RANJEET MITTALversusTHE STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH & ANR. ETC. ETC.
2024 INSC 7663 September 2024Appeal(s) allowed
The deceased Anjali Agarwal was found dead after allegedly falling from the terrace of her matrimonial home. The trial court framed charges against her husband and in‑laws under sections 498‑A, 306, 302 and 201 IPC read with section 34, alleging abetment to suicide and murder. The High Court quashed these charges, hold…
GUMANSINH @ LALO @ RAJU BHIKHABHAI CHAUHAN & ANR.versusTHE STATE OF GUJARAT
2021 INSC 4433 September 2021Dismissed
The appellant husband and his mother-in-law were convicted under Sections 498A (cruelty) and 306 (abetment of suicide) of the IPC for the suicide of their wife within eight months of marriage. The prosecution proved that the husband repeatedly demanded Rs.25,000 from the deceased's father, and upon failure, subjected h…
G H MANJIT SINGHversusTHE STATE OF PUNJAB
2019 INSC 9923 September 2019Dismissed
The case arose from a violent incident on 03‑03‑2001 at the Barnala Court Complex where seven accused, including Manjit Singh and Sukhwinder Singh, attacked members of a complainant party, causing grievous injuries and the death of Dalip Singh. The prosecution relied primarily on the testimony of two injured eye‑witnes…
PREMPALversusSTATF. OF HARYANA
2014 INSC 5933 September 2014Dismissed
The appellant Prempal was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC for allegedly grappling his sister‑in‑law Anita, pouring kerosene on her and setting her ablaze. The conviction rested primarily on Anita's dying declaration recorded by a Tehsildar after a medical officer certified her fitness to testify, despite her …
SHAHID BALWAversusUNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS
2013 INSC 5863 September 2013Dismissed
The Supreme Court examined whether its own orders dated 11 April 2011 and 9 November 2012, issued under Articles 136 and 142 while monitoring the 2G spectrum scam investigation, could be recalled. The petitioners argued that the orders infringed their right to approach the High Courts under Articles 226, 227 and Sectio…
GURDIP SINGHversusSTATE OF PUNJAB
2013 INSC 5853 September 2013Case Partly allowed
Harjit Kaur, a married woman, died on 6 April 1990 after alleged dowry harassment by her husband and father‑in‑law (the appellant). The prosecution charged both accused under IPC sections 498A (cruelty) and 3048 (dowry death). While the Sessions Court convicted them under both sections and the High Court reduced the 30…
STATE OF U. P.versusSANTOSH KUMAR
2009 INSC 11063 September 2009Appeal(s) allowed
The State of Uttar Pradesh prosecuted Santosh Kumar and others for the murder of Sunita, alleging dowry harassment. The trial court convicted Santosh Kumar under sections 302, 498‑A IPC and sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, acquitting him of section 304‑B IPC. The Allahabad High Court set aside the convict…
STATE OF WEST BENGALversusSHYAMADAS BANERJEE & ANOTHER
2008 INSC 10093 September 2008Dismissed
The case concerned Shyamadas Banerjee, a sitting MLA who was alleged to have forged medical bills in 1999. Although the offence was committed while he was an MLA, he ceased to be a member of the State Legislature in July 2000, long before a charge‑sheet was filed in 2003 and cognizance was taken by a Special Judge unde…
SOU. VIJAYA @ BABYversusSTATE OF MAHARASHTRA
2003 INSC 4493 September 2003Appeal(s) allowed
Vijaya and her brother were charged for the murder of the brother's wife, who was burnt to death. While the brother was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC, Vijaya was acquitted of that charge but convicted under Section 201 IPC for allegedly causing disappearance of evidence and giving false information. On appe…
DHARMINDERversusSTATE OF HIMACHAL PRADESH
2002 INSC 3593 September 2002Dismissed
The case arose from a violent incident in which the deceased, Laiq Ram, fired a gun at the accused Durga Nand while trying to rescue his son, after which the accused seized the gun and inflicted fatal injuries on the deceased. The appellants Dharminder and Durga Nand were convicted under Sections 302/34, 307/34 and 323…
MOHD. KHALIDversusSTATE OF WEST BENGAL
2002 INSC 3583 September 2002Dismissed
The case arose from a bomb blast in Bow Bazar, Calcutta, which demolished a building, killed 69 people and injured many others. The prosecution alleged that the accused conspired to manufacture and explode bombs to terrorise the public and disrupt communal harmony, charging them under Sections 1208, 302, 307, 326, 436 …
BODH RAJ @ BODHA AND ORS.versusSTATE OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR
