Indian Penal Code, 1860

Ramesh Chilwal was convicted of murder under IPC s.302, offences under the Gangsters Act s.213 and the Arms Act s.27, and sentenced to life imprisonment, ten years rigorous imprisonment, and seven years rigorous imprisonment respectively, along with fines and compensation. The High Court affirmed these convictions and …

The appellant Jagroop Singh was convicted of murder under IPC sections 302, 34 and 201 based on circumstantial evidence that the victim was last seen with the accused, voluntary extra‑judicial confessions, and the recovery of a blood‑stained spade. The appellant challenged the conviction, arguing that the time gap betw…

Varalakshmi, an upper‑caste woman, married a Scheduled‑Caste man against her family's wishes. Six years later she disappeared after being lured by her paternal uncle, the appellant, who claimed her grandmother was ill. Her body was later found, showing death by smothering, and jewellery allegedly taken from her was rec…

The petitioner, Disha, and her husband were involved in a share‑broking business that allegedly duped investors of about Rs 60 crore, leading to an FIR and a charge‑sheet against thirteen persons including the petitioner. The husband later died by jumping from a hotel, an incident investigated by the Maharashtra police…

Automobile Products India Ltd filed a criminal complaint under Section 630 of the Companies Act, 1956 against its former caretaker, Das John Peter, for refusing to vacate a servant quarter after retirement and for allowing his daughter to occupy it. The company filed the complaint through its factory manager using a po…

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) entered into fuel supply contracts with NEPC India Ltd. and its sister company, securing the dues by hypothecating two aircraft. After NEPC defaulted, IOC obtained injunctions and later filed criminal complaints alleging theft, cheating, criminal breach of trust and mischief for the removal…

Four accused were convicted under Section 302 IPC for the murder of Khaja Saheb. The prosecution relied mainly on the testimony of PW‑3, a close relative of the deceased, while other eye‑witnesses (PW‑1, PW‑2, PW‑4) either gave only partial support or later retracted their statements. The appellants contended that PW‑3…

The petitioner, Anil Kumar Mahsi, filed a writ petition under Article 32 challenging Section 10 of the Indian Divorce Act, 1869 as being discriminatory against husbands and violative of Article 14 of the Constitution. He sought dissolution of his marriage on the ground of his wife's desertion and contended that the Act…

A long‑standing feud between two families in Punjab resulted in a series of five murders on the night of 12‑13 August 1977, killing seventeen people. Machhi Singh and eleven associates were tried in five separate sessions cases; four were sentenced to death and nine to life imprisonment. The Supreme Court examined (i) …

The deceased woman was stabbed to death in her matrimonial home, leading to an initial prosecution of four in‑law family members under Sections 498A and 306 IPC, which resulted in acquittal. Two years later, the deceased's brother filed a complaint alleging that six family members, including A‑1 and A‑2, murdered her, …

The appellant, Sucha Singh, was convicted under Sections 302 and 394 of the Indian Penal Code for murdering Amrik Singh and stealing his mule cart. The prosecution relied on the testimony of five key witnesses, an extra‑judicial confession to one of them, forensic evidence linking recovered items to the victim, and a d…

The appellant Roop Singh was convicted along with two others for the murder of Jarnail Singh under Sections 302, 34 and 449 of the IPC, based primarily on circumstantial evidence such as a left‑foot print, a fingerprint on a liquor bottle, an alleged extra‑judicial confession and an eyewitness claim. The Punjab and Har…

The appellants were convicted under Section 395 IPC for assaulting a complainant at a petrol pump and stealing cash. The trial court relied on eyewitness testimony and a test identification parade (TI parade) in which the accused were identified by two witnesses; the prosecution also recovered the stolen cash. On appea…

The deceased and his brother were attacked with lathis and gandasis by four accused, resulting in the deceased's death due to severe head injuries. The trial court convicted all four under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC and also under Section 323 with Section 34. The High Court acquitted Jagat Paul and alt…

Hazarilal and his mother were tried for offences under Sections 304B and 498A of the IPC after Hazarilal's wife, Dashoda Bai, died by self‑immolation ten days after giving birth. The trial court convicted both of the accused, but the Madhya Pradesh High Court acquitted them of the dowry‑death charge (304B) and upheld o…

The State of U.P. appealed against the Allahabad High Court’s judgment acquitting three of six accused in a murder case. The deceased, Yadunath Chauhan, was allegedly attacked by six men, two with spears and four with lathis, on the exhortation of Ram Prasad, resulting in his death. The trial court convicted all six un…

The dead body of a seven‑year‑old boy was recovered from a well; he had last been seen with the accused, Jai Prakash, who was alleged to have animosity towards the victim’s family and a motive to use the child to facilitate a sexual assault on a woman. The trial court convicted the accused under Sections 302, 364 and 2…

The appellant Lala Ram and others were convicted under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code for the murder of Prabhu and Raghuveer, who were attacked by a large group. The High Court upheld the conviction based on the testimony of PW‑3, who gave water to the dying victims, and PW‑4, a relative of t…

The appellant, a Sri Lankan national named Ranjan, was arrested in 2021 and charged under multiple statutes for allegedly being the absconding accused "Sri" (A‑5) involved in a conspiracy to revive the banned LTTE. The prosecution’s case rested solely on the belated testimonies of two witnesses who identified the appel…

M/S Knit Pro International filed a criminal application under Section 156(3) of the CrPC to register an FIR against respondent No.2 for alleged violations of Sections 51, 63 and 64 of the Copyright Act and Section 420 of the IPC. The FIR was registered, but the respondent obtained a writ order from the Delhi High Court…

The appellant Abhishek Singh was charged under several IPC offences, the Arms Act and MCOCA after a proclamation declared him an absconder. The Additional Director General of Police and Commissioner of Police granted sanction for prosecution under MCOCA, which the appellant challenged before the High Court and then the…

The appellant Deepak Yadav filed an FIR alleging that the accused Harjeet Yadav (Respondent No.2) shot his father, leading to his death. The accused was arrested, and his bail application was rejected by the Sessions Court but later granted by the Allahabad High Court on the ground of parity with a co‑accused. The Supr…

The appellants, a husband and wife, were accused of strangling a man to death in their rented house and attempting to conceal the body by pouring acid over it. The trial court convicted them and their daughter under Sections 302, 201 and 34 IPC, sentencing the parents to life imprisonment; the High Court later acquitte…

The appellant, a former Cabinet Minister of Tamil Nadu, challenged the High Court's refusal to disclose a preliminary enquiry report prepared by a Superintendent of Police in a corruption case. The High Court had ordered the enquiry, received the sealed report, but closed the writ petition without furnishing a copy to …

