Indian Penal Code, 1860

The accused, a school teacher, was alleged to have sexually assaulted a student (PW‑1) and outraged the modesty of several other girls, and also threatened the victim. The trial court convicted him under IPC sections 376, 354 and 506. The High Court set aside the conviction, acquitting him on the ground of an inordinat…

The State of Punjab charged four accused with rape, kidnapping and related offences under IPC sections 376, 366, 363 and 308, relying primarily on two dying declarations of the victim, Kumari Poonam, and the statements of her brother and friend. Both eye‑witnesses later withdrew their earlier statements, and the trial …

The appellants Suraj Pal, Nathi and Puran were convicted under IPC sections 395, 396, 397 and 412 for a dacoity that resulted in two murders. The prosecution sought a test identification parade, but the accused voluntarily refused to appear, claiming they had already been shown to the witnesses. The trial and High Cour…

Gopinath Ghosh was convicted by a Sessions Court and sentenced to life imprisonment for murder under IPC sections 302 and 34. He later contended before the Supreme Court that he was a "child" under the West Bengal Children Act, 1959, being only 16‑17 years old at the time of the offence. The Court ordered a medical age…

Shildagouda Ningappa Ghandavar was convicted of murdering a young boy during a land dispute. Both the Sessions Court and the High Court sentenced him to death, providing special reasons. The appellant appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing that the death penalty was excessive. The Court examined the nature of the crime…

The appellant was convicted for the murder of a shepherd, Ramesh, and for concealing the body under sections 302 and 201 of the IPC, based largely on an alleged confessional statement and the recovery of three sheep allegedly sold by the appellant. The prosecution could not positively identify the recovered sheep as th…

The Supreme Court examined whether Exception 2 to Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code, which exempts a husband from rape liability when his wife is aged 15‑18, violates the Constitution and conflicts with the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The Court held that the exemption creates an arbitrar…

The case involved the murder of Tej Bahadur, who was shot dead while traveling on a motorcycle; seven persons were initially charged under Sections 302, 149 and 148 of the IPC. The trial court convicted all seven, but the High Court later acquitted three while upholding the conviction of the remaining four appellants. …

The petitioners filed a writ petition under Articles 32 and 21 of the Constitution seeking a Supreme Court order directing the Union of India to constitute a special committee, headed by a retired Supreme Court judge, to re‑investigate all bomb‑blast cases since 2002, alleging that innocent Muslim youths were being fal…

The case involved the murder of Kamini Verma and her uncle Rakesh Kumar by accused Dheeraj Verma and Deepak Verma, who allegedly fired a double‑barrel gun after a rejected marriage proposal. The prosecution relied on the victim’s dying declaration, corroborated by three eyewitnesses, and on evidence that the second acc…

The appellant, Trimukh Maroti Kirkan, was married to Revata, who repeatedly complained of physical abuse and denial of food because her parents could not meet a dowry demand of Rs.25,000. Revata died under circumstances initially reported as a snake bite, but a post‑mortem revealed death by asphyxiation due to strangul…

The petitioners, sons of murder victims, challenged the Governor of Andhra Pradesh’s order granting remission of the unserved portion of a ten‑year rigorous imprisonment sentence imposed on respondent No.2 for murder. They argued that the remission was granted on irrelevant and extraneous material, without proper appli…

The appellant alleged that the respondents forged documents to withdraw large sums from a bank, invoking several sections of the Indian Penal Code. A magistrate took cognizance and issued process, but the respondents filed a petition under Section 482 of the CrPC seeking to quash the criminal proceedings, arguing that …

Sunil Bajaj was married to Suman in 1991 and she died by self‑immolation in 1995, within seven years of marriage. The State alleged that Bajaj demanded a dowry of Rs 20,000, subjected her to cruelty and harassment, and thereby caused a "dowry death" under Section 304‑B of the Indian Penal Code. The trial court convicte…

The appellants were charged under the Dowry Prohibition Act and Section 498‑A IPC for dowry harassment. After the prosecution evidence was closed, the trial court dispensed with personal examination of two accused under Section 313 CrPC and acquitted them. The High Court set aside the acquittal, directing personal exam…

The petition challenged the 1994 allotment of 52 shops/stalls by the then Minister of Urban Development, Smt. Shiela Kaul, alleging that the allotments were made arbitrarily to her relatives, friends and staff in violation of the prescribed tender policy. The CBI report confirmed that the minister bypassed the policy a…

The appellant had earlier faced a criminal complaint in 1966 under Section 500 IPC, which was settled by an apology and compromise. In 1990 a fresh complaint was lodged alleging that the appellant, by claiming his book was based on a manuscript of King Bhagyachandra, had forged a false document, thereby cheating the pu…

Tulsi Ram, a vendor of edible oil, was charged under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act after a public analyst found cottonseed oil mixed in his soybean oil. The analyst's report was forwarded to him 18 days after the prosecution was instituted, contrary to Rule 9A which requires the report to be sent "immediately…

The appellant, a 17‑year‑old who was assaulted during communal riots in Akola on 13 May 2023, claimed that the police failed to register a First Information Report (FIR) despite his written complaint and hospital statement. He alleged that the assailants also murdered a man mistakenly identified as a Muslim, and that h…

Religare Finvest Ltd. sued the erstwhile Lakshmi Vilas Bank (LVB) for alleged misappropriation of fixed deposits used as security for loans, leading to a criminal complaint and FIR under IPC sections 409 and 120B. LVB was placed under moratorium by the RBI and subsequently amalgamated into DBS Bank India Ltd. under a s…

The appellant Sukhjit Singh was convicted under Section 364 IPC for allegedly abducting his wife Kuljit Kaur and sentenced to ten years' rigorous imprisonment. The trial court and the High Court upheld the conviction, relying mainly on evidence establishing the marital relationship, while ignoring the mother’s testimon…

The Supreme Court examined an appeal by Shanmugam and others challenging their conviction for murder under Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC. The appellants argued that (i) the first information report (FIR) was lodged several hours after the incident without a satisfactory explanation, (ii) the sole eye‑witness, PW…

In 1993 Ranjit Singh, then about 17 years old, was convicted of murder and related offences under the IPC and sentenced to life imprisonment. He appealed, contending that he was a juvenile under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 and that Section 20 of that Act should apply to his pending …

The appellant was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC for stabbing the deceased, Alimat alias Aliul Zaman, on 29 September 1990 in Jindighi, Murshidabad. The prosecution relied on the testimony of two eye‑witnesses who saw the appellant stab the victim, while the defence argued that the FIR was lodged after a del…

Six accused, including Ghanshyam Singh, assaulted a group of persons and Ghanshyam fired a gun, causing the death of Samam Singh. The trial court convicted all under sections 302, 307, 148, 149 etc. The Madhya Pradesh High Court held that Ghanshyam's act fell under Exception 4 to Section 300 IPC, thereby constituting c…

