellant alleged that respondent No.2, Nishant Solanki, who was charged with serious offences including murder, was not a juvenile and challenged the Juvenile Justice Board's (JJ Board) declaration that he was a juvenile delinquent based on his matriculation certificate. The appellant argued that the admission for…

The deceased Saroj Bai was found hanging in her matrimonial home within seven years of marriage. The State alleged that her husband’s family demanded a motorcycle as dowry, subjecting her to cruelty and harassment, thereby invoking Sections 304B and 498A of the IPC and the statutory presumption under Section 113B of th…

The respondent claimed to be the adopted son of Late Anne Seetharamaiah, seeking possession of land purchased at auction by the adoptive father. The appellant contested the adoption, arguing that the respondent was over 15 years old at the time of adoption, which under Section 10(iv) of the Hindu Adoption and Maintenan…

The Supreme Court examined the validity of confessions recorded under Section 15 of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987 (TADA) in a murder‑conspiracy case. The appellants argued that their confessions were involuntary, obtained while in police custody, and later retracted, and that no corrobo…

The dispute concerned a building owned by the Bangalore Mahanagar Palike that had been leased to Dhanpal and later sold to Doraiswamy through a court‑executed sale deed. Doraiswamy, acting as landlord, filed an eviction suit under the Karnataka Rent Control Act, 1961 on the ground of bona‑fide personal need; he died an…

The State of Madhya Pradesh appealed against the Madhya Pradesh High Court's decision to reduce Ramesh's conviction for murder (Section 302 IPC) to culpable homicide not amounting to murder (Section 304 Part I IPC) on the ground of self‑defence. The Supreme Court examined whether the shooting of the deceased, Rajendra,…

The petitioners, led by K. Anbazhagan, sought transfer of two corruption cases against J. Jayalalitha and others from the Special Court in Chennai to a court in Karnataka, alleging that the trial was being subverted by the recall of witnesses, the dispensing of personal appearance of the accused, and the public prosecu…

The State of Madhya Pradesh appealed a Madhya Pradesh High Court order that quashed a criminal investigation under the Prevention of Corruption Act against Awadh Kishore Gupta, an executive engineer, on the ground that he had acquired assets beyond his known sources of income. The High Court had relied on annexed docum…

The appellant was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC for allegedly pouring kerosene on his wife and setting her on fire. The victim survived for about twenty days after the incident, during which she gave two statements to a police Sub‑Inspector and a magistrate accusing her husband. The defence argued that thes…

The appellants, four accused, were alleged to have conspired to murder Merli and her two children by administering potassium cyanide. The prosecution relied on extensive circumstantial evidence, including the accused's movements, fingerprint on a glass, forensic laboratory report, medical certificates, and a confession…

Abhishek Sharma was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC for allegedly setting his colleague Mandeep Kaur on fire after a quarrel. The prosecution's case rested on four dying declarations made by the victim to various police officers, a doctor, and her mother. The Supreme Court examined the admissibility and relia…

The case involved twenty accused charged with offences including murder, rioting and attempt to murder arising from a politically‑motivated land dispute that culminated in the killing of Mudi Parandhami Reddy. The trial court acquitted all accused, but the High Court convicted accused Nos. 1‑12 under Sections 147, 148,…

The appellants Devinder @ Kala Ram, his mother and his brother's wife were convicted under Sections 498-A and 304-B of the IPC for dowry harassment and the death of Devinder's wife by burns. The Supreme Court examined the evidence, finding that witnesses PW‑2 to PW‑5 reliably proved continuous dowry harassment, thereby…

Shree Shyam Agency, a sugar manufacturer, booked a consignment under a "Self" basis and retained the railway receipt, but the buyer failed to pay and the goods were delivered to a third party without authority. The agency filed a claim petition before the Railway Claims Tribunal seeking compensation for non‑delivery, a…

The appellant, Patel Hiralal Joitaram, was convicted of murder for setting the victim, Asha Ben, ablaze with combustible liquid and a lighter. The victim had given a dying declaration identifying the appellant as her assailant, which the trial court rejected but the High Court admitted, leading to his conviction. On ap…

The Supreme Court examined the murder of jeweller Gulshan Makhija, in which Manish Dixit (A2) and Sharad Dhakar (A1) were accused. The Court considered whether a hotel register entry could be treated as a "book of accounts" under Sec. 34 Evidence Act, the evidentiary weight of the accused's absconding, the legality of …

The Supreme Court examined a public‑interest writ petition challenging the construction of the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada River. The petitioners argued that the environmental clearance granted in 1987 was invalid, that the height of the dam should be reduced, and that the relief and rehabilitation measures for d…