The appellants Manoj, Rahul (Govind) and Neha Verma were convicted for the triple murder of three women during a robbery on 19 June 2011 and sentenced to death, which the High Court affirmed. The Supreme Court held that the trial and appellate courts failed to provide an effective sentencing hearing under s.235(2) CrPC…

The appellant Deepak Gulati was convicted under Sections 365 and 376 of the IPC for allegedly enticing a 19‑year‑old woman with a false promise of marriage, confining her and having sexual intercourse. The woman voluntarily left home to marry the appellant, accompanied him to several locations, and did not raise any ob…

The appellant, alleged ULFA extremist Rangku Dutta, was convicted by a Designated TADA Court under Sections 120(8)/302 IPC read with Section 3(2)(1) of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987. He appealed, arguing that the FIR was recorded without the mandatory prior approval of the District Supe…

Charan Singh, the husband of the deceased Chhilo Kaur, was convicted under Sections 304B, 498A and 201 of the IPC for allegedly killing his wife over dowry demands. The trial court sentenced him to ten years' rigorous imprisonment under 304B, two years each under 498A and 201, which the High Court later reduced the 304…

The appellant, a chartered accountant, was arrested in September 2022 after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed an information report and a prosecution complaint under the Prevention of Money‑Laundering Act (PMLA) alleging his involvement in a fraudulent Global Depository Receipt (GDR) scheme that misappropriated fu…

The appellant, a former Deputy Commissioner of Police and licensing officer, ordered the removal of extra seats in the Uphaar cinema in 1979‑80 following a revocation of a prior notification. After the 1997 fire that killed 59 people, the CBI filed a closure report finding no criminal act by the appellant, which the ma…

Ramveer Upadhyay and others filed a Special Leave Petition challenging the Allahabad High Court’s order dismissing their application under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code to quash criminal proceedings (Complaint No.19/2018) filed under IPC sections 365/511 and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. …

The Supreme Court examined six bail orders granted by the Gujarat High Court to accused involved in a violent incident that resulted in five homicides. The Court held that the High Court failed to consider the seriousness and gravity of the offences, the role of each accused, and the material evidence contained in the …

The complainant, dissatisfied with a magazine cover that featured the petitioner with the caption "God of Big Deals," filed a complaint under Section 295A read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code before a magistrate in Andhra Pradesh. The petitioner sought transfer of the proceedings to Karnataka and simultaneousl…

The State of Bihar appealed against the Patna High Court's order granting conditional bail to Amit Kumar, the principal of Vishnu Rai College, who was alleged to be the king‑pin of the "Bihar Toppers Scam" involving tampering of answer sheets, illegal firearms, and large sums of cash and property. The High Court had re…

The appellant, Md. Mannan, a mason employed in the victim's grandfather's house, sent a seven‑year‑old girl to a betel shop and subsequently abducted her on his bicycle, raping and murdering her. He later confessed, leading police to the body. He was convicted under IPC sections 366, 376, 302 and 201 and sentenced to d…

A family dispute arose after the daughter Nindo was teased, leading eight accused to raise a lalkara and attack members of the rival family with knives and lathis. Baljinder Singh received a deep stab wound to the abdomen, a vital organ, and died shortly thereafter; Rajwinder Singh was also injured. The accused were tr…

The appellant, Inspector of Police, Tamil Nadu, appealed the High Court's acquittal of John David, who was charged with the gruesome murder of a medical student whose body was dismembered and disposed of in various locations. The trial court had convicted David under IPC sections 302, 201, 364 and 342 based on strong c…

The appellant, father of a woman who died unnaturally within seven years of marriage, challenged the Allahabad High Court's order granting bail to the accused husband, who was charged under IPC s.304B. The High Court had granted bail without providing any reasoning, merely stating that s.1138 of the Evidence Act was in…

Four accused were convicted by a trial court for murder and related offences based largely on the testimony of a nine‑year‑old child witness, the son of the deceased. The Karnataka High Court set aside the conviction, discarding the child’s evidence on the ground that he might have been tutored and because of a delay i…

The appellant Tomy and others were charged with assault causing grievous injuries under IPC sections 447, 324, 326 and 506(ii) read with section 34. The trial court, after evaluating the testimony of the complainant and other witnesses, acquitted the accused, finding the prosecution evidence inconsistent and not credib…

N.B. Bhargavan Pillai, a public servant on deputation, failed to hand over stock of rice, palmolein and sugar at the end of his tenure, resulting in a shortage valued at Rs.1,63,770. He deposited Rs.50,000 and promised to pay the balance, but retired before a sanction for prosecution could be obtained. He was convicted…

The State of Uttar Pradesh appealed the acquittal of Harban Sahai and others, who had been convicted for murder under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC. The High Court had set aside the trial court's findings on the basis of alleged inconsistencies between the FIR and eyewitness testimony, the weight given to…

Ganesh Narayan Hedge filed a complaint under Section 500 IPC alleging defamation by S. B. Bangarappa and two others. The Magistrate, after taking evidence, framed charges, which were challenged by a revision petition under Section 399 before the Sessions Judge, who dismissed it. The respondents then approached the Karn…

The appellant, a wife, complained that her husband subjected her to cruelty and later contracted a second marriage, invoking Sections 498A and 494 of the Indian Penal Code. The Andhra Pradesh High Court, applying Section 468 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), quashed the criminal proceedings on the ground that the …

The Supreme Court decided two matters. In Punjab National Bank & Ors. v. Surendra Prasad Sinha, the Court held that Section 3 of the Limitation Act bars only the remedy, not the underlying right to a debt, and that the bank's adjustment of a fixed‑deposit security to satisfy the principal debtor's liability was a contr…

Four accused (Nos. 1, 3, 4 and 6) were originally convicted of murder under Section 302 read with Section 149 IPC for the killing of Mahendra Singh and Virendra Singh. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined the scope of Section 105 of the Indian Evidence Act, holding that the prosecution must prove the offence beyond re…

Prem Chand married Veena Rani in 1973 and repeatedly tormented her, demanding money and physically abusing her. On 15 September 1975, after a quarrel in which Prem Chand told her she could relieve his financial woes by dying that very day, Veena Rani set herself on fire and died of severe burns. The trial court convict…

The appellant, A.M. Mohan, was charged under Section 420 read with Section 34 of the IPC along with co‑accused for alleged cheating. He filed a petition under Section 482 of the CrPC seeking quashment of the FIR, arguing that the FIR and charge‑sheet did not disclose the essential ingredient of dishonest inducement req…