The appellants were convicted by a Designated Court for offences under the IPC, TADA and the Arms Act based largely on two police witnesses and confessional statements recorded under Section 15 of the TADA Act after a half‑hour "cooling period". Independent village witnesses were hostile and did not corroborate the pro…

Nine persons were charged with murder and related offences arising from a 1989 assault in Singpur, Gujarat. The appellant, Jayantibhai Bhenkarbhai, claimed an alibi, asserting he was in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar attending legal proceedings on the day of the incident. The trial and High Courts rejected his alibi, convic…

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) complained that a candidate had used unfair means in the Indian Forest Service examination and asked the CBI to investigate. The CBI filed a closure report under Section 173 of the CrPC, but failed to give the UPSC proper notice of its right to object. The Metropolitan Magistr…

The accused Rajendra Jawanmal Gandhi was charged with raping an eight‑year‑old girl. The trial court convicted him under Section 376 IPC and sentenced him to seven years' rigorous imprisonment. The Bombay High Court set aside the rape conviction, finding only an attempt and convicting him under Section 354 IPC, also re…

Parusuraman and six others were charged with the murder of Jawahar, facing three sets of charges including murder, rioting and unlawful assembly. The trial court acquitted all accused, but the Tamil Nadu High Court convicted three of them (A1‑A3) under Section 304 Part I read with Section 34, sentencing them to five ye…

Seven accused were tried for rioting, murder and related offences arising from the killing of Madda Lakshamandas. The trial court convicted six under Sections 148 and 302 read with Section 149 of the IPC; the high court later acquitted four of them, retaining convictions of three (A‑1 to A‑3) on the basis that they for…

Ashok Kumar was charged with murdering his sister‑in‑law, Asha Rani, by burning her to death in a dowry‑related dispute. The trial court acquitted him, finding no motive, contradictions in medical testimony, and a defective investigation. The Rajasthan High Court, invoking Sections 378 and 386 of the CrPC, set aside th…

The case involved a public servant (A‑1) and a contractor (A‑2) who were charged with conspiracy to cheat the Government by preparing inflated bills, false muster rolls and false statements for a canal‑deepening project. The prosecution alleged that the number of labourers and the work done were grossly exaggerated, re…

The appellant, an Assistant Superintendent of Jail, was alleged to have facilitated a private vehicle ride for two police constables escorting an undertrial prisoner, during which two unidentified youths attacked the constables with red chilli powder, a knife and a kirpan, attempting to free the prisoner. The prosecuti…

The case concerned the convictions of Manoj Kumar Soni under Section 411 IPC for dishonestly receiving stolen property and Kallu (Habib) under Section 120‑B IPC for criminal conspiracy in a robbery of a complainant’s house. Both convictions were based primarily on disclosure statements made by the accused and co‑accuse…

Ram Niwas was convicted by the Sessions Court and the High Court for the murder of Dalip Singh under Sections 302 and 201 IPC, based primarily on an alleged extra‑judicial confession to two witnesses and the recovery of ash from his memorandum. The defence argued that the dead body could not be positively identified, t…

The appellants, Wyeth Limited and others, challenged an FIR and charge‑sheet that were registered on the basis of a private complaint filed by the second respondent, a former carrying and forwarding agent. The complaint alleged commercial disputes over a warehousing agreement but, on a careful reading, did not disclose…

The appellant, a civil engineer, invested money with the respondents based on a profit‑sharing agreement, but the respondents failed to repay and issued a cheque that later bounced. The appellant filed a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, and subsequently the respondents sought to quash the …

The victim, Saraswati Guchhait, was allegedly raped by Purnendu Kumar Patra and later, while the rape case was pending, Patra and Rabin Jana threw acid on her. She was taken to a hospital, where she could not file a police complaint herself; a neighbour (PW‑7) wrote her statement and mailed it, resulting in a 23‑day de…

The appellant, having given a loan of Rs.60 lakh, received three cheques from the respondent which were dishonoured by stop‑payment. He issued a handwritten notice on 27 April 2012 and a formal legal notice on 24 May 2012 demanding payment, and subsequently filed a criminal complaint under Sections 138, 141, 142 of the…

The appellant Babu was charged under IPC s.302 for allegedly murdering his wife by giving her sodium cyanide disguised as an ayurvedic contraceptive. The trial court acquitted him due to lack of direct evidence and doubts about the prosecution's version, but the Kerala High Court reversed the acquittal and convicted hi…

The accused Vikas Chaudhary and co‑accused abducted a young man, killed him and thereafter made repeated ransom calls to the victim's parents. The petitioner argued that the offence under IPC s.364A was completed at the time of abduction and that he was a juvenile when the offence was committed, invoking the Juvenile J…

Neelam Kumari married Anil Kumar in 1998 and later demanded additional dowry amounts, first Rs.20,000 in 2000 and subsequently Rs.50,000 in 2003. The latter demand was made solely by the husband shortly before Neelam's death, and the parents‑in‑law (Rakesh Chand and Pushpa Devi) were accused of involvement under Sectio…

The case concerns the murder of Harinder Kumar, who was shot during a dispute over brick‑kiln ownership. Rajinder Singh was convicted by the trial court under IPC s.302 and the Arms Act s.27, but the Punjab and Haryana High Court acquitted him, relying on a conflict between eyewitness testimony that a shotgun was used …

The case involved a land dispute in which the accused, including Salim, armed themselves and fired upon the complainant's party, resulting in the death of Abdul Gafar. The trial court convicted Salim under sections 302, 203/149, 307/149, 323/149, 325/149 IPC and the Arms Act, while other accused were convicted under va…

The deceased Sunita, married to Raj Kumar, was allegedly set on fire by her mother‑in‑law amid dowry disputes. While on her death‑bed she gave a dying declaration identifying her husband and his parents as the assailants; the statement was recorded by police and a magistrate. The trial court convicted all accused under…

The Supreme Court examined the murder of Sujatha, whose husband Babu was accused of strangling her after she rebuffed his sexual advances and subsequently dumping her body in a well. The trial court convicted Babu under Section 302 IPC and imposed death, but the Kerala High Court acquitted him, deeming the father's tes…

The State of Andhra Pradesh prosecuted twenty‑one accused for a night‑time raid on the house of Gankidi Mohan Reddy that resulted in his murder. The trial court convicted eleven of them under Sections 148, 302 read with 149 IPC and related offences; the High Court set aside the convictions of six accused under Sections…

The Supreme Court examined the appeal of Karnel Singh, convicted under Section 376 IPC for raping a female labourer, Panchbai, at a factory on 28 August 1987. The prosecution presented the victim's testimony, medical evidence of semen stains on her petticoat and in her vagina, and noted the absence of physical injuries…

Two employees of a nationalised bank and two account‑holders were charged with conspiracy, cheating, forgery and corruption for allegedly withdrawing Rs.54,600 on the basis of false credit entries. The High Court quashed the proceedings against one employee, holding that the FIR, taken at face value, did not disclose a…