The case arose from a partition suit filed in 1978 where defendants No.5 and No.12, in their 1979 written statements, admitted that they had no right, title or interest in the family property, having renounced any claim. After about 25 years they sought to amend their written statements to withdraw those admissions, an…

The Supreme Court examined an election petition challenging the election of P.K. Basheer on the ground that a leaflet (Exhibit‑P1) and various audio‑visual recordings were published to malign the petitioner, Anvar P.V., constituting a corrupt practice under the Representation of the People Act, 1951. The Court held tha…

The case arose from a shooting at a petrol pump in Jaunpur district where two sons of the complainant were killed. The trial court convicted three accused under sections 302, 307, 323, 342 IPC and sections 27, 30 of the Arms Act, but the Allahabad High Court acquitted them. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined the con…

Ram Sukh, a losing candidate in the 2007 Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly election, filed an election petition challenging the election of Dinesh Aggarwal on grounds of alleged corrupt practices and procedural lapses by the Returning Officer. The High Court dismissed the petition at the preliminary stage, holding that …

The case arose from the murder of Mathappan after a quarrel, where several accused were alleged to have attacked him and his family. The trial court convicted the accused based on the testimony of two eye‑witnesses (the deceased’s wife and daughter) and a dying declaration recorded by a Sub‑Inspector. The Madras High C…

The appellants were apprehended in a truck carrying 640 kg of poppy husk at an odd hour; two were sitting on the bags and one was driving. They were convicted under Section 15 of the NDPS Act on the basis of presumptions of possession under Sections 54 and 35 of the Act, without any direct evidence of custody or contro…

The petitioners, office bearers of a charitable Sabha, challenged a search warrant issued under Section 93(1)(c) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, on the ground that it violated the constitutional protection against self‑incrimination under Article 20(3). The Supreme Court examined whether a general search of pr…

Seven‑time MP Abhinav Mohan Delkar died by suicide on 22 February 2021, leaving a note that accused several officials of defamation, harassment and extortion. An FIR was filed under Section 306 IPC (now Section 108 BNS) read with Section 107 (now Section 45 BNS) alleging abetment of suicide, and the accused sought quas…

The Supreme Court examined whether Shrimabai, who cohabited with late Subedar Pundalik Bhave and bore two children, was entitled to his family pension after his death. Bhave had married Shrimabai while still married to his first wife Anusuya, but later obtained a divorce from Anusuya in 1990 and had the service record …

The case involves a double murder in which accused Prabhunath Singh, a sitting MP, was originally acquitted along with other co‑accused. The Supreme Court, on appeal, took judicial notice of the Patna High Court's Habeas Corpus judgment, treating it as a public document, and considered the accused's subsequent conduct …

The petition arose from the hardships faced by a child victim of sexual offence who, despite the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 and its 2020 Rules, was not provided with an effective support person. The Court examined the statutory definition, duties and entitlements of …

The appellants, brothers who co‑owned land, sued the respondents seeking a declaration that the arbitration awards and the subsequent court decrees granting title to the respondents were null and void because they were obtained through fraud and stamp‑duty evasion. The lower courts dismissed the suits on the ground tha…

The appellants Ajeet Kumar Rai, Vinay Kumar Rai and Ashutosh Kumar Rai were convicted for the murder of Nanda Kumar Singh under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC and for a violation of Section 27 of the Arms Act. The prosecution proved that the first two accused restrained the deceased, urged the third to fir…

Hamza Haji purchased 22.5 hectares of land in 1968, but by 1972 had disposed of almost the entire parcel. In 1979 he applied to the Kerala Forest Tribunal for exemption from vesting under the Kerala Private Forests (Vesting and Assignment) Act, claiming title and intent to cultivate the remaining 20 acres. The Tribunal…

The Supreme Court examined a batch of land acquisition proceedings under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, where the Delhi Administration and DDA sought to enforce acquisition of land in several villages. The Court held that claimants who did not file objections to the Section 4 notification cannot challenge the Section …

The appellant, Tarseem Kumar, was charged under Section 302 IPC for the murder of Gulshan Rai. The prosecution's case relied entirely on circumstantial evidence, including the appellant's alleged exclusive possession of rooms where the body was found, blood‑stained clothes recovered after his disclosure, fingerprints, …

The case concerned the abduction and murder of Ramesh Jain, for which six accused were convicted under sections 120B, 364A, 302, 328A and 201 of the IPC. The prosecution relied on disclosure statements, recovered items, and Call Detail Records (CDRs) of the accused’s mobile phones. The principal issue was whether the C…

The Supreme Court examined an election petition challenging the Lok Sabha election of Datta Raghobaji Meghe on allegations that he exceeded the permissible election‑expenditure limit and committed corrupt practices. The Court reiterated that the right to elect and be elected is a statutory right governed strictly by th…