The appellant, Dr. Subhash Kashinath Mahajan, a senior government official, was charged under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act for refusing sanction to prosecute two senior officers who had made adverse entries in his service record. He sought anticipatory bail and the quashing o…

The appellant, a police officer, received Rs 12,000 as traveling and daily allowance for a dog‑squad team but failed to disburse the amount to the handlers and remained absent from duty without authorized leave. He was convicted under Section 409 of the Indian Penal Code for criminal breach of trust by a public servant…

The appellant, the husband of Leelabai, was convicted of murdering his wife who was found dead in their matrimonial home. A post‑mortem revealed multiple ante‑mortem bruises and contusions, and the medical officer opined that death was caused by asphyxia (throttling). The appellant contended that the absence of a fract…

The State of Himachal Pradesh appealed the High Court’s order acquitting Rajesh Kumar (Munnu) of offences under Sections 376 and 452 IPC, alleging that the trial court’s conviction was based on sufficient evidence. The alleged incident occurred on 13 August 2007, but the FIR was lodged after an unexplained delay, and t…

The appellant, convicted of murder and sentenced to thirty years without remission, filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court but suppressed the fixed‑term nature of his sentence, leading the Court to initially treat the case as a simple life sentence. The SLP was drafted by senior advocate Rishi Malhot…

The appellant was accused of murdering his nephew, a two‑and‑a‑half‑year‑old child, whose body was later recovered from a well after the appellant allegedly confessed to the victim's father (PW‑1). The trial court acquitted the appellant, finding the extra‑judicial confession unreliable and the circumstantial evidence …

Motamari Appanna Veerraju (Mav Raju) was charged under several IPC sections and the Prevention of Corruption Act. After the Sessions Court rejected his bail, the Calcutta High Court granted him interim bail on 1 Oct 2018 and kept the regular bail application pending, issuing successive interim orders until November 201…

The appellant, a government bus driver, was accused of driving negligently on 24 February 2001, causing a collision that killed four persons and injured three. The trial court, appellate court, and High Court convicted him under IPC sections 279, 337 (three counts) and 304A (four counts) based on consistent eyewitness …

Dnyaneshwar Suresh Borkar was convicted of murdering a minor child, kidnapping, and related offences under Sections 302, 364 and 201 read with 34 of the IPC and was sentenced to death by the Sessions Court, a sentence later confirmed by the High Court. He appealed to the Supreme Court seeking commutation, arguing that …

The State of Madhya Pradesh prosecuted Suresh for the fatal assault on his father, resulting in death and a charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder under Section 304 Part II IPC, along with a false information charge under Section 201 IPC. The Trial Court convicted Suresh under Section 304 Part II and sente…

The victim, Pasupuleti Siva Ramakrishna Rao, the president of a lorry workers' union, was attacked in the union office by four accused who, angry over his collection of donations, struck him with a bottle, tied a telephone wire around his neck and strangulated him, and beat him with an iron rod. The trial court convict…

The appellant, Anil @ Anthony Arikswamy Joseph, was convicted of murdering a 10‑year‑old boy after subjecting him to pederasty, under Sections 302, 377 and 201 of the IPC and sentenced to death. The Supreme Court examined the reliability of the prosecution's circumstantial and DNA evidence, finding it trustworthy and s…

Karuna, the wife of Anand Kumar, died by suicide within seven years of marriage. Kumar, his parents and brother were charged under IPC s.306 (abetment of suicide), s.498A (cruelty) and the Dowry Prohibition Act s.4. The trial court acquitted the parents and brother but convicted Kumar based on a letter (Exhibit P‑20) a…

The wife of Munish Bhasin filed a complaint under IPC sections 498A, 406 and 34 alleging cruelty and misappropriation of dowry. The husband and his parents applied for anticipatory bail under CrPC section 438, which the Delhi High Court granted but conditioned on the husband paying Rs.12,500 per month as maintenance to…

The appellant, Shaik Nagoor, was charged under IPC sections 354, 448 and 306 for allegedly assaulting the deceased, who later set herself on fire. The prosecution relied on two dying declarations recorded by a judicial officer and a constable. The trial court convicted on all three charges; the High Court upheld convic…

The respondent, a jeweller, insured his jewellery against theft with National Insurance Co. Ltd. The policy contained an exclusion clause that denied cover for theft by a "customer" of property "entrusted" to them. An unknown customer entered the shop and stole jewellery. The insurer denied the claim invoking the exclu…

The State of U.P. alleged that the accused entered the house of Raghubir (PW3) at midnight, assaulted him with the butt of a pistol and, when his wife intervened, also struck her, leading to her death the next day. The trial court convicted the accused under Sections 302 r/w 34, 307 r/w 34 and 452 IPC. The Allahabad Hi…

The case involved Sukhbir Singh, who was convicted of murder (Section 302 IPC) along with eight co‑accused for a fatal assault that arose from a sudden quarrel over mud splashed on him. The prosecution alleged that all nine formed an unlawful assembly with a common object to kill the deceased, invoking Section 149 IPC.…

In 1988 a terrorist attack on Dr. Harnam Singh's house in Kurukshetra resulted in four deaths and several injuries. Fourteen accused, including Daya Singh, were tried under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act and the IPC for murder and attempted murder. The trial court convicted Daya Singh on the b…

Neelam Rani died from burns in 1987. The husband (appellant) and his father were convicted by the Sessions Court of murder (Sec. 302 IPC), dowry death (Sec. 304B IPC) and cruelty for dowry (Sec. 498A IPC). The High Court upheld the murder conviction and acquitted the father. On appeal, the Supreme Court held that the e…

Costao Fernandes, a customs preventive officer, chased a vehicle suspected of smuggling gold and, during a scuffle, the driver died. He was prosecuted under Section 302 IPC, while claiming immunity under Section 155 of the Customs Act, 1962. The trial court and High Court denied the protection, alleging lack of prior i…

The appellants were convicted by an Additional Sessions Judge on three counts, including a life sentence with a fine of Rs.200 under Section 302/149 IPC. The High Court, while dismissing their appeal, altered the fine to Rs.5,000 per count per appellant, increasing it to Rs.30,000 each, without any notice or hearing. T…

The State seized about 600 metric tonnes of tin plates worth Rs.60 lakh from Calcutta Hardware Stores alleging violations of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and the West Bengal Declaration of Stocks and Prices of Essential Commodities Order, 1977, and also invoked sections 1208 and 420 of the IPC. The respondents a…

Ms. X, a confirmed rape victim, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking rehabilitation, including free education for her minor children, housing accommodation, police protection, and legal aid. The Court noted that she had been convicted of rape in 2002 and had already received compensation under the Jharkhand V…