The Supreme Court examined appeals by four accused (A‑1, A‑4 to A‑6) who were convicted for conspiring to wage war against the Government of India under IPC s.121A, along with offences under the Explosive Substances Act, 1908 and the Arms Act, 1959. The prosecution relied on recovered explosives, arms, inflammatory lit…

The appellants A1 and A3 were convicted under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC for the murder of a man in a liquor‑store queue, based primarily on the testimony of a single eye‑witness (PW3) and the prosecution’s claim of a common intention. Both the trial court and the Delhi High Court relied on an adverse …

The Supreme Court heard a suo moto contempt petition against Perry Kansagra, a Kenyan citizen of Indian origin who had obtained custody of his son Aditya through Indian courts based on undertakings to submit to the jurisdiction of Indian courts and to comply with court orders, including obtaining a "mirror order" from …

The State of West Bengal appealed against the Calcutta High Court’s order granting bail to Rakesh Singh, who was accused under Sections 21(b), 29 and 27A of the NDPS Act for allegedly financing the procurement of cocaine and planting it in a motorcar to frame two occupants. The Supreme Court examined the credibility of…

The State of Uttar Pradesh and the original informant appealed against a judgment of the Allahabad High Court that, invoking Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code, quashed the criminal proceedings arising from FIRs (Cr. No. 260/2018 and 227/2019) alleging disappearance of trucks loaded with beer and offences under…

The appellant, Hajabhai Rajashibhai Odedara, together with his co‑accused Jagrutiben, conspired to kill members of Jagrutiben’s family to facilitate their marriage. They strangulated Jagrutiben’s mother Simbhiben and brother Mukesh, and attempted to kill another brother Rajdeep, who survived and became the sole eye‑wit…

The mother of two children filed a complaint alleging that her son Rahul murdered her daughter Kavita and son Gaurang. The trial court convicted Rahul under Section 302 IPC, sentencing him to life imprisonment. On appeal, the High Court acquitted him, holding that the prosecution failed to establish a complete chain of…

The appellants Amrik Singh and Subhash Chander were convicted of murder and robbery under IPC s.302 r/w s.34 and s.392 based primarily on the eye‑witness PW1’s identification of them in the courtroom and the recovery of Rs.1 lakh each from them. No Test Identification Parade (TIP) had been conducted, and the FIR did no…

The appellant Virendra was convicted for the murder of Main Babu, allegedly committed over a property dispute, along with co-accused Suresh; Baijnath, the third accused, died during trial. The prosecution's case hinged on the testimony of a star eyewitness, PW15, who claimed to have seen Suresh firing the weapon, and o…

The appellant, a constable of the CRPF, was dismissed after a disciplinary enquiry found him guilty of misconduct for carelessly handling his loaded 9 mm carbine, which discharged eight rounds and killed a fellow constable. The same incident led to a criminal trial under Section 304 IPC, from which the respondent was a…

Rekhaben, the wife of the accused, died from severe burn injuries and gave dying declarations to a police officer, an executive magistrate, and orally to her father. In the statements to the police and magistrate she identified an unknown outsider as the assailant and did not name her husband, whereas her father’s oral…

The State of West Bengal prosecuted eight accused for the murder of Archideb Bhattacharjee, alleging they demanded money, strangulated him, dismembered his body and disposed of it in gunny bags. The trial court sentenced all to death, which was reduced to life imprisonment by the High Court, except for the theft charge…

The State of Madhya Pradesh appealed against a High Court order that reduced the conviction of Imrat and others from attempt to murder (s.307 r/w s.34 IPC) to voluntarily causing grievous hurt (s.326 r/w s.34 IPC) and reduced their sentences. The facts involved a property dispute where the accused, armed with a lathi a…

The appellants entered the deceased's house at night, broke the door and assaulted the deceased and his family with lathis, resulting in the deceased's death. They claimed the right of private defence, arguing they were protecting their property from the deceased's alleged complaint. The trial court convicted them unde…

Mahila Vinod Kumari filed a rape complaint against two men, who were later acquitted when she recanted her statement during trial, claiming she had never been raped. The trial court found that she had deliberately fabricated false evidence and, under Section 344 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, sentenced her to…

Manjula Sinha filed a petition under Section 482 of the CrPC seeking quashing of an FIR registered under Sections 498A and 406 IPC. The Allahabad High Court dismissed the petition, directing that she not be arrested and imposing a maintenance condition. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined the scope of the High Court'…

The appellant Pappu was convicted for the death of Mal Singh, who died after a lathi blow to the head during a sudden quarrel at a marriage function. The appellant argued that the incident fell within Exception 4 of Section 300 IPC, which would reduce the offence to culpable homicide not amounting to murder (Section 30…

The State of Maharashtra appealed the acquittal of B.C. Raghani (A1), Subhash Bind (A5) and Shekhar Kadam (A6) in a contract‑killing case involving the murder of businessman Pradeep Jain. The prosecution’s case hinged on confessional statements of A5 and A6 recorded by a DCP under Section 15 of the Terrorist and Disrup…

The appellant, S. Gopal Reddy, was convicted under Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 for demanding dowry in connection with a proposed marriage. He appealed, arguing that a demand made during pre‑marriage negotiations does not fall within the statutory definition of "dowry" and that the prosecution’s evidenc…

The appellants Chand Khan and Shabbu were charged with murder, assault and related offences arising from a night‑time attack on Shah Alam and others on 26 May 1977. The trial court acquitted all nine accused, disbelieving the testimony of four eye‑witnesses, but the Allahabad High Court set aside the acquittal and conv…

This Constitution Bench judgment interprets the second proviso to Article 311(2) of the Constitution of India, which allows dismissal, removal, or reduction in rank of a civil servant without an inquiry in three exceptional circumstances: conviction on a criminal charge, when it is not reasonably practicable to hold an…

The appellants were convicted for the murder of Prabhunath and the assault of his son Moti Lal, based on the prosecution’s claim that they attacked the victims with firearms, an axe and lathis. The trial court and the High Court upheld convictions under sections 302, 307, 324, 147, 148 read with 149 of the IPC. On appe…

The appellants Nanhar and others were convicted for the murder of Vijay under Sections 302 and 149 of the IPC, primarily on the basis of a note recovered from the deceased's pocket that the trial court treated as a dying declaration, and on circumstantial evidence. The Supreme Court held that the prosecution failed to …

Four accused—Gurcharan Singh, Hardeep Singh, Harjinder Singh and Jaswinder Singh—attacked the deceased Amrik Singh with weapons, causing multiple injuries that led to his death. Gurcharan Singh exhorted the others; Hardeep and Harjinder delivered fatal blows to the head, while Jaswinder struck the arm. The trial court …