2002 INSC 3603 September 2002Dismissed
The accused Bodh Raj and others were charged with murder of a moneylender under IPC sections 302 and 120B, alleging a conspiracy motivated by a large loan. The trial court convicted three of the accused and acquitted six, while the Jammu & Kashmir High Court set aside the acquittals of four and convicted them as well. …
MANSUKHLAL VITHALDAS CHAUHANversusSTATE OF GUJARAT
1997 INSC 6373 September 1997Appeal(s) allowed
M.V. Chauhan, a Divisional Accountant, was caught in a trap involving anthracene‑treated currency notes and was prosecuted under Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 and Section 161 IPC. The Gujarat High Court, on a writ petition, directed the Secretary of the Vigilance Commission to grant sanction fo…
N.S. NANDIESHA REDDYversusKAVITHA MAHESH
2021 INSC 3743 August 2021Disposed off
The Karnataka High Court had declared the election of N.S. Nandiesha Reddy void under Section 100(1)(c) of the Representation of People’s Act, 1951, and ordered the Registrar General to lodge a criminal complaint against Returning Officer Ashok Mensinkai under Section 193 of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly giving f…
SANJAY KHANDERAO WADANEversusSTATE OF MAHARASHTRA
2017 INSC 7043 August 2017Dismissed
The appellants Sanjay Khanderao Wadane and others were convicted for the murder of Ravindra Kale, who was beaten to death with swords and iron pipes during a long-standing dispute. The appellants challenged the conviction on the ground that a prosecution witness (PW‑8) claimed to have eaten "Bhel" with the deceased sho…
PARHLAD AND ANR.versusSTATE OF HARYANA
2015 INSC 5403 August 2015Dismissed
The appellant, Parhlad, and his uncle were convicted for kidnapping and raping a girl who was about 14 years old. The trial court, and subsequently the High Court, relied on the victim's testimony, her father's statements, and a school leaving certificate to establish that she was below sixteen, rejecting the ossificat…
DAYAL SINGH & ORS.versusSTATE OF UTTARANCHAL
2012 INSC 3173 August 2012Dismissed
The appellants were convicted for the murder of Pyara Singh, who died after being assaulted with lathis by four accused. The trial hinged on the testimony of three eye‑witnesses, including the victim's son and wife, while the post‑mortem report prepared by the government medical officer (PW3) claimed no injuries and fa…
STATE TR. P.S. LODHI COLONY, NEW DELHIversusSANJEEV NANDA
2012 INSC 3203 August 2012Case Partly allowed
The appellant State prosecuted Sanjeev Nanda for a 1999 hit‑and‑run accident in which six persons died and one was injured after he, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, drove a BMW at high speed and fled the scene. The trial court convicted him under Section 304(II) IPC (culpable homicide not amounting to murder)…
SADHUPATI NAGESWARA RAOversusSTATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH
2012 INSC 3163 August 2012Dismissed
The appellant, a Fair Price Shop dealer, was entrusted with distributing rice free of cost under the Food for Work Scheme. An inspection revealed that he disposed of 67.65 quintals of rice in the black market without the required coupons, indicating dishonest misappropriation of government property. He was convicted un…
DR. MEHMOOD NAYYAR AZAMversusSTATE OF CHATTISGARH AND ORS.
2012 INSC 3193 August 2012Appeal(s) allowed
Dr. Mehmoood Nayar Azam, an Ayurvedic doctor and social activist, was arrested and taken into police custody where he was forced to hold a placard with self‑condemning words and photographed; the photograph was later circulated, causing humiliation and mental trauma. The High Court found that he had been subjected to c…
M/S. KAPIL COREPACKS PVT. LTD. & ORS.versusSHRI HARBANS LAL (SINCE DECEASED) THROUGH LRS.
2010 INSC 4673 August 2010Appeal(s) allowed
The plaintiff sued Kapil Corepacks Pvt Ltd and others for recovery, alleging that the defendants had executed a sale agreement that was later claimed to be a forged document. The defendants filed a criminal complaint alleging forgery and denied signing the agreement. The trial court examined the managing director under…
AMAR SINGHversusSTATE OF RAJASTHAN
2010 INSC 4683 August 2010Disposed off
Amar Singh was convicted under Sections 498A and 3048 IPC for the dowry death of his wife, who died in a fire within ten months of marriage. The prosecution proved that the husband had repeatedly taunted the wife for not providing a scooter or Rs.25,000, establishing harassment in connection with a dowry demand shortly…
BHIARU RAM AND ORS.versusCENTRAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION AND ORS.