The deceased woman was found dead with her jewellery missing; the appellant had been present in her house the night before the incident and was later arrested with the missing ornaments recovered from his possession. The prosecution relied solely on circumstantial evidence – the appellant’s presence, a "last seen" test…

The appellants, Manik Taneja and his wife, posted comments on the Bangalore Traffic Police Facebook page alleging harassment by a police inspector after a road accident. The inspector filed an FIR under Sections 353 and 506 of the IPC. The appellants sought quashing of the FIR under Section 482 of the CrPC, but the Kar…

Three Italian tourists were accused of murdering their fellow tourist in a hotel room in Varanasi. The trial and appellate courts convicted them under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC based on circumstantial evidence, including alleged motive, post‑mortem findings of strangulation, and the claim that they remained in the…

The Supreme Court upheld the conviction of six accused, including the appellant Joshinder Yadav, for the dowry death of Bindula Devi under IPC sections 302 r/w 149, 498A and 201. The Court found that the father and brother of the deceased gave reliable testimony of continuous cruelty and harassment for dowry, and that …

The appellant, Perumal, was acquitted of offences under Sections 417 and 506(i) IPC after a charge‑sheet filed by Sub‑Inspector Janaki alleged his involvement in a pregnancy that a medical report had disproved. Perumal then lodged a private complaint under Section 190 CrPC seeking to try Janaki for an offence under Sec…

Mukhtiar Singh and his son Gurmail Singh were charged with the murder of Babu Singh under Sections 302 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code. The trial court acquitted them, rejecting the testimony of two eye‑witnesses – the deceased's son and widow – and deeming the prosecution case a fabricated story. The Punjab and Haryan…

The appellant, Daya Shankar, was convicted under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC for the murder of Ram Kishore. The prosecution alleged that the appellant, along with three others—two armed—attacked the deceased, with the appellant allegedly pulling the victim's legs. The Supreme Court examined whether Sect…

The appellant, Munni Lal, was convicted along with three co‑accused for the murder of Ram Kishore under Sections 302 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code. While the other three accused were armed, Munni Lal was unarmed and the prosecution alleged that he pulled the victim's leg, contributing to the death. The trial court an…

The appellant, Baskar@Kannan, was convicted under Section 304 Part II of the IPC for his role in the fatal assault on the deceased, while another accused was convicted of murder under Section 302. The prosecution relied on the testimony of four eye‑witnesses, including PW‑1 who was also an injured victim, and on medica…

The appellant (A-1) and 14 others were tried for offences including murder, culpable homicide, and offences under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. On 26 March 2001, after a quarrel, A-1 and co‑accused armed themselves and attacked four scheduled‑caste witnesses; A-1 delivered a fatal blow to the neck of the de…

The case concerned the murder of Hira Singh during a Holi celebration in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, where five accused assaulted him and others. The trial court convicted all five under Sections 302 and 149 of the IPC, imposing life imprisonment, while the High Court affirmed the convictions. On special leave, the Supreme …

The State of Madhya Pradesh, represented by the CBI, appealed against the High Court's acquittal of nine accused, including Paltan Mallah, for the murder of trade‑union leader Shankar Guha Niyogi. The trial court had convicted them under Section 302 read with Section 120B IPC based on circumstantial evidence, but the H…

The appellants Vidhya Devi and others were convicted under Section 304‑B IPC for the dowry death of Satyawati, who was set ablaze four months after a dowry demand and died within seven years of marriage. The trial court and High Court upheld the conviction, and the appellants appealed, challenging the applicability of …

The appellant, a husband, was convicted for dowry harassment and cruelty towards his wife, which culminated in her suicide. The trial court found him guilty under IPC Sections 498A and 306 read with Section 34, sentencing him to three years for cruelty and seven years for abetment of suicide, to run concurrently. The H…

The appellant, Sardar Khan, was convicted under Sections 302 and 498A of the Indian Penal Code for brutally murdering his wife and attempting to burn her body, following a pattern of harassment, assault causing abortion, and pawn‑selling her jewellery. The trial court sentenced him to life imprisonment; the Karnataka H…

The petitioner, an under‑trial prisoner for theft and robbery, was detained under Section 3 of the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Dangerous Activities Act, 1982 on the ground that he had pelted stones at the public while committing a robbery, allegedly creating alarm and threatening public order. He challenged the detention …

The appellants, senior officials of Tata Construction & Projects Ltd, were sued criminally by Singh Construction Co. for allegedly misappropriating payment received from Bokaro Steel Plant for contract work. The complaint invoked IPC sections 403, 406, 420 and 1208, alleging dishonest conversion of money. The Chief Jud…

In an altercation on the GT Road in 1976, Sub‑Inspector Ajaib Singh shot and killed Assistant Sub‑Inspector Gurnam Singh and Constable Paramjit Singh. The trial court convicted Singh under Section 302 IPC and the Arms Act, but the Punjab & Haryana High Court acquitted him, holding that he acted in private defence under…

The accused Jarnail Singh and his four sons were convicted of murder and rioting for killing Gurbux Singh and his brother Wasava Singh. The prosecution alleged a motive stemming from the suicide of the accused's son, who had been in love with the victims' daughter. The defence argued that there was no immediate motive …

The case arose from an FIR registered under multiple IPC sections and the Witch (Daain) Act after a woman was accused of witchcraft, physically assaulted, verbally abused and publicly disrobed along with another woman. Thirteen persons were named; initially only one was sent to trial, but the Additional Chief Judicial …

The appellants were charged under Sections 306 and 34 IPC for allegedly abetting the suicide of their daughter-in-law, who had committed suicide on 20 March 2015 after a family dispute and a court‑ordered mahalokadalat. The prosecution’s case hinged on the claim that the appellants' words at the mahalokadalat on 17 Feb…

The appellants, directors of a construction company and employees of a bank, were charged under IPC sections 409, 420 and 120B and the Prevention of Corruption Act for cheating, criminal breach of trust and diversion of funds. The bank had declared the loan a non‑performing asset, recovered part of the amount through a…

The complainant filed an FIR alleging that her husband and his parents-in-law subjected her to cruelty, forced her to consume poisonous food, and caused a miscarriage, invoking sections 498-A, 312, 313 and 34 of the IPC. The appellants filed a criminal application under section 482 of the CrPC seeking quash of the FIR,…

The appellant, Shambhu Debnath, reported that his 20‑year‑old nephew was set on fire by the accused, leading to the nephew's death and the filing of an FIR alleging murder under Section 302 IPC along with other offences. The accused (respondents Nos. 2‑4) sought anticipatory bail, which was initially denied by the Sess…