A Muslim couple divorced; the wife filed a petition under Section 125 of the CrPC for maintenance, which the Family Court converted into an application under Section 3 of the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986 and ordered maintenance. The High Court set aside the conversion, holding the Family Cou…

Santosh Kumar Dubey filed a writ petition seeking a compassionate appointment after his father, a constable, went missing in 1981 and was later deemed dead under Section 108 of the Evidence Act. The High Court had earlier granted service benefits to his mother but dismissed the petition for appointment. The appellant a…

The appellant Alavi Haji filed a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act alleging that the respondent Palapetty Muhammed had failed to pay a dishonoured cheque. The complaint stated that a notice was sent by registered post but was returned with an endorsement that the addressee was abroad, withou…

The plaintiff, Narain Prasad Aggarwal, claimed ownership of a parcel of land that had been auctioned in 1859 and subsequently passed down through his ancestors. The State of Madhya Pradesh asserted that the land was Nazul land held by the government on lease to the plaintiff's predecessor, Putri Sethani, and that the S…

The appellant, Swamy Shraddananda (aka Murali Manohar Mishra), was convicted of murdering his wife, Shakereh, a wealthy woman who disappeared in May 1991. Investigations uncovered a wooden box in the backyard of their house containing skeletal remains identified through forensic, DNA and photo‑superimposition evidence …

The case concerned the inheritance of ancestral land of the Sidhu Jat community in Punjab. After the death of Relu Singh, his two widows – Sobhi and Raj Kaur – and his two sons succeeded to the estate. When the sons died without issue, the property was mutated in favour of the widows, and Raj Kaur, who had remarried he…

The Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny, a society that had established Cluny Women’s College as a secular institution, later applied to the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI) for a minority status certificate, which was granted in 2007. The society and the college’s governing body subsequentl…

Commander Ravindra V. Desai was convicted by a court‑martial of making obscene telephone calls to the wives of three naval officers, resulting in dismissal from service and forfeiture of 24 months' seniority. The Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) upheld the conviction on seven charges but substituted the dismissal with loss …

The appellant, Mariappan, was convicted of murder and criminal intimidation for repeatedly assaulting his paternal aunt with an aruval, resulting in her death, amid a land dispute. He appealed, claiming he suffered from paranoid schizophrenia at the time of the offence and sought protection under Section 84 of the Indi…

The deceased was found unconscious on the road and taken to a hospital where he allegedly regained consciousness and made an oral dying declaration accusing Waikhom Yaima Singh of assault before dying the next morning. The trial court acquitted the accused, finding the dying declaration unreliable due to lack of medica…

Raghbir Singh was convicted under Section 302 IPC for the murder of Arjun Singh after eyewitnesses Nasib Singh and Banarsi testified that the appellant shot the victim. The appellant challenged the conviction on three grounds: the alleged delay in filing the FIR, the alleged non‑presence of the eyewitnesses at the hosp…

The Supreme Court examined a dispute arising under the Special Court (Trial of Offences Relating to Transactions in Securities) Act, 1992 where Standard Chartered Bank claimed that shares and securities pledged by broker Hiten Dalal were its security against a loss of Rs. 280.80 crore. The Court held that the bank had …

The Supreme Court examined an appeal by the Director of Tribal Welfare against LAVETI GIRI, who had obtained admission to an engineering course on the basis of a caste certificate claiming he belonged to the Konda Kapu Scheduled Tribe. The certificate was issued by a Tehsildar who lacked jurisdiction, and the responden…

The appellant was arrested for theft and granted bail, but a police officer (respondent No.2) allegedly paraded him half‑naked, verbally abused him on the basis of caste and physically assaulted him, illegally detaining him for four hours despite bail. An inquiry by the Sub‑Divisional Police Officer found the officer r…

The case concerned the murder of two persons in a wine shop in Tamil Nadu, for which appellants Periyasamy (A‑1) and R. Manoharan (A‑2) were convicted under sections 302 and 307 of the Indian Penal Code, with A‑2 also under section 109. The trial court relied mainly on the testimonies of three injured witnesses, who we…

The appellant was convicted of murdering four members of a family, house‑trespass and attempted suicide, and was originally sentenced to death for the murder under s.302 IPC. The High Court commuted the death sentence to life imprisonment with a direction that the appellant could not be released for 30 years, invoking …

The State of Madhya Pradesh appealed against the High Court’s acquittal of Ramesh and Bhaggo Bai for the murder of Bhaggo’s husband, Chatra. The prosecution’s case rested primarily on the testimony of an eight‑year‑old daughter, Ran nu Bai, who alleged that the accused beat the deceased, supported by medical findings o…