2010 INSC 4703 August 2010Dismissed
The petitioners, accused in a CBI case under the Prevention of Corruption Act for abetting the possession of disproportionate assets by a senior income‑tax officer, filed a transfer petition under Section 406 of the Code of Criminal Procedure seeking to move the trial from the Special Court, CBI, Greater Mumbai to a Sp…
STATE OF U.P.versusKRISHNA MASTER & ORS.
2010 INSC 4713 August 2010Disposed off
The State of Uttar Pradesh appealed against the Allahabad High Court’s acquittal of Krishna Master and two others for the homicide of six persons. The trial court had convicted them under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC and imposed death sentences, which the High Court set aside. The Supreme Court examined the reliabili…
HARI SINGHversusSTATE OF M. P.
2010 INSC 4733 August 2010Dismissed
Hari Singh was convicted for the murder of Ashok Kumar on 22 May 1989, based on the testimony of two eye‑witnesses who saw the shooting at a village well. The FIR was lodged within two hours of the incident. The appellant challenged the conviction on grounds of the long lapse (8‑9 years) before the witnesses were recor…
SHAIK MASTAN VALIversusSTATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH
2007 INSC 8083 August 2007Dismissed
Shaik Mastan Vali was convicted under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code for the murder of Nagandla Pichamma, with whom he had an illicit relationship. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence: the appellant was seen beating the deceased and dragging her to a hut, a towel belonging to him was found tied arou…
STATE OF U.PversusJHINKOO NAI
2001 INSC 3403 August 2001Directions issued
The accused, armed with knives, entered a Harijan household at night intending to rape an 18‑year‑old girl. When she resisted, one accused (Tahir) stabbed her, causing her death, while the others inflicted knife injuries on her parents. The trial court convicted Jhinkoo Nai and Deep Chand under Sections 302/34 (murder)…
COMMON CAUSE, A REGISTERED SOCIETYversusUNION OF INDIA & ORS.
1999 INSC 2993 August 1999Case Allowed
The Supreme Court reviewed a petition challenging its earlier orders that directed the Minister of State for Petroleum, Capt. Satish Sharma, to pay Rs.50 lakh as exemplary damages to the Government and to undergo CBI investigation for alleged criminal breach of trust. The Court held that the earlier directions were err…
KHANJAN PALversusSTATE OF U.P.
1990 INSC 2193 August 1990Appeal(s) allowed
Khanjan Pal was accused of stabbing his co‑worker Deep Singh to death in a factory. The trial court acquitted him, discarding eye‑witness testimony and finding reasonable doubt. On appeal, the Allahabad High Court accepted the witnesses, found Pal responsible for the death, and convicted him under Section 302 IPC (murd…
KEHAR SINGH & ORS.versusSTATE (DELHI ADMN.)
1988 INSC 2003 August 1988Disposed off
The case arises from the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984, by her security guards Beant Singh and Satwant Singh. The trial was held in Tihar Jail pursuant to a High Court notification. The Supreme Court considered whether the trial in jail violated the right to open public trial, whethe…
SURENDER SINGHversusSTATE (NCT OF DELHI)
2024 INSC 4623 July 2024Dismissed
The appellant, a police guard, was convicted of murder and attempted murder for shooting a man inside a Delhi police station, motivated by the victim's alleged affair with the appellant's wife. The prosecution presented multiple eye‑witnesses, forensic evidence of close‑range gunshots, and a post‑mortem report showing …
JAVED GULAM NABI SHAIKHversusSTATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND ANOTHER
2024 INSC 6453 July 2024Appeal(s) allowed
Javed Gulam Nabi Shaikh was arrested in February 2020 with a large consignment of counterfeit currency and charged under Sections 489B, 489C, 120B read with 34 of the IPC and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. The investigation was taken over by the NIA and, after four years of custody, the trial court had…
UGGARSAINversusTHE STATE OF HARYANA & ORS.
2023 INSC 5873 July 2023Case Partly allowed
Eight persons were convicted for the death of Subhash and injuries to others, originally under Section 302 read with Section 149 of the IPC and sentenced to life imprisonment plus additional terms. The High Court reduced the murder conviction to culpable homicide not amounting to murder (Section 304 Part II) and, relyi…
MUTTAICOSE @ SUBRAMANIversusSTATE OF TAMIL NADU REP. BY INSPECTOR OF POLICE
2017 INSC 5863 July 2017Dismissed
The appellant, Muttaicose@ Subramani, was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC for assaulting the deceased Natrajan with a sickle after chasing him, during a dispute over land. The defence argued that the First Information Report (FIR) was lodged with an undue delay and that the key eye‑witnesses were relatives of…
STATE OF MADHYA PRADESHversusKESHAR SINGH
2015 INSC 4763 July 2015Dismissed
The State alleged that Keshar Singh raped a minor girl of unsound mind near a pond, relying on the testimony of the victim’s sister, uncle, father, a doctor and the investigating officer. The Sessions Court and the High Court acquitted the accused, finding the prosecution evidence unreliable, and the State appealed. Th…
BASISTH NARAYAN YADAVversusKAILASH RAI AND ORS.