The appellant, Ashok Verma, was convicted under Sections 302, 201 and 498A of the IPC for the death of his wife, Pushpa, which occurred in their matrimonial home. He claimed the death was a suicide, pleaded an alibi that he was in a nearby garden, and argued that the non‑rupture of the hyoid bone indicated strangulatio…

A dispute over a banner led a group of armed accused, including Aqeel Ahmad, to enter the informant's house and fire at his sons, killing both. The accused were convicted of murder under IPC s.302, with some also convicted under s.149 (murder in unlawful assembly) and s.148, receiving death and life sentences respectiv…

The Supreme Court examined an appeal against a High Court order that granted bail to Munna Jaiswal, who was charged with murder (IPC s.302) and other offences (IPC s.504, s.506). The complainant, Brij Nandan Jaiswal, argued that the accused had a criminal history, pending cases, and that the High Court had granted bail…

The case involved eleven accused who, armed with firearms, went to a field in search of a man named Patali, but instead killed Mauji Yadav. The prosecution proved the murder through the testimony of six eye‑witnesses, two injured witnesses and a post‑mortem report showing a gunshot wound. The three appellants – Ramdeo …

The case arose from a contract for the export of garments from India to Germany. The German buyer rejected the goods as defective, and the supplier (Respondent No.2) alleged that employees of the certifying agent company (the appellants) failed to pay the value of the exported garments. A complaint was lodged under IPC…

The deceased Jeeja, married to appellant Premkumar, died by suicide in Tamil Nadu on 14 Feb 2003. Her father‑in‑law reported the death to the Courtallam police (Tamil Nadu) who registered a case under s.174 CrPC and concluded it was a suicide due to mental illness, halting further investigation. The deceased’s father l…

The appellant, a peon of Punjab National Bank, was accused of stealing a blank draft issue book. After a five‑year delay, a departmental enquiry found him guilty, relying mainly on a purported confession recorded by police, which the appellant claimed was obtained under duress. The disciplinary authority dismissed him …

The case concerns the murder of Jaba Dhibar on 16 September 1985, for which five accused were convicted by the trial court under Sections 148 and 304 Part I read with Section 149 of the IPC. The Calcutta High Court acquitted the accused, disbelieving the testimony of two eye‑witnesses (PW‑3 and PW‑5) and labeling them …

The appellant Netraj was arrested after a silver todal, allegedly stolen during a dacoity that also involved the murder of a woman, was recovered from him two days after the incident. He was convicted under Section 396 of the Indian Penal Code for dacoity with murder and sentenced to death, later reduced to life impris…

The appellant, Siddique, was charged under Sections 376 and 506 of the IPC for alleged sexual abuse, with the FIR filed in August 2024. He sought anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the CrPC, which the Kerala High Court rejected. On appeal, the Supreme Court noted that the complainant filed the complaint nearly eigh…

The appellant, Jayantilal Verma, was convicted under Section 302 IPC for the strangulation death of his wife, Sahodara Bai, whose body was found in their matrimonial home. The prosecution's case rested primarily on the testimony of the step‑brother (PW‑1) and the post‑mortem report indicating homicidal asphyxia. Althou…

Five accused entered the house of Balaprasad Pathak at midnight, each armed; two used axes to inflict fatal injuries while the other three were armed with lathis and a ballam but did not strike the victim. The trial court convicted all five under Section 302 read with Section 149 of the IPC. The High Court acquitted th…

The case concerned an alleged illegal transfer of a government plot by senior officials of ICMR and ICPO, who were accused of criminal conspiracy and obtaining undue pecuniary advantage under Section 120B IPC and Sections 13(1)(d) & 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The CBI filed a charge‑sheet and the S…

The husband and wife were married in 1989; the wife later filed a criminal complaint against the husband and his family under several IPC provisions and the Dowry Prohibition Act, which led to their arrest. The husband filed for divorce on the grounds of cruelty and alleged irretrievable breakdown, and the wife was lat…

P. Gunasekaran, a Deputy Office Superintendent in Central Excise, was dismissed after a departmental inquiry found him guilty of falsifying attendance records and impersonating an executive officer. Although he was later acquitted of related criminal charges, the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) upheld the dismiss…

Baljinder Kaur, the sister‑in‑law of the deceased Sharanjit Kaur, was convicted under Section 304B IPC for dowry death based on a demand for a gold karra made two months after the marriage. The deceased died of poisoning, and the prosecution relied on a dying declaration that she was beaten and poisoned by the accused.…

The appellant Ganesha was acquitted by a trial court of offences under IPC sections 341, 323, 324 and 504 read with 34. On the informant's petition, the Karnataka High Court, in revision, set aside the acquittal and convicted Ganesha under s.324 IPC, imposing six months' simple imprisonment and a fine. Ganesha appealed…

Petitioners, volunteers of the Aam Aadmi Party, protested at Gokul Puri Police Station demanding registration of an FIR for an alleged rape. They allege that police rounded them up and beat them with lathis, causing injuries, and that the police’s version of a violent crowd is unsupported by video evidence. The respond…

The Supreme Court examined the custodial death of a kidnapping suspect who was arrested by three police officers and found dead in the lock‑up. The trial court had acquitted all accused, but the High Court convicted them under sections 302, 342, 218 and 193 IPC. The Court held that the arrest panchnama and register wer…

The Supreme Court considered an application by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to transfer the trial of the Ghaziabad Provident Fund scam from the Special Judge, CBI, Ghaziabad to a court in Delhi. The case involved alleged fraudulent withdrawals of government funds by former court officials and judges. The C…

Jitendra Singh, convicted under IPC sections 304B and 498A for a 1988 incident, filed a petition seeking to raise an additional ground that he was a minor under the Juvenile (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 at the time of the offence. He submitted a school leaving certificate, marks‑sheet and a medical repor…

The case arose from a land demarcation dispute in which a fight broke out, leading to the death of lmteyaz Ali. Monir Alam and others were convicted under IPC sections 304(11) and 323, with Alam sentenced to three years. The High Court altered the conviction to include section 149 but upheld the trial court's judgment.…

The case arose from a land dispute in which the deceased, Murugan, was stabbed multiple times by accused Rathinam and Moorthy in a government hospital, sustaining twenty incised injuries that caused his death. Moorthy, the appellant, gave a statement under Section 313 of the CrPC claiming self‑defence, but the trial co…

The appellant Vithal Pundalik Zendge and eight others were convicted of murder under IPC s.302 read with s.149 for the killing of the appellant's brother. The conviction was based primarily on the testimony of a single eyewitness, PW‑1, who was the sister of the deceased. The appellant challenged the conviction, arguin…