The case concerned the murder of reporter Sasidharan Nair, for which three appellants (George @ Vakkachan, Rajeev and Joshy) were charged. The trial court acquitted all accused, rejecting the eye‑witness testimony of the deceased's mother (PW3) and the dying declaration, and relying on a hostile FIR. The Kerala High Co…

The appellants, Dr. Atma Ram and Vijay Kumar, were convicted for murder and related offences under Sections 1208, 302, 460 and 382 IPC based solely on circumstantial evidence that the deceased midwife was killed and her ornaments were stolen. The prosecution relied on four circumstances: homicidal death, a threat by th…

The Supreme Court examined an appeal against convictions for murder under IPC sections 302 r/w 201, 148, 149 and 147. The prosecution's case rested on three eye‑witnesses who positively identified the accused, while the defence contended that the post‑mortem medical findings conflicted with the ocular evidence. The Cou…

Lalit Popli, a clerk of Canara Bank, was dismissed after an internal enquiry found him guilty of forgery and unauthorized withdrawal of Rs.1.07 lakh, relying heavily on a handwriting expert’s report. The employee challenged the dismissal, arguing that the expert’s evidence was inadmissible, that adverse remarks about t…

The Chief Conservator of Forests of Andhra Pradesh filed a writ petition challenging an order of the Commissioner of Survey, Settlement and Land Record concerning title to certain lands, without joining the State as a party. The same issue was pursued in a civil appeal after a suit by the pattedars (private landholders…

Bharat Barrel and Drum Manufacturing Co. sued Amin Chand Peyarelal for recovery of a Rs. 6,20,000 promissory note dated 11 October 1961. The defendant claimed the note was executed as collateral security for an import contract and that no consideration was received, while the plaintiff asserted it was a loan. The High …

The case involved a double murder arising from a fight between two rival groups in a field in Rajasthan. The appellants Gopal and Mahesh killed Rameshwar (R) while defending themselves from an attack, and subsequently chased and killed Prabhat (P) who was fleeing the scene. The trial court convicted them under Section …

Rameshbhai Dabhai Naika, whose mother belonged to the Nayak Scheduled Tribe and father was a Kshatriya, had his tribal certificate cancelled by a Scrutiny Committee and the Gujarat High Court upheld the cancellation, relying on Valsamma Paul, Punit Rai and Anjan Kumar. The Supreme Court examined whether a person born o…

In the 2006 Assam Legislative Assembly election, polling station No.124 was initially set up at a non‑notified school and later shifted to the notified venue. The defeated candidate, Kalyan Kumar Gogoi, alleged that this change caused chaos, preventing 200‑300 voters from casting their votes and materially affected the…

The appellants were convicted under Sections 366 and 376 IPC read with Section 109 for alleged abduction, forced marriage and rape of PW‑2, a girl claimed to be a minor. The High Court affirmed the trial court's convictions, but the Supreme Court, exercising its Article 136 jurisdiction, examined the evidentiary record…

Two workmen, Stephen and Nallusami, were charged with theft of a pesticide and dismissed after a domestic enquiry that relied on the testimony of two witnesses who claimed the accused had confessed in their presence. The Labour Court held that the enquiry officer had not properly appreciated the evidence and that there…

The victim, Gangaben, suffered 90% burns after kerosene was poured on her and, while being treated, made dying declarations to two doctors naming Padma Patel, her husband's sister, as her tormentor. The Sessions Court acquitted Patel, doubting the victim's mental fitness and the possibility of tutoring, but the Gujarat…

The respondent, a Sub‑Inspector of police, was convicted of raping a 19‑year‑old woman, Shamimbanu, by the trial court. The High Court acquitted him, holding that the victim’s testimony required corroboration in material particulars and that medical evidence was inconsistent. The State appealed. The Supreme Court held …

The appellant was convicted of kidnapping, brutal sexual assault and murder of a four‑year‑old boy and sentenced to death by the trial court, a sentence confirmed by the Gujarat High Court. The Supreme Court examined whether the circumstantial evidence satisfied the golden principles and whether the presumption under S…

The appellant husband, Ram Sahay Mahto, and his mother-in-law, Parvati Devi, were convicted under Sections 304B, 201 and 34 of the IPC for the death of the appellant's wife, Fulwa Devi, who disappeared from her matrimonial home and was later found dead in a river. The prosecution alleged that the accused demanded dowry…

The case involved an international commercial arbitration under a Long‑Term Agreement for the supply of coking coal between Anglo American Metallurgical Coal Pty Ltd (appellant) and MMTC Ltd (respondent). The arbitral tribunal held that MMTC breached the contract by failing to lift 454,034 MT of coal at the agreed pric…

The appellant Raj Kumari filed a partition suit claiming a one‑fourth share in a tenement allotted to her mother Suhagwanti. The respondent Surinder Pal Sharma defended the suit by producing a registered Will dated 02‑01‑1992, allegedly executed by Suhagwanti in his favour and attested by Ramesh Kumar (the appellant's …