The appellants, who were family members, were charged under Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of the SC/ST Act and Section 506 read with Section 34 of the IPC for allegedly hurling caste‑based insults and threatening the complainant inside a residential house. The trial court framed charges, which the High Court upheld, but…

The appeal concerned an Inspector, Sanjay Dubey, who was found prima facie guilty of dereliction of duty for failing to ensure DNA testing in a sensitive case involving offences under the IPC, POCSO Act, SC/ST Act and IT Act. While the High Court, hearing a bail application under Section 439 CrPC, directed departmental…

Raj Kumar (also known as Suman) was convicted for murder and attempted murder arising from a 1995 incident, based solely on the testimony of PW‑5 that he was standing with a katta (handgun) near the gate of the crime scene. The trial court failed to put this material circumstance to the accused during his Section 313 e…

The State of Rajasthan recruited constables and the petitioner, Chetan Jeff, applied claiming no criminal antecedents, while a pending FIR under Sections 143, 341 and 336 IPC existed. The recruitment authority rejected his candidature for suppressing this material fact and making a false declaration. The petitioner cha…

The appellant alleged that the accused, with the help of an imposter, forged a Power of Attorney (PoA) to obtain a mortgage deed over her late mother’s property. The trial court convicted both accused under Section 465 IPC for forgery, a decision upheld by the Sessions Court. On appeal, the High Court set aside the con…

The appellant Kumar was convicted by the trial court and the Madurai High Court for murder (IPC s.302) and voluntarily causing hurt by a dangerous weapon (IPC s.324) after the death of Sakthivel during a scuffle that allegedly stemmed from a prior verbal spat. The prosecution relied on several eyewitnesses, many of who…

The Supreme Court examined the appeal of sixteen accused convicted under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) for a series of bomb blasts on Indian trains in December 1993. The Court held that Section 20A(1) of TADA makes prior approval of the District Superintendent of Police an absolute pre…

The State of Rajasthan appealed the acquittal of Sri Chand, who was charged with attempt to rape a 12‑year‑old girl and outraging her modesty. The trial court convicted him only under IPC s.354 and granted probation, while the High Court upheld that order. The Supreme Court held that the evidence did not prove the atte…

The accused Sandeep and Shashi Bhushan were apprehended by police after a girl, Jyoti, reported that they had assaulted her, poured acid on her and attempted to abort her foetus. The victim later died, and the trial court convicted both under Sections 302 and 316 IPC, sentencing them to death. The High Court confirmed …

The appellant, an Indian Air Force pilot, married the respondent at an Arya Samaj temple after being told she was a Hindu spinster. He later discovered she had previously converted to Islam, married a Muslim, had two children, and divorced, but claimed she had reconverted to Hinduism through Shudhikaran ceremonies befo…

The case stems from the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy, where the CBI filed charge sheets alleging offences under Sections 304, 324, 326, 429 and 35 IPC. The Sessions Court framed those charges, but the Supreme Court, in Keshub Mahindra v. State of M.P. (1996), quashed them and directed that only Section 304A IPC could be fra…

Amar Singh filed a writ petition under Article 32 alleging that his telephone conversations were intercepted by the Government of India and the Delhi administration at the behest of a political party, and sought an injunction and damages. The petition relied on annexes that were later shown to be forged and were obtain…

K.A. Abbas was convicted under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act for issuing a bounced cheque and was sentenced to one year imprisonment with a direction to pay Rs 5 lakhs compensation to the complainant under Section 357(3) of the CrPC, with a default imprisonment of two months for non‑payment. He paid par…

The Supreme Court upheld the conviction of three accused (A-1, A-2 and A-4) for cruelty to a woman under IPC s.498‑A read with s.34 and murder under s.302 read with s.34. The deceased, Renuka, was burned after the accused poured kerosene on her and set her alight. Her dying declaration was recorded by a taluk magistrat…

Jayendra Vishnu Thakur was charged under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) for the murder of Suresh Narsinh Dube. He was declared a proclaimed offender under Section 82 of the CrPC, later arrested several times, and the prosecution sought to record the testimony of ten witnesses in his abs…

The appellant, Nooruddin, was charged along with six others for offences including assault, grievous hurt and the death of Udaya Kumar. The trial court convicted him under Sections 143, 148, 341, 326, 302 read with Section 149 IPC, while acquitting the co‑accused on the ground that they were not named in the FIR. On ap…

The appellant Om Prakash was convicted of raping a married woman (the prosecutrix) in the veranda of a Zila Parishad near a court, after having come to the premises to help her husband obtain bail. The victim’s testimony, corroborated by an eye‑witness (her brother‑in‑law) and medical examination, led the trial court t…

The complainant, Umesh Kumar Singh, alleged that the appellants, Ram Biraji Devi and another, accepted part payment for a plot of land but later refused to transfer it, leading him to file a criminal complaint under IPC sections 406, 419, 420 and 120B. The Judicial Magistrate took cognizance of the offences, and the ap…

The Supreme Court examined the appeal of four accused convicted for the murder of Balmukund under Sections 302 read with 149 and 148 of the IPC. The prosecution relied on three eye‑witnesses who identified the accused despite the incident occurring at around 6 p.m., and on medical evidence showing axe‑type injuries. Th…

The managing director of Shubh Shanti Services Ltd. was allotted a company flat during his employment; after his death his widow and daughter continued to occupy it. The company served notice to vacate, but the respondents claimed they were allowed to stay until another flat was provided, based on an oral assurance fro…

Hardeo Singh, a contractor, obtained overdraft facilities totalling Rs 21.5 lakh from the Birpur branch of Central Bank of India, facilities that were beyond the authorised limit of the branch manager, S.K. Roy, who was alleged to habitually receive illegal gratification from a third party. Although the FIR named only …

The case concerns the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi by a human bomb at Sriperumbudur on May 21, 1991, orchestrated by the LTTE. The Supreme Court heard appeals from 26 accused convicted by a Designated Court under TADA and IPC, along with a death reference. The Court held that the prosecuti…

Jai Kumar was convicted for the brutal murder of his pregnant sister‑in‑law and his eight‑year‑old niece, whom he killed after attempting to rape the former and then dismembering and displaying the bodies. The Sessions Court sentenced him to death under IPC 302 (with a concurrent seven‑year term under IPC 201), a sente…

A supervisor of the Karnataka Electricity Board discovered that the respondent had tampered with the electric meter to avoid recording consumption and lodged a complaint with the police. The trial magistrate acquitted the respondent, holding that the supervisor was not authorized under section 50 of the Indian Electric…

The FIR dated 01.12.2010 named five persons as perpetrators of a lathi‑blow assault that resulted in the death of Bhawani Singh. Although the charge‑sheet initially named only two accused, the remaining three were later added and tried separately under Section 319 Cr.P.C. The High Court acquitted the respondent Vijendr…