The Supreme Court examined the appeal of the accused who were convicted for dowry death after the victim, Kodimalar, was set on fire by her in‑laws. The victim gave a dying declaration identifying the accused, which was recorded by a Judicial Magistrate in the presence of a doctor who certified her consciousness. The a…

The case arose from a politically motivated attack in which two persons were killed after the accused threw stones at them; each accused allegedly threw only one stone. The trial court convicted the principal accused under Section 302 read with Section 109 IPC and the others under Sections 302 and 147, a decision affir…

The State of Himachal Pradesh charged Tara Dutt and others under IPC sections 468, 420, 120‑B and the Prevention of Corruption Act for forging receipts in 1983. The charge‑sheet was filed in 1987 and cognizance was taken the same year. The Special Judge acquitted them of the charged offences but convicted them under se…

The State of Andhra Pradesh prosecuted Gangula Satya Murthy for raping and throttling to death a 16‑year‑old girl, Satya Vani, whose body was found on a cot in his house. The trial court convicted him under IPC sections 302 and 376, relying on medical evidence of ante‑mortem neck injuries, a fresh vaginal tear, and an …

The appellants, including Ashok Yadav, were convicted for kidnapping and murdering a school‑going child, Avadhesh Sharma, under sections 364 and 302 of the IPC. The Supreme Court examined the prosecution's circumstantial evidence – motive, recovery of the victim's articles, the fact that the victim was last seen with t…

The case arose from a land dispute that escalated into a fight between two groups on 25 October 1985, during which the victim Santokh Singh sustained eight injuries, five on the head, inflicted by the respondent Sarwan Singh with a heavy weapon (gandasa). The trial court and the Punjab & Haryana High Court convicted th…

The Chief Editor of a daily newspaper was charged in a complaint alleging defamation under Sections 500 and 34 of the IPC, but the complaint contained no specific allegation that he edited or approved the offending news item. The magistrate issued summons, the editor pleaded not guilty and requested that the proceeding…

The State of Kerala prosecuted six accused for forging and counterfeiting US dollar notes, alleging offences under Sections 120B, 489A, 489B, 489C, 420, 511 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code. The accused argued that Sections 489A and 489C apply only to Indian currency notes, relying on the definition of "currency note" i…

The State of Andhra Pradesh prosecuted ten accused for forming an unlawful assembly and murdering a man returning from a canal, with several eye‑witnesses (PW‑1, 3, 4, 6, 7) testifying to the gruesome attack. The Sessions Court convicted the accused under IPC sections 147, 148, 149 and 302, imposing death, life impriso…

The appellant, Ruchir Rastogi, filed an FIR alleging that his brother Pankaj Rastogi, a co‑partner in a family HUF, illegally removed gold, silver, diamonds and other assets from a jointly‑run shop in violation of an interim injunction ordered under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act. The High Court had quashed the F…

Indrakunwar was convicted under Section 302 IPC for allegedly killing a newborn child she was said to have delivered and then thrown into a pond. The prosecution’s case rested on circumstantial evidence and the accused's statement under Section 313 CrPC, but failed to establish any relationship between the accused and …

The appellant, Naveen (alias Ajay), was convicted and sentenced to death for the rape and murder of a three‑month‑old girl under multiple provisions of the IPC and the POCSO Act. The trial was completed in fifteen days, during which a legal‑aid counsel was appointed only hours before the case began and was not given su…

The case involved the suicide by self‑immolation of Akkamahadevi, married to the accused, who was alleged to have subjected her to mental and physical cruelty for dowry. The trial court convicted the accused under IPC sections 498A, 304B (read with s.34), and sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, based largely…

The appellant filed an FIR under dowry and related offences against the respondent. The respondent's family filed a criminal miscellaneous writ petition seeking to quash the FIR; the High Court stayed the arrest of the respondent and ordered a monthly deposit of Rs 2,000. After the investigation closed and the magistra…

The appellant, Sayed Mohd. Ahmed Kazmi, was arrested in connection with an alleged bomb attack and was placed in police and then judicial custody. After the initial 90‑day period expired, the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate extended his custody for another 90 days with retrospective effect, despite the appellant's pendin…

The Supreme Court heard a group of public‑interest writ petitions concerning the ineffective implementation of the Vishaka guidelines on sexual harassment at workplaces. The Court examined affidavits from State Governments showing that many had failed to amend the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules and the Industri…

The deceased Ramesh was killed during an altercation with members of the Chalawadi family over a disputed marriage. The trial court convicted two of the six accused for assault, while the High Court later convicted four under Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC for murder. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined the eye…

The appellant, an Indian Army soldier, fired three shots at a member of a Quick Reaction Team during a night security duty after a stone‑throwing incident, killing Naik Jityu Yadav at a distance of 8‑10 feet. Despite being warned by a fellow sentry not to fire, he shot the victim and, when apprehended, said “I did what…

The appellant, Samghaji Hariba Patil, was charged under IPC sections 302, 307, 504 r/w 34 for the murder of Murugappa during a land‑related quarrel. The trial court acquitted him, finding that the prosecution had not proved his motive, that the alleged weapon (a hammer) was not typical for agricultural use, and that wi…

Major Singh and Baldev Singh were convicted of murdering Kashmir Singh by severing his head, allegedly motivated by suspicion that Kashmir had caused the death of their sister Sukhwinder Kaur. The prosecution relied on the eyewitness testimony of Lakhbir Singh, who identified the accused under electric light, and on me…

The State of Madhya Pradesh charged three reservation clerks with abetting Suresh Shah in the illegal procurement and sale of railway tickets under Sections 143(1) and 143(2) of the Railways Act, 1989. Shah was arrested with a large number of tickets and cash, but later absconded, and the clerks were convicted on the b…

The appellant, accused No.3, was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC for the killing of Baban, based on eyewitness testimony of the deceased's mother (PW‑1) and other prosecution witnesses. The appellant claimed an alibi, asserting he was unable to walk due to a compound fracture and relied on a doctor's certific…

The appellant, a Chief Manager of Oriental Bank of Commerce, was dismissed after an enquiry found him guilty of misappropriating Rs.10 lakh by opening a fraudulent account and transferring the funds to three third parties. The appellant challenged the dismissal, arguing that no loss was suffered by the bank, the crimin…

The appellant, a Judo Karate teacher, was accused of murdering his foster sister-in-law after a dispute involving another autorickshaw driver. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, notably that the deceased was last seen with the appellant, and the testimony of three witnesses, including a child who identi…