The appellant, a non‑executive director of M/S Elite International Pvt. Ltd., was charged under Section 138 read with Section 141 of the Negotiable Instruments Act for the dishonour of cheques issued by the company. She had resigned from the board on 17‑December‑2005, while the cheques were dishonoured in 2008. The com…

The appellant, Tummala Venkat... was convicted under Section 304B IPC for causing the death of his wife Neelima, who died after ingesting poison following repeated dowry demands and physical abuse. The High Court upheld the conviction and sentenced him to seven years rigorous imprisonment. On appeal, the Supreme Court …

The deceased, Babita Devi, allegedly died after being forced to consume poison following dowry harassment by her husband’s relatives. The father‑in‑law and sister‑in‑law were tried and convicted under Sections 304B (dowry death) and 498A (cruelty) of the IPC, as well as under the Dowry Prohibition Act. The High Court a…

The Supreme Court, hearing Special Leave Petitions filed by Jai Prakash against National Insurance Co. Ltd. and others, examined systemic problems in motor accident compensation, including victims of hit‑and‑run, uninsured vehicles and gratuitous passengers, the use of goods vehicles for passenger transport, procedural…

The respondent filed a suit for possession of property on the basis of a Will that was signed by two attesting witnesses. At trial only one attesting witness and the scribe were examined, while the second witness, though alive, was not called. The trial court accepted the Will, but the District Judge reversed, holding …

Constable Kuldeep Singh was dismissed in 1991 after a departmental enquiry found him guilty of misappropriating Rs 200 of Rs 1,000 allegedly received from a factory owner for payment to three labourers. The enquiry did not produce any of the labourers, relying instead on prior statements under Rule 16(3) of the Delhi P…

The petitioner, an income‑tax assessee, challenged the validity of the 1971 and 1975 Proclamations of Emergency, the House of the People (Extension of Duration) Act, 1976 and the Finance Act, 1976, arguing that the proclamations were ultra vires or had ceased to operate because the parliamentary resolutions approving t…

The appellant Raj Kumar was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC based primarily on the identification by the injured eye‑witness, PW‑18, whose testimony was recorded via video‑link eight and a half years after the incident. The High Court upheld the conviction, relying on the witness's identification, the appella…

The appellants, claiming to have purchased land from a Mahant, obtained an order of ejectment against the respondent tenant under Section 14A of the Punjab Security of Land Tenures Act, 1953. The tenant contested the existence of a landlord‑tenant relationship, arguing that the Mahant had no authority to convey title a…

The appellant KUNA@ SANJAYA BEHERA and co‑accused Pravati Behera were convicted under IPC s.302 read with s.34 for the murder of Santosh Behera, the prosecution alleging an extra‑marital relationship as motive. The sole eye‑witness, PW‑1 (Niranjan Behera), claimed to have seen the murder and to have disclosed the alleg…

The case involved the murder of Satinder Sekhon, for which A‑10 (Balkar Singh) was convicted under Sections 120B (conspiracy) and 302 read with 34 of the IPC, based largely on circumstantial evidence. The trial court and the Punjab & Haryana High Court upheld the conviction, while the accused argued that there was no m…

The appellants K. Hashim and another were convicted for counterfeiting US dollar notes, possession of counterfeit currency, and possession of materials used for counterfeiting under Sections 489A, 489C, 489D and for criminal conspiracy under Section 120B of the IPC. The conviction was based largely on the confessional …

The State of Andhra Pradesh prosecuted S. Janardhana Rao, a Metropolitan Sessions Judge, for demanding Rs 6 lakh (later reduced to Rs 3 lakh) as illegal gratification to secure the acquittal of accused in a pending Sessions case. A trap, authorized by the Chief Justice, led to the money being handed to the judge's wife…

The deceased Chandran was brutally assaulted by six accused who were armed with deadly weapons and later died of his injuries. The prosecution relied on the nephew’s eye‑witness testimony, dying declarations made before three police officers, and medical evidence, leading to convictions under Sections 302, 143, 148 and…

The appellants, licensees of arrack and foreign liquor shops, were convicted under sections 57A and 57B of the Kerala Abkari Act (as amended in 1984) for mixing or permitting the mixing of noxious substances such as methanol with liquor, or for failing to take reasonable precautions, and for possessing adulterated liqu…

The Union of India appealed against a bail order granted to Mohd. Sadiq Rather under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987 (TADA). The charge‑sheet, deemed a police report under Section 173(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), had been filed with the Designated Court at Jammu, but the b…