The appellant, Jeetu Khatik, was convicted by a trial court for kidnapping a nine‑year‑old girl and outraging her modesty, under IPC sections 363 and 354 and POCSO Act section 8, and was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment to run concurrently. He applied for suspension of the execution of his sentence during the pen…

The appellants were convicted of multiple murders and sentenced to death. The trial court recorded the statements of twelve prosecution witnesses without the accused being present, violating Section 273 of the CrPC. The High Court set aside the conviction and ordered a de novo examination of those witnesses in the pres…

The deceased was killed when a tractor, driven rashly by its owner, struck him as a pedestrian on a footpath. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal held both the tractor's owner and the insurer jointly and severally liable for compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and awarded Rs.4,31,000 plus interest. The insu…

The accused Roopendra Singh was acquitted of offences under Sections 342, 376(2)(b) and 506 IPC. The victim, the widow of the deceased, filed a criminal appeal under Section 372 of the CrPC, which the Gauhati High Court admitted without requiring leave under Section 378(3). The State challenged this, citing the Supreme…

The respondent Ramanand was charged with the deaths of his wife Anita and daughter Ekta, alleged to be caused by strangulation with the bodies later set on fire. Post‑mortem reports established that death resulted from asphyxia due to strangulation and that the burns were post‑mortem, contradicting the initial claim of…

The case concerned a bomb blast on a railway bridge in Tamil Nadu in 1992. The prosecution relied primarily on a confessional statement recorded under Section 15 of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) by A1‑Senthilkumar, which he later retracted, and on the testimony of a hostile witness, PW…

The appellant, Dharam Deo Yadav, was convicted for the murder of a New Zealand tourist, Diana Clare Routley, based largely on circumstantial evidence, including eyewitnesses who saw the accused with the victim, the accused's confession leading police to a skeleton recovered from his house, and DNA testing that matched …

The State of Rajasthan appealed against the Rajasthan High Court’s judgment that acquitted two accused (Hemant Kumar and Manoj Kumar) and convicted Raju (Raj Kumar) for the death of Anirudh Mishra arising out of a property dispute. The accused claimed the right of private defence. The Supreme Court examined whether the…

Four accused were convicted for kidnapping and raping a girl who was 13 years and 9 months old at the time of the offence. The appellant, Lillu @ Rajesh, challenged the conviction on the ground that the victim was older, that her statement was uncorroborated, and that the two‑finger test and alleged habitual sexual act…

The appellant was convicted under Sections 302 and 376 of the Indian Penal Code for the rape and murder of a young woman named Devi. The prosecution's case was built on circumstantial evidence, including the appellant's presence at the crime scene, his flight from the village, medical findings of sexual intercourse and…

The Supreme Court examined a gang‑rape and murder case where an FIR dated 25‑05‑2000 led to the conviction of six accused under sections 302, 376(2)(g), 201, 404 and 506 IPC. The trial court and the Punjab‑Haryana High Court relied heavily on the testimonies of witnesses PW‑8, PW‑9 and PW‑7, the latter providing an ext…

The appellants, teachers including Mohan Lal, were convicted for gang rape and kidnapping of a minor student under Sections 376(2)(g) and 366 IPC and sentenced to ten years' rigorous imprisonment. The Supreme Court examined whether the fiduciary relationship between teachers and a student attracted Section 376(2)(b) an…

Ram Deo Prasad was convicted under IPC sections 376 and 302 for raping and causing the death of his 4‑year‑old daughter, Laila Khatoon. The prosecution relied on witness statements, a post‑mortem report and the fact that the accused was seen carrying the child after the alleged abuse. The Court held that the first part…

Kulvinder Singh and Jasvinder Singh were convicted of murder under IPC s.302 read with s.34 for the killing of Amardeep. The prosecution relied on a chain of circumstantial evidence: a motive arising from a prior quarrel, the accused’s presence near the victim before the crime, witnesses hearing shrieks and seeing the …

The case arose from two FIRs (11/97 and 12/97) lodged on 28‑29 April 1997 concerning a violent incident in which a man named Suresh Yadav died and several others were injured. Eleven accused were charged under IPC sections 302, 324 and 149 and were convicted by the trial court, a decision affirmed by the High Court. On…

The appellant, B.R. Surendranath Singh, a holder of a mining lease in Karnataka, alleged that about one lakh tonnes of iron ore found on his lease area had been illegally dumped by third parties and sought to prevent the Department of Mines and Geology from auctioning the ore. The Department seized the ore, identified …

The appellant-wife alleged that her husband and in‑laws subjected her to dowry‑related cruelty and forced her to leave the matrimonial home in Ranchi and return to her parental home in Gaya. She filed an FIR in Gaya under IPC sections 498A, 406 r/w 34 and Dowry Prohibition Act sections 3 and 4. The High Court quashed t…

The Supreme Court examined two appeals arising from convictions for robbery and murder under Sections 394/34 and 302/34 IPC. The key issue was whether the refusal of the accused to participate in a test identification parade (TIP) and the fact that the accused had already been shown to the eyewitness rendered the ident…

In 1984 a communal riot in Calcutta led to the murder of two police officers. Four persons were initially sentenced to death, but on retrial only Lokeman Shah and Nasim @ Naso were convicted; the High Court altered Shah's sentence to life imprisonment and upheld Naso's death sentence. Both appellants challenged their c…

The State prosecuted Babu Ram for the murder of his parents and brother, relying on circumstantial evidence such as his own statements, recovery of spades and a blood‑stained cloth, and his pointing to the burial site. The trial court convicted him and imposed the death penalty, but the Allahabad High Court acquitted h…

On 6 March 1977, the deceased Sukhuwa and his relatives were returning from a festival when the accused, armed with lathis, suddenly attacked him on the head and other vital parts, causing injuries that led to his death. The trial court convicted the accused under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Co…

Eight accused were convicted for the pre‑meditated murder of six members of a single family in Baghora village, Bihar, in May 1987, an incident that also involved arson and the killing of 26 persons in total. The conviction was based solely on the testimony of a nine‑year‑old child witness who initially identified only…

The case arose from the 1984 Delhi riots in which a mob killed Himmat Singh and Wazir Singh. The trial court convicted three accused, Tribhuvan Nath, Raju and Sita Ram, under IPC sections 302 and 149, among others, based on eyewitness testimony that they participated in the murderous mob. The Delhi High Court acquitted…

N. Patnaik, a mine licensee, was a prosecution witness in a case where the senior mining officer was convicted for accepting a bribe under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947. The Orissa High Court set aside the conviction but harshly described Patnaik and the manager as bribe‑givers and accomplices, even suggesting…

The Supreme Court examined the conviction of V.C. Shukla and Sanjay Gandhi for alleged conspiracy to destroy the film "Kissa Kursi Ka" under various sections of the Indian Penal Code. The Court held that the Special Courts Act, 1979 – which created special courts for offences by persons holding high public or political…