The Commissioner of Excise cancelled the wholesale and retail licences of Manoj Ali (respondent) and forfeited his security on the ground that a large quantity of IMFL and beer was seized from a room in the premises, which the department claimed was under his possession. The respondent contended that the seized stock b…

Shamsher Khan was convicted for manufacturing and storing bombs in his Delhi house, which later exploded, killing three and injuring many. He was sentenced under IPC sections 304, 308, 120‑B, TADA sec. 5 and Explosive Substances Act sec. 4(b). On appeal he challenged the culpable homicide convictions, arguing that his …

The Delhi Domestic Working Women's Forum filed a public interest litigation under Article 32 on behalf of four tribal domestic servants who were sexually assaulted by army personnel on a train, seeking a scheme for compensation and rehabilitation. The petition argued that the National Commission for Women (NCW) should …

The Supreme Court examined a series of challenges to the draft Constitution of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) raised by Rahul Mehra and other stakeholders, focusing on issues such as the inclusion and eligibility of eminent players, the definition of office‑bearers, the number of vice‑presidents, disqualifica…

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 Supreme Court, hearing Suo Motu Writ Petition (Crl.) No.1 of 2022, examined whether a separate, meaningful hearing on sentencing is required after conviction for a capital offence under Section 235(2) of the CrPC. It noted divergent judicial opinions on same‑day sentencing and the lack of a uniform framework for co…

The deceased was found hanging from a tree after a dispute with his wife Suman Devi, who allegedly had an illicit relationship with Raju. The FIR alleged that Suman Devi, Raju and other family members conspired to murder the deceased. The trial court and the Rajasthan High Court convicted the accused under Section 302 …

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, Shamim, was convicted for the murders of Pappu and Anisha under Sections 302, 307 and 34 of the IPC after the High Court reversed her trial‑court acquittal. The prosecution relied heavily on the testimony of the appellant's own daughter, who alleged that her mother had threatened the family and later adm…

Janabai, a member of the Gram Panchayat Kalamba (Mahali), was challenged for continuing in office because her husband and father‑in‑law had encroached on government land since 1981 and she was using the land. The question was whether Section 14(1)(j‑3) of the Maharashtra Village Panchayat Act, 1958 disqualifies a membe…

The appellant, Ganpat Singh, was convicted for the murder of Shantabai, whose body was discovered in a dry well and identified as the mother of a minor. The trial court relied on circumstantial evidence: the deceased was last seen with the appellant, silver ornaments allegedly lent to her were recovered from the appell…

The CBI prosecuted Vikram Doshi and others for fraud involving bank loans, forged letters of credit, and diversion of funds to fictitious companies, alleging offences under IPC sections 420, 406 and others. The bank later settled the civil dispute, paid a sum and issued a "no due certificate", after which the Bombay Hi…

The deceased Harpal Kaur was burnt to death in her matrimonial home within months of her marriage. Her father and a panchayat member found her body and reported the incident, leading to the arrest of her husband, his parents (Sri Chand and Darshan Kaur) and brother. The trial court convicted all four under Sections 304…

The appellant Kaini Rajan was convicted under Section 376 IPC for raping PW2, who alleged that he forcibly took her to a roadside location early in the morning and threatened her with a promise of marriage. PW2 later became pregnant, and the FIR was lodged ten months after the alleged incident. The trial court and High…

Nagoor Pichai @ Badusha was convicted under IPC s.302 for murdering his paternal uncle and sentenced to life imprisonment. He was 19 years 8 months old at the time of the offence and 22 years 9 months old at conviction. He applied for bail, contending that the Tamil Nadu Borstal Schools Act, 1925 should have been appli…

The appellants Jagat Rai, Deepak Rai and Bachcha Babu Rai were convicted for the pre‑meditated murder of an informant, his wife and five children by locking them in a house and setting it ablaze, motivated by the informant's refusal to withdraw an FIR. The trial court sentenced all three to death, a decision affirmed b…

Balaji Gunthu Dhule was convicted under IPC sections 302 and 34 for the death of Ranga Rao during a quarrel, based primarily on the testimony of several eye‑witnesses. The High Court upheld the conviction relying chiefly on PW‑10’s testimony and the appellant’s own statement under CrPC section 313, inferring that PW‑10…

The case involved the murder of Jayalakshmi, who was set on fire in a house she shared with her husband Pudhu Raja (A-1) and his mother (A-2). The prosecution alleged that the accused killed her to extort dowry, invoking Sections 302 r/w 34, 304(b) and 201 of the IPC, while the trial court acquitted them citing contrad…

Fifteen persons were charged with the murder of Shankar Satnami. The sole eye‑witness, the victim's wife (PW‑9), was illiterate and her testimony was found to contain contradictions and improvements. The police recorded only a "Dehati Nalish" instead of a formal FIR, failed to send a copy of the FIR to the magistrate a…

The appellant, D.M. Nagajara, a habitual offender involved in multiple serious crimes, was detained under Section 3 of the Karnataka Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Bootleggers, Drug-Offenders, Gamblers, Goondas, Immoral Traffic Offenders and Slum-Grabbers Act, 1985. He challenged the detention order, arguing tha…

The Supreme Court examined the murder of Kailash (Killu) on 5 March 1996, for which Rakesh, Rajesh and Dinesh were convicted under Section 302 IPC. The appellants challenged the conviction on two grounds: that the eye‑witness testimony of the victim’s nephew (PW‑11) conflicted with the post‑mortem estimate of time of d…

Pramod Kumar Saxena, an under‑trial prisoner detained since August 1998 for alleged fraud and other offences in 48 cases across six states, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking release on bail, arguing that his prolonged detention violated his fundamental rights. The State argued that the offences were non‑ba…

The appellant Daulatram was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC and the SC/ST (Atrocities) Act, while a co-accused was acquitted. The prosecution relied on the testimony of two relatives of the deceased (PW‑3 and PW‑5) as eye‑witnesses. The appellant challenged the conviction on the ground that the relatives were…

The trial court acquitted Sujay Mangesh Poyarekar of offences under Sections 307 and 504 IPC, holding that the prosecution failed to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt. The State of Maharashtra filed an application under Section 378(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure for leave to appeal the acquittal, which the H…

An 18‑year‑old girl, Anita, was allegedly lured by the accused into his house and raped. The trial court convicted the accused under Section 376 read with Section 511 of the IPC, a decision affirmed in part by the High Court. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined the medical evidence and found no injuries, no semen, an…

The appellant, a senior officer of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), was dismissed by the General Manager under clause (vi) of Standing Order 20 after an incident at the refinery hospital where he was alleged to have led a mob and assaulted the Chief Medical Officer. The dismissal was effected without a disciplinary enquir…