The appellant, Vishwajeet Kerba Masalkar, was convicted and sentenced to death for the alleged murders of his wife, daughter and mother, based largely on the ocular testimony of a single injured neighbour (PW‑12) and circumstantial evidence such as a recovered hammer, blood‑stained clothes and CCTV footage. The Supreme…

The accused were convicted by a Fast Track Court and the conviction was upheld by the High Court for offences under IPC sections 302 r/w 149, 148, 123 and 447. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined the testimony of ten prosecution witnesses, all of whom were related to the deceased and to each other, and found material…

The deceased, a 32‑year‑old fish‑vendor‑cum‑driver, died in a 2015 road accident caused by a rash driver of a car insured by United India Insurance Co. The claimants (wife, minor son and mother) sought compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, including loss of dependency. The Tribunal awarded Rs 32,39,000, whic…

The Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi filed a private complaint under Section 200 CrPC alleging defamation against six persons, including Manoj Kumar Tiwari (A‑1) and Vijender Gupta (A‑5). The Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate issued summons, but the two appellants challenged the order. The Supreme Court held that …

The appellant, Gunmala Sales Private Ltd., challenged the Calcutta High Court’s order quashing criminal complaints under Section 138 read with Section 141 of the Negotiable Instruments Act against several directors of the accused company. The Supreme Court held that a complaint must specifically aver that a director wa…

The case involves the murder of Rameshwar Dayal on 5 October 1979, for which three men—Virendra (Buddhu), Ram Asrey (Tami) and Girish Chandra (Gappu)—were charged under Sections 302, 34 and 307 of the IPC. The deceased's wife (PW‑1) and daughter (PW‑2, a 14‑year‑old girl) were eye‑witnesses and identified the accused. …

The appellant, a former Executive Engineer in the Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj Department, was convicted under Section 5(1)(e) read with Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 for possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. The trial court sentenced him to one year imprisonment, i…

The appellant Bhupinder Sharma was convicted of gang rape under Section 376 read with Section 34 of the IPC and of kidnapping under Section 342. The trial court sentenced him to four years' rigorous imprisonment for the rape, citing that he had not actually completed the act before the victim escaped, thereby imposing …

The appellant, Ramesh Kumar, was convicted under Sections 306 and 498-A of the IPC for the suicide of his wife Seema within a year of marriage. The trial court relied on testimonies, a suicide note, a diary, and an undated letter, interpreting the husband's statements as instigation and alleging dowry demands. On appea…

Eight accused were tried for murder, assault and illegal possession of arms after a violent clash in a Madhya Pradesh village. The trial court acquitted all, finding that the prosecution witnesses were unreliable and that the accused acted in private defence, especially since one accused (Prabhu) had sustained serious …

The case concerned a motor accident on 11 June 2004 in which the driver’s licence had lapsed at the time of the crash. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded Rs.4,03,650 to the claimant, but the insurer, National Insurance Co., refused to pay, arguing that the driver was not holding a valid licence and therefore th…

The appellant, Pramod Mandal, was convicted under Section 396 IPC for a dacoity and murder that occurred on 13 January 1989. He appealed to the Supreme Court, challenging the conviction on the ground that the Test Identification Parade (TIP) was held about a month after the incident and that only one eyewitness (PW‑4) …

An octogenarian woman was robbed and murdered in Bangalore. The prosecution proved that the accused, David Razario and Christopher David, had pawned a tape recorder belonging to the victim and later sold it, and that the weapon used in the assault bore the victim's blood group. The trial court convicted them under Sect…

Mahesh Kumar Verma, a former railway employee, was allotted official accommodation while in service but failed to vacate after his retirement in 1984. The railway administration invoked Section 138 of the Indian Railways Act, 1890 to recover possession, but the Calcutta High Court set aside the order, holding that the …

Punjab and Sindh Bank filed a criminal complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act against Vinkar Sahakari Bank Ltd. and others after a pay order drawn by the latter was dishonoured. The Bombay High Court had quashed the complaint on the ground that the pay order was not a cheque and that the bank was…

Gurdeep Singh was convicted under Sections 302, 324 IPC, the Explosive Substances Act and the Indian Explosive Act for a bomb blast that killed three persons. The sole basis of the prosecution was his confessional statement recorded under Section 15 of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) bef…

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) awarded a construction contract to Jagan Nath Ashok Kumar, which it later rescinded alleging delay. The contract contained an arbitration clause, and an arbitrator was appointed who held that the rescission was wrongful, awarded the contractor Rs.23,820 plus interest, and allowe…

The appellant Brij Lal, a government employee, and his co‑accused Kashi Ram, armed with pistols, went to the residence of Mohan Ram where a crowd had gathered to prevent them from killing Mohan Lal. Brij Lal fired at the unarmed crowd, causing the deaths of Om Prakash, Sultan Bhat and Munni Devi, and injuries to others…