Rajkumar Yadav applied for the post of constable (driver) in the Madhya Pradesh Police but was rejected by the screening committee because he had been involved in offences of kidnapping, abduction and rape of a minor girl, and his acquittal by the trial court was only on the basis of benefit of doubt, not an honourable…

The appellant, Shahid Ali, fired a country-made pistol during a celebratory firing at a marriage ceremony on 17 March 2016, striking the deceased Ishfaq Ali in the neck and causing his immediate death. The trial court and the High Court convicted him under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for murder, along wi…

The case arose from a land dispute in Perambalur district where the deceased, Michaelraj, was attacked with deadly weapons by the appellant and others on 10 December 1997. The sole eye‑witness, PW‑3, identified the accused and the trial court convicted them under sections 148, 149, 302 and 341 IPC. The Madras High Cour…

The case concerns the murder of Manjunath, a sales officer of Indian Oil Corporation, who was killed after inspecting the petrol pump owned by Pawan Kumar (Monu Mittal). The prosecution relied heavily on confessional statements made by accused Nos. 4 and 7 to police officers, as well as a series of circumstantial evide…

The appellant, Ashok, was convicted for the murder of his wife and two daughters based on the "last seen together" doctrine, with the trial court shifting the burden of proof to him under Section 106 of the Evidence Act. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, a purported motive of obtaining Rs.2 lakh from t…

The husband (appellant) was convicted by the Karnataka High Court for dowry death (IPC s.304B), cruelty (IPC s.498A) and offences under the Dowry Prohibition Act after his wife committed suicide, allegedly due to his demand for a further Rs 10,000. The Supreme Court held that the Rs 10,000 demand was for repayment of a…

The deceased husband was attacked and killed by his wife's father and four brothers after a marital dispute. The prosecution proved that the three younger brothers (accused 3, 4 and 5) entered the house, held the victim and, with the fifth brother delivering a fatal jambia blow, caused his death. The issue before the S…

Gambhirsinh R. Dekare, a Taluka Mamlatdar, complained that the Gujarati daily "Sandesh" published a defamatory news item alleging his illicit relationship with a doctor's wife. The complaint specifically alleged that the Editor (Falgunbhai Patel) and the Resident Editor (Navinbhai Chauhan) deliberately published the st…

In 1981, Kishore Bhagat was shot dead after a series of altercations involving several accused. Akaloo Ahir, the appellant, fired a shot that missed the victim, while another co-accused fired the fatal shot. All were charged under Sections 302, 307 and 34 of the IPC and Section 27 of the Arms Act. The Supreme Court exa…

The appellant, Rathnaiah, was convicted by a trial court for rape under Section 376 IPC and for offences under Sections 324 read with 34 and 342 read with 34, receiving a seven‑year rigorous imprisonment for the rape and shorter terms for the other offences. On appeal, the Karnataka High Court affirmed his conviction b…

The appellant filed a probate suit seeking probate of a will, which the respondents alleged was forged and filed a criminal complaint under various IPC sections. The trial court dismissed the complaint invoking the bar under Section 195(1)(b)(ii) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). On revision, the Sessions Court…

The State of Maharashtra appealed the Bombay High Court’s order quashing the charge of rape against spiritual teacher Priya Sharan Maharaj and others. The High Court had discharged the accused on the basis that the accused was a saintly man and that the victims’ delayed complaints and lack of external injuries rendered…

The respondents, Laxmi Brahman and Naval Garg, were arrested for murder (IPC s.302) and surrendered before a magistrate on 2 November 1974. The investigating officer failed to file the charge‑sheet within the 60‑day limit prescribed by the then Section 167(2) of the Cr.P.C., and the respondents did not apply for bail u…

Earabhadrappa, alias Krishnappa, was employed as a domestic servant in Karnataka and on the night of 21-22 March 1979 strangulated his employer's wife, Bachamma, and robbed her of gold ornaments and silk sarees. He absconded and was apprehended a year later, after which he made a statement that led police to recover th…

The case involved the murder and dacoity of village Pradhan Mauji Lal. The prosecution alleged that nine accused entered the house at night, assaulted the deceased and his family, and looted property. The key issues were whether the first information report (FIR) was ante‑timed and whether Section 157 of the CrPC requi…

The appellants, a husband and his in‑laws, sought to quash a FIR and charge‑sheet filed after the husband filed a divorce suit, alleging that the FIR was a retaliatory, vexatious measure. The FIR originally alleged rape under Section 376 IPC, but the charge‑sheet omitted that offence and no protest petition was filed a…

The appellants challenged the registration of FIR No.0092/2023 under the Uttar Pradesh Gangsters & Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 1986, alleging that the three predicate cases cited in the FIR were essentially civil property and monetary disputes. The High Court had dismissed the writ petition and allowed the…

Umesh Kumar Pahwa, a branch officer of Uttarakhand Gramin Bank, was accused of demanding a bribe from a borrower and reducing the loan amount from Rs.1,50,000 to Rs.75,000. A departmental inquiry found him guilty of ten charges and ordered his removal from service, which was upheld by the High Court. Pahwa challenged t…

The appellant Jaina Construction Company insured a Tata Aiwa truck with Oriental Insurance Company, which was stolen on 04‑11‑2007. The appellant lodged an FIR the next day, but informed the insurer of the theft only after five months, prompting the insurer to repudiate the claim on the ground of delayed notice under C…

The appellant, Khokan, got into a sudden quarrel with the deceased over money, pushed him down and stood on his abdomen, causing internal injuries. The victim died three days later in hospital from septicemia. The trial court and High Court convicted the appellant under Section 302 IPC (murder). The appeal before the S…

Two police officers, the in‑charge of Purighat Police Station and a senior inspector, mercilessly beat Kasinath Naik in the police station premises on 4‑5 May 1985, causing injuries that led to his death that night. The trial court convicted them under Sections 304(Part II), 324, 342, 323, 471 and related provisions; t…

The respondent, a member of the Khasi Scheduled Tribe, was charged with murder and concealment of dead body under Sections 302 and 201 of the IPC and was initially ordered to stand trial before the Sessions Court. He filed a petition seeking transfer of the case to the District Council Court of the Khasi Hills Autonomo…

The appellant, Tekan alias Tekram, was convicted under Section 376 IPC for raping a blind, illiterate girl after promising marriage. The trial and High Court upheld the conviction, finding the prosecution proved guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The appellant appealed, challenging both the conviction and the sentence of s…

The Supreme Court examined the death of Prema Devi, who died within five months of marriage with extensive burn injuries and traces of poison. The prosecution alleged that she was subjected to cruelty and harassment by her husband Bhim Singh and his brothers in connection with dowry demands, invoking Sections 304‑B of …

The appellant, Dasin Bai, was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC for setting the deceased, Raju Rajak, on fire after pouring kerosene on him. The prosecution relied on the victim's oral dying declaration recorded in hospital, which was corroborated by two eyewitnesses present at the time. The defence argued that…