M. Narayandas, the owner of a plot of land, filed a suit for permanent injunction after his sister's family attempted to transfer the land based on documents he alleged were forged. He lodged a criminal complaint alleging forgery, leading to an FIR under IPC sections 468, 470, 471 and 120B. The Karnataka High Court, in…

The appellant Rajinder Prasad filed applications before a Judicial Magistrate to add offence under Section 395 IPC and to implead four additional accused. The magistrate, invoking Chapter XIV of the Cr.P.C., allowed the applications and committed the case to the Sessions Court, which framed charges including Section 39…

Ashok Kumar and Prem Kanwar, who were in a long‑standing extramarital relationship, plotted to murder Prem's husband Mahabir Singh so they could live together. They travelled to Delhi, booked adjacent rooms in Hotel Eagle, and Mahabir was later found dead in Prem's room, having been struck on the head with a stone. The…

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 Supreme Court examined three sets of appeals arising from a bus‑driver case, a food‑exporter case, and several petitions seeking expunction of adverse judicial remarks. In the bus‑driver appeal, the Court held that the High Court had erred in overturning the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s acquittal because the evidenc…

The petitioners, five accused including Simranjit Singh Mann, were arrested near the Indo‑Nepal border and charged with offences under the Indian Penal Code, while being detained under the National Security Act. They were granted bail under the proviso to Section 167(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code, but could not be …

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…

The appellant, Mohd. Anwar, was accused of robbing a motorist with two accomplices, using a knife and a revolver, and extorting Rs.30,000. The trial court convicted him of robbery with hurt and sentenced him to rigorous imprisonment, which the High Court reduced to two years under Section 394 IPC and added a conviction…

Tarun Jit Tejpal was charged under IPC sections 354, 354A, 354B, 341, 342, 376(2)(f) and 376(2)(k) for alleged sexual offences. After the charge‑sheet was filed, the trial court framed charges under CrPC ss.227/228. The appellant sought discharge on the ground that the informant and the investigating officer were the s…

The Supreme Court upheld the conviction of cinema owners Sushil Ansal and Gopal Ansal for negligence that caused the death of 59 persons in the Uphaar cinema fire, finding them guilty under IPC sections 304A, 337, 338 read with 36. The Court affirmed a sentence of two years' rigorous imprisonment for each accused. Howe…

The Supreme Court examined the sentencing of A‑15 Harsarup Panwar, the cinema owner held responsible for the 1997 Uphaar fire that killed 59 people. The Court affirmed his conviction under IPC sections 304A, 337, 338 and 36. It imposed one year of rigorous imprisonment but, considering his advanced age and ill health, …

The case arose from a heated altercation in which the appellant, Sakharam, struck the head of PW‑2 (Santu) with a lathi, causing two lacerated wounds and a fracture of the frontal bone as evidenced by X‑ray. The trial court convicted Sakharam under Sections 302 and 307 IPC; the High Court set aside the murder convictio…

The appellant, Venkatesan, was tried for offences under Sections 498A, 304B and 302 IPC, alleged to have harassed his wife for dowry and burnt her to death. The trial court acquitted him, but the Madras High Court, on revision filed by the deceased's mother, set aside the acquittal and ordered a fresh trial, finding fl…

The appellant, Ram Kumar, applied for the post of police constable in Uttar Pradesh and affirmed in his recruitment affidavit that no criminal case was pending against him. A criminal case (Cr. No. 275/2001) had earlier been registered against him but he was acquitted by the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate on 18 J…

The employee, Nanda Kishore Roy, complained that his employer had wrongfully deducted Rs.1,640 per month as income tax and failed to deposit it, leading a magistrate to issue summons under sections 406/1208 IPC. The employer argued that the deductions were mandated by the Income Tax Act and that the complaint was essen…

The case arose from a violent incident during the 1995 Mandal elections in Gadiparthivaripalem, where the candidate Soodidela Satyanarayana Reddy was murdered by a group of about twenty accused armed with stones, knives and axes. The trial court acquitted all accused, deeming the two eye‑witnesses (the victim's nephew …

The State of Karnataka appealed against the Karnataka High Court's acquittal of four accused who had been convicted by a Sessions Court for murder and related offences under Sections 304 Part II, 149, 324, 148 and 143 of the IPC. The High Court set aside the conviction on the sole ground that the investigating officer …

Standard Chartered Bank sued Canbank Mutual Fund (CMF) for a refund of securities transactions. CMF's written statement, verified by its employee S.R. RamaraJ, claimed the transactions were squared off, a position later contested by the Special Court which held RamaraJ in contempt for allegedly making a false defence a…

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 …

Sat Pal alias Sadhu, convicted under Section 302 IPC and sentenced to life imprisonment in 1978, filed a writ petition claiming his continued detention was illegal because he had served more than 14 years (including remission) and thus his sentence should be deemed commuted under Section 55 of the IPC or Section 433(b)…

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…

Teesta Atul Setalvad was arrested in June 2022 for alleged offences under Sections 468, 469, 471, 194, 211, 218 and 120B of the IPC, relating to alleged influence over false affidavits concerning documents from 2002‑2012. After being denied bail by the trial court and the High Court, the Supreme Court granted her inter…

The appellants were convicted of several murders in a single trial and were sentenced to multiple life imprisonments, each directed to run consecutively, along with term sentences. They challenged the validity of consecutive life sentences under Section 31 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). The Supreme Court examin…

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 complainants, partners of Rati Woolen Mills, alleged that cheques issued by Munish Jain in his capacity as director of A.T. Overseas Ltd., a sister concern of Shree Nath Spinners Pvt. Ltd., were given for payment of goods supplied to Shree Nath Spinners. The cheques were dishonoured and the accused were charged und…

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 appellant, Mohammed Saleem, was tried for assault with a knife that caused injuries to the complainant, and was charged under IPC Section 324, TADA Section 3(1), and the Bombay Police Act Section 135(1). The trial court acquitted him of the Bombay Police Act charge, but convicted him under IPC 324 and TADA 3(1). On…

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, a director of Aatash Norcontrol Limited (ANL), was arrested in connection with alleged financial irregularities in a Build‑Own‑Operate‑Transfer project for a Vessel Traffic and Port Management System (VTPMS) in the Gulf of Khambhat. While the dispute over capital costs was referred to arbitration, the Gu…

The appellant Jagtar Singh and his brother were involved in a land dispute with Harbans Singh (PW‑3). On 20 September 1996, after a revenue officer ruled in favour of PW‑3, the appellant assaulted PW‑3’s uncle Surinder Singh, striking him on the head, causing unconsciousness and later death due to shock and haemorrhage…