M. Manickam, a District Munsif, claimed that his date of birth recorded in service records (19‑Mar‑1947) was incorrect and sought to have it changed to 24‑Nov‑1950 to extend his retirement. He filed an application for change in 1993, more than five years after his entry into service, and addressed it to the Registrar o…

The appellant Pannayar was convicted for the murder of Thilagavalli and theft of her gold ornaments under Sections 302, 392 and 397 of the IPC, based largely on circumstantial evidence. The prosecution's case hinged on (i) a witness who claimed to have seen the accused following the victim, (ii) recovery of the victim'…

The appellant, Pradeep Kumar, was charged under Sections 376 and 406 IPC for having sexual relations with the complainant on a promise to marry her. The complainant alleged that the promise was a false pretense to obtain consent, and the trial court framed charges which the appellant sought to discharge. The Supreme Co…

The appellant Dandu Lakshmi Reddy and his mother were convicted of murder under Sections 302 and 34 IPC based solely on two dying declarations of the deceased, which contained a material discrepancy regarding the circumstances of the fire. The Supreme Court examined the reliability of dying declarations, noting that th…

The appellants challenged the registration of the ancient Kalika Mataji temple as a public trust under the Bombay Public Trusts Act, 1950, arguing that it was a private family temple based on a historic will and internal restrictions. The respondents contended that the temple, whose origin is lost in antiquity, had bee…

The President referred a question under Article 317(1) of the Constitution concerning whether a member of the Punjab Public Service Commission, Gopal Krishan Saini, should be removed for alleged gross misbehaviour after allegedly slapping the Chairperson, Santosh Chowdhary. The Court held that the President is not requ…

Maya Singh died leaving a registered Will dated 16 May 1991 that bequeathed his 67-kanal land to his nephew, Gurdial Singh, while omitting any reference to his wife, Jagir Kaur, and providing no reason for her disinheritance. The nephew sued to enforce the Will, and the wife filed a separate suit claiming she was the l…

The appellant, a police guard, was carrying a semi‑automatic carbine when he was asked by a Sub‑Inspector to stop a constable from using the police telephone. During a scuffle the weapon became entangled in the appellant's belt chain, causing an accidental discharge of five rounds that struck the constable, who later d…

The case involves a property dispute between the branch of Lakshmiah Naidu (respondents) and legatees under a Will (appellants) of Rangaswami Naidu, who died on 01.06.1955 before the Hindu Succession Act, 1956. The appellants claimed that Rangaswami Naidu had severed the joint family status through a newspaper notice a…

The accused, a dentist, lured vulnerable individuals with false promises of sending them to America, extracted large sums of money and murdered two victims in separate incidents while attempting to murder two others. Conviction under sections 419, 420, 302, 307, 397, 342 and 328 IPC was upheld based on eyewitness testi…

The plaintiff filed a suit seeking a declaration of title over agricultural land, alleging ancestral grant from the Maratha Government and a partition in 1819, while the Union of India contested the title. The trial court dismissed the suit, but the first appellate court reversed the decision by admitting a Will as add…

A school teacher alleged that the headmaster and a co‑teacher of her school gang‑raped her on 9 July 1994. She reported the incident to her family and later to the police, who recorded her statement eleven days after the incident. She subsequently committed suicide in December 1994. The trial court and the High Court c…

Dr. Harendra Narain Singh and Ram Nath Singh were convicted for murder under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC based solely on circumstantial evidence that a dead body was taken from the doctor's dispensary on an ekka to a village courtyard. The Supreme Court examined the principles governing circumstantial evidence, emph…

The appellant Sharad Birdhichand Sarda was convicted of murder under s.302 IPC for allegedly poisoning his wife Manju with potassium cyanide and sentenced to death. The prosecution's case rested entirely on circumstantial evidence, including the deceased's letters, oral statements to relatives, and medical reports, but…

In December 1996 a dacoity with two murders was committed at a house in Rajasthan. Two of the accused, Kuniya and Talevar, were later arrested and, based on their disclosure statements, cash, silver items and a scooter were recovered, but the recoveries occurred several days after the incident and involved items that c…

The case involves a dacoity on 16-17 December 1996 in which two persons were murdered and movable property was looted. Six accused were identified through test identification parades and the stolen articles, weapons and a vehicle were recovered based on their disclosures. They were convicted under Sections 395, 396 and…

The predecessor‑in‑interest of Bharatha Matha filed a suit for a share in the property of her brother Muthu Reddiar, who died intestate and allegedly unmarried. Defendant No.1, Rengammal, claimed she was lawfully married to Alagarsami Reddiar (who was alive) and also asserted a live‑in relationship with Muthu Reddiar, …