The appellant, Sonu Gupta, alleged that a withdrawn dowry harassment complaint was tampered with and a photocopy was used to register FIR No.73/2002 against her husband and his relatives, facilitating their anticipatory bail. She filed a criminal complaint in 2010 claiming forgery of the FIR. The Judicial Magistrate, a…

The appellants, directors of a textile firm, were accused by a supplier (informant) of fraudulently transferring company assets and issuing post‑dated cheques that later bounced, leading to an FIR under Sections 420 and 120‑B IPC. The police concluded the matter was civil, but the magistrate rejected this view and took…

The appellant, Rajendra Singh, a tailor, was charged under s.302 IPC for murdering Kishan Singh Rana by repeatedly stabbing him with a pair of scissors after a dispute over unstitched cloth. The trial court acquitted him, citing discrepancies in the eye‑witness statements of Makhan Singh (PW‑2) and Deepa (PW‑3). The Hi…

Balbir Singh Bedi, a retired District Commander of the Punjab Home Guard, claimed he was eligible for substantive promotion to Battalion Commander under Rule 8 of the Punjab Home Guard (Class‑I) Rules, 1988, which mandates selection on a "seniority‑cum‑merit" basis. While his case was considered alongside other candida…

Satyavir Singh, armed with his brother's licensed double‑barrel gun, fired two shots at Dharam Prakash, the brother of an informant, injuring him. The trial court convicted Singh under Section 307 IPC and Section 27 of the Arms Act; the first appellate court acquitted him on the basis that the firing was accidental, re…

During a village election in April 1995, Gajadhar Singh and his associates created a disturbance. While two accused held the hand of polling agent Chandra Bhan Singh, Gajadhar fired a concealed country‑made pistol, killing the victim and injuring three others. The trial court convicted all seven accused under Sections …

The appellants were convicted for the murder of M.T. George and for concealing the offence, under Sections 304 Part II and 201 read with Section 34 of the IPC. They appealed the conviction and alternatively claimed that they were entitled to release on probation under Section 360 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973…

The State of Maharashtra appealed against a Nagpur Bench order of the Bombay High Court that granted bail to the accused Dhanendra Shriram Bhurle and others, who were charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, the Arms Act, 1959 and the Indian Penal Code. The High Court had concluded, without detaile…

The CBI filed a case under Sections 120B and 420 of the IPC and Sections 11, 12 and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act against M. Gopalakrishnan, then Executive Director, Chairman and Managing Director of Indian Bank. Gopalakrishnan sought to quash the proceedings under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure…

The respondents were convicted by the Sessions Court for culpable homicide under Sections 304 Part I and Part II of the IPC in connection with the murder of Venkatesha Gowda. The Karnataka High Court set aside these convictions in a brief, non‑reasoned order, without analysing the eye‑witness testimonies or the dying d…

The State of Punjab appealed the acquittal of partners of Jagdamba Rice Mills who were charged under Section 406 IPC for criminal breach of trust. The trial court and the High Court dismissed the case on the ground that the dispute was merely a civil breach of contract and that the arbitration award settled the matter.…

The appellant, a Head Constable, and a Sub‑Inspector were charged under Sections 323, 324 and 342 of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly beating and illegally detaining a complainant at a police station from 10 May to 13 May 1988. The trial court convicted them, but the first appellate court acquitted them, holding tha…

Kalawati w/o Devaji Dhote was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC based on the testimony of a child witness (the deceased's son) and the dying declaration of the victim, Babital. The High Court upheld the conviction and the appellant challenged the judgment before the Supreme Court, arguing that the child’s testi…

The appellant was convicted under Section 304 Part II of the Indian Penal Code for causing the death of Lakshmi during a sudden quarrel. The appellant appealed to the Madras High Court, which admitted the appeal but disposed of it without hearing because the appellant's counsel did not appear. The counsel explained tha…

The appellant, A1, was convicted of murder under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC for stabbing the deceased. The trial court acquitted him, citing an alleged delay in lodging the FIR and an unexplained injury on the accused. The Madras High Court set aside the acquittal, held that the FIR was lodged within a…

The appellant Rakesh was convicted under Section 302 IPC for the murder of Kailash and sentenced to life imprisonment. He appealed, contending that the evidence did not establish his guilt and that the incident occurred in a sudden quarrel, invoking Exception 4 to Section 300 IPC to reduce the charge. The Supreme Court…

The appellant, A-1, assaulted the victim PW-3 with a weapon, causing injuries that were classified as simple hurt. The trial court acquitted A-1, discarding the testimony of several eyewitnesses on the ground that they were friendly with the victim and deeming their evidence not cogent. On appeal, the Karnataka High Co…

The appellant, Raju Pandurang Mahale, lured the prosecutrix to the house of another accused by false pretence, locked the door from outside, supplied liquor and forced her to consume it, after which she was assaulted, forcibly disrobed and raped by another accused while nude photographs were taken. The trial court conv…

The accused, an employee of Western India Plywoods, was convicted by a Judicial Magistrate and affirmed by an Additional Sessions Judge for offences under IPC sections 408, 468 and 477A, involving misappropriation of empty barrels and forgery of documents. He filed a revision before the Kerala High Court, which set asi…

The complainant alleged that the accused had made a false complaint to a Treasury Officer, accusing him of being drunk and abusive, thereby invoking criminal defamation provisions. The magistrate, after directing an inquiry under Section 202 of the CrPC, issued summons against the accused. The Sessions Judge, in revisi…

The respondent, an Assistant Sub‑Inspector, was caught taking a bribe and was investigated and charge‑sheeted in a criminal trial. He challenged the framing of charges on the ground that the investigation violated Rule 16.38 of the Punjab Police Rules. The High Court held the rule to be mandatory and applicable to crim…

Dudh Nath Pandey was convicted of murder under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code for shooting his brother-in-law, Pappoo Kishore, after a dispute over his desire to marry Pappoo's sister. The trial and appellate courts upheld the conviction and imposed the death penalty. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined the rel…

The complainant, Karan Gambhir, filed a police complaint in Gautam Budh Nagar alleging that the promoters of three Delhi‑based companies had induced his firm to give short‑term loans which were later converted into equity. The FIR, registered on 29 July 2018, listed the accused companies and promoters with incomplete a…

In 2006 a married woman self‑immolated after allegedly being subjected to cruelty by her mother‑in‑law over jewelry, while her husband was abroad. A complaint under Sections 498A and 306 IPC led to the conviction of the mother‑in‑law, her husband, sister‑in‑law and father‑in‑law, with the mother‑in‑law receiving one ye…

The Supreme Court entertained a miscellaneous application seeking implementation of guidelines for recording evidence of vulnerable witnesses in criminal matters, following earlier pronouncements in Sakshi and Bandu @ Daulat. The Court examined the need for special centres to provide a barrier‑free environment for vuln…

The State of Madhya Pradesh appealed the High Court's judgment that set aside the convictions of Jogendra (husband) and Badri Prasad (father‑in‑law) under Sections 304‑B and 498‑A of the IPC for the death of their wife/ daughter‑in‑law Geeta Bai, who immolated herself while five months pregnant. The trial court had con…

Shaikh Istiaq Ahmed was convicted in Mauritius for possession of heroin and sentenced to 26 years. He was transferred to India under the Repatriation of Prisoners Act, 2003 and sought to have his sentence reduced to 10 years, the maximum punishable term under Section 21(b) of the NDNDPS Act, invoking Section 13(6) of t…

The complainant alleged that the appellants had forged his signature to obtain bonus shares of Reliance companies and refused to return the original shares, leading to a criminal complaint under various IPC sections. The magistrate initially dismissed the complaint, but a revision remanded it, after which the appellant…

The appellant, Debapriya Pal, was convicted along with his alleged accomplice A I for the double murder of Anusha Sarkar and her mother Maya Sarkar, based primarily on circumstantial evidence. The prosecution's case rested on the appellant's alleged friendship with A I, recovery of blood‑stained clothes, a laptop belon…

The State of Assam appealed the Gauhati High Court’s order that acquitted Ramen Dowarah of rape (s.376 IPC) and reduced his murder conviction (s.302 IPC) to culpable homicide not amounting to murder (s.304 Part II) on the basis that the sexual intercourse was consensual and the fire‑setting was a spur‑of‑the‑moment act…

The Supreme Court Women Lawyers Association filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking that the legislature impose chemical castration as an additional punishment for perpetrators of rape against girl children. The petition highlighted alarming incidents of child sexual abuse and argued that the Indian Penal Code d…

Ravinder Singh, owner of agricultural land, filed two criminal writ petitions seeking to quash FIRs filed by Sukhbir Singh. The second petition was filed without disclosing the earlier one, leading to a contempt proceeding which the High Court closed after the counsel apologized. Sukhbir Singh then lodged a criminal co…

The Karnataka Lokayukta post of Upa‑Lokayukta became vacant and the Chief Minister advised the Governor to appoint Justice Chandrashekaraiah without consulting the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court, as required by s.3(2)(b) of the Karnataka Lokayukta Act, 1984. The High Court quashed the appointment, holding th…

An explosion on a Delhi bus in 1997 killed four people and injured twenty‑four. Mohd. Hussain @ Julfikar Ali, a Pakistani national, was charged under Sections 302, 307 IPC and Section 3 of the Explosives Substances Act and was convicted and sentenced to death. The trial proceeded for years with the accused largely unre…

The petitioner, son of a murdered Superintending Engineer, filed a transfer petition under Section 406 of the CrPC seeking to move the murder trial from Haridwar to Delhi, alleging that witnesses were being threatened by the accused's powerful gang and that the investigating and prosecuting agencies had failed to prote…

Kamleshwar Paswan was convicted for the murder of his two young sons and the attempted murder of a third child after a neighbour witnessed him beating the children with a wooden stick. The trial court sentenced him to death under Sections 302 and 307 of the Indian Penal Code, a sentence confirmed by the High Court. On …

The appellant and a co-accused entered the deceased's house at night and the co-accused poured acid on her, causing severe burns and eventual death. The trial court convicted the appellant under Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC, along with other offences, and sentenced him to life imprisonment. On appeal, the Supre…

Seven persons were prosecuted for the murder of Chinnadurai, who had earlier testified against some of the accused. The trial court convicted all under Section 302 IPC. The Madras High Court acquitted three (Nos. 4, 6, 7) on the ground of benefit of doubt and upheld convictions of the remaining four (Nos. 1, 2, 3, 5) u…

The appellant, an astrologer, was convicted along with two others for the alleged murder of Somasundaram under sections 302, 1208, 34, 109, 379 and 201 of the IPC, based largely on circumstantial evidence that the deceased was last seen with the appellant and the recovery of a gold chain. No dead body was ever recovere…

The appellant and two co‑accused were charged with murder under Section 302 IPC, with the third accused also charged under Section 34. On 25 November 1994, the deceased was assaulted with a wooden log by the appellant while the co‑accused restrained him and threatened a witness. The deceased sustained multiple severe h…

On 23 July 1996 the appellant, driver of a lorry, allegedly drove at high speed, struck a tree and caused the deaths of three persons and grievous injuries to three others. He was convicted under Sections 304‑A, 279 and 337 of the Indian Penal Code. On appeal the conviction under Section 279 was set aside but the convi…

The Supreme Court examined two election disputes where candidates had been convicted and sentenced to imprisonment of more than two years, raising questions about disqualification under Section 8(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. It held that the relevant dates for determining qualification are the date…

The appellant, a security guard, was transferred after complaints of teasing a young girl living in an apartment. Ignoring the transfer, he went to the girl’s flat under the pretext of making a telephone call, raped and murdered her, and stole her wrist‑watch. The prosecution relied on a chain of circumstantial evidenc…

Subhash Chand, an adolescent convicted of murder under IPC s.302 and sentenced to life imprisonment, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking detention under the Punjab Borstal Act, 1926, relying on Hava Singh v. State of Haryana. The State opposed, arguing that the Act does not apply to offences punishable with …

The case involved an IAS officer (the aggrieved woman) who alleged that an IRS officer (the appellant) sexually harassed her at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi. She filed a complaint under the POSH Act before the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) of her own department, the Department of Food and Public Distribution. The app…

The appellants, husband and in‑laws, were charged under Sections 306, 498A and 114 of the IPC for the alleged suicide of the wife after twelve years of marriage, based on a FIR filed by her father. They sought discharge under Section 227 of the CrPC, arguing that no prima facie case existed, particularly for abetment o…

The marriage between appellant No.1 and respondent No.2 deteriorated, leading the wife to file an FIR under Section 498A IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Act alleging cruelty and dowry demands, while also implicating the husband’s parents and sisters-in-law. The appellants contended that the FIR was a retaliatory …

The appellants Rohtas, Sanjay and Bijender were convicted for attempt to murder under IPC s.307 read with s.149 and for rioting with deadly weapons under s.148. They challenged the convictions on the ground that, after the acquittal of three co‑accused, the remaining number fell below the statutory minimum of five requ…

The appellant, mother of a deceased woman, alleged that her daughter was murdered by her son‑in‑law (the second respondent) rather than having committed suicide. During the trial of a friend of the second respondent for abetment of suicide under IPC s.306, the trial court, on the basis of the appellant’s testimony and …

The petitioner (ABCD) filed a writ petition seeking a mandamus directing that investigations under FIR No.58/2018 (rape) and FIR No.256/2018 (extortion) be transferred from Delhi Police to an independent central agency, along with protection under Section 438 of the CrPC. The Court examined the progress of the investig…