The Supreme Court examined a reference under Article 317 of the Constitution concerning Ms. Sayalee Sanjeev Joshi, a member of the Maharashtra Public Service Commission, who was arrested in connection with alleged malpractices in the 1999 examination. The Court considered four charges: protecting certain candidates, in…

The plaintiffs, sons of the family Karta, sued the appellants for partition of two properties and for a decree directing the appellants to render accounts of a poultry‑tube manufacturing joint venture, claiming a 2/3 share in one property and a 4/9 share in the other. The appellants contended that the business was thei…

The appellants, accused under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) for allegedly undergoing terrorist training in Pakistan, providing monetary assistance and possessing a large quantity of arms, appealed to the Supreme Court against the denial of bail. They contended that no overt act was pro…

The appellant Siju Kurian was convicted by the Karnataka High Court for murder, concealment of body, theft and cheating. The conviction rested on circumstantial evidence, the post‑mortem report establishing homicide, witnesses who saw the accused with the deceased, and a voluntary statement made by the accused that led…

M. Narayan was convicted for dowry death and cruelty after his wife Ganga was found hanging within two years of marriage. The prosecution alleged that Narayan repeatedly demanded additional dowry, subjected her to physical and mental harassment, and threatened her, leading to her suicide. The trial court acquitted him,…

Mohan Lal was convicted for possession of 10 kg of opium under Section 18 of the NDPS Act and for theft under Sections 457 and 380 of the IPC. He argued that the offence occurred before the NDPS Act came into force, that applying the Act was retrospective and violative of Art.20(1) of the Constitution, that the seizure…

Shanti Roy, married to Sekhar Roy, allegedly faced a dowry demand of Rs.5,000 by her husband, his mother, and siblings, leading to harassment and her suicide by self‑immolation while eight months pregnant. The trial court convicted the husband, his mother, and the siblings under Sections 3048, 498A, 306 and 304B of the…

The Supreme Court reviewed an appeal by the mother‑in‑law convicted of murdering her daughter‑in‑law, who died within two months of marriage after being burnt with kerosene. The victim’s dying declaration alleged that the appellant poured kerosene on her because of dowry demands. The trial and High Courts had relied on…

The appellant Safi Mohammad was arrested on suspicion of supplying secret information about the Indian Armed Forces to Pakistani intelligence. During a search of his railway quarter, police seized a blue diary (1982) and a hand‑drawn map (Ex.D‑3) which were deemed by the Air Force to be useful to an enemy. He was convi…

The case concerned the death of Smt. Laxmi, who suffered 90% burn injuries within seven years of marriage. The prosecution alleged that her husband (A-1) and his brother (A-3) harassed and tortured her to extract dowry, leading to her death, and secured convictions under Sections 304B and 498A IPC. The defence relied o…

The appellant Hatti Singh was convicted under Sections 364, 302 and 120(1) read with Section 34 IPC and Section 25 of the Arms Act for the murder of the deceased whose body was recovered after 14 days. The conviction was based on the recovery of the deceased's belongings from the appellant, his confession leading to th…

The complainant, Narendra Nath Khaware, filed a Special Leave Petition under Article 136 of the Constitution challenging the High Court's dismissal of the State's appeal against the acquittal of seven accused in the murder of his son, Diwakar Khaware. The Supreme Court held that a private person may invoke Article 136 …

The case concerned a mass murder on 25 August 1991 in which Vijay Singh was killed and Sanuj Singh injured; twelve men were charged under IPC sections 302, 149 and 307 and the Arms Act. The trial court convicted all accused, but on appeal the Supreme Court examined procedural lapses such as delay in lodging the FIR, de…

The Supreme Court examined the suicide of a young woman within months of her marriage, for which her brother‑in‑law (A‑1) and mother‑in‑law (A‑2) were convicted under Sections 304‑B IPC and 498‑A IPC for demanding dowry. The State appealed the High Court’s acquittal of the accused, arguing that a dowry demand, even wit…

Vidyadhar, the plaintiff, bought land from Defendant No.2 who had earlier executed a document styled "Kararkharedi" in favour of Defendant No.1, claiming it to be a mortgage by conditional sale. The plaintiff sued for redemption of that mortgage or specific performance, while Defendant No.1 contended that the document …

The appellant, Rohit Jangde, the step‑father of a six‑year‑old girl, was convicted by the trial court and the High Court for her murder based on three circumstances: a ‘last seen together’ theory, recovery of charred bone fragments and ashes after the accused allegedly led police to the site, and DNA matching of verteb…

Ram Gopal, the former sarpanch of Har Gangoli, was accused of murdering his neighbour Pratap Singh after taking him on the evening of 19 December 1995; the victim was found dead the next morning. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, including the "last seen together" theory, the short interval between the…