2015 INSC 4753 July 2015Appeal(s) allowed
The Supreme Court examined the death of Raj Banshi Devi, who died from burn injuries in her matrimonial house within two years of marriage. The prosecution alleged dowry demands, physical and mental cruelty, and that the deceased was assaulted, tied with iron wire and set alight, invoking Section 3048 of the IPC. Altho…
STATE OF MADHYA PRADESHversusANOOP SINGH
2015 INSC 4773 July 2015Appeal(s) allowed
The State of Madhya Pradesh prosecuted Anoop Singh for kidnapping, assault and rape of a girl, alleging she was under 16 years old at the time of the offence. The trial court convicted Singh based on the girl’s birth certificate and middle‑school examination certificate, despite a two‑day discrepancy between them, and …
SANTOSH KUMAR SINGHversusSTATE OF MADHYA PRADESH
2014 INSC 4653 July 2014Case Partly allowed
Santosh Kumar Singh, a 26‑year‑old tutor, entered the home of his employers, assaulted the mother, son and daughters with an iron hammer, and looted jewellery and cash, resulting in the deaths of the mother and son. He was convicted under IPC sections 302, 307, 394, 397 and 450 and sentenced to death, with additional l…
NANA KESHAV LAGADversusSTATE OF MAHARASHTRA
2013 INSC 4293 July 2013Dismissed
The case arose from a land‑use dispute in Lagadwadi village where the accused assaulted the complainant (PW4) and his father with a cycle chain and stones, causing the father's death. The trial court convicted the accused under Sections 302 and 324 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code, relying on the testimony…
KASHI VISHWANATHversusSTATE OF KARNATAKA
2013 INSC 4303 July 2013Appeal(s) allowed
The appellant, Kashi Vishwanath, was convicted under Sections 498A and 302 read with 34 of the IPC for the death of his wife, who died from burn injuries. The prosecution's case rested on three dying declarations (Ex.P.12, Ex.P.22, Ex.P.29) that were recorded in Kannada despite the victim speaking only Telugu, and whic…
STATE OF HIMACHAL PRADESHversusJAI CHAND
2013 INSC 4313 July 2013
The State of Himachal Pradesh prosecuted Jai Chand and two others for the murder of his wife under Sections 302, 34 and 498‑A IPC. The trial court convicted Jai Chand, but the Himachal Pradesh High Court acquitted him, rejecting the post‑mortem doctor’s testimony and other material witnesses. On appeal, the Supreme Cou…
SWARN KAURversusGURMUKH SINGH AND ORS.
2013 INSC 4323 July 2013Appeal(s) allowed
Swarn Kaur, the wife of the deceased Jeet Singh, appealed against the Himachal Pradesh High Court’s acquittal of five accused who were convicted by the trial court for the death of her husband. The prosecution proved that the accused, who had taken the deceased as a cook on a pilgrimage, beat him brutally, tied his han…
RAJINDER SINGHversusSTATE OF HARYANA
2013 INSC 4243 July 2013Dismissed
Rajinder Singh and co‑accused were convicted under Sections 304‑B, 498‑A and 201/34 IPC for the death of the bride, Santosh Kaur, within nine months of marriage. The prosecution proved that the death occurred otherwise than under normal circumstances, that the bride had been subjected to dowry‑related harassment shortl…
RANJIT SINGHversusSTATE OF PUNJAB
2013 INSC 4263 July 2013Disposed off
The appellant, Ranjit Singh, was convicted for the dowry death of his wife Jaswinder Kaur, who was found dead within four months of marriage. The prosecution proved that the deceased had been subjected to repeated harassment and demands for dowry, including a Maruti car, by the appellant and his in‑laws, leading to her…
S. ANIL KUMAR @ ANIL KUMAR GANNAversusSTATE OF KARNATAKA
2013 INSC 4273 July 2013Appeal(s) allowed
The appellant, Anil Kumar, was convicted by the Karnataka High Court for dowry harassment (Sec. 498-A IPC) and dowry death (Sec. 304-B IPC) based on the suicide of his wife, Meena Kumari, in their matrimonial home. The trial court had acquitted all accused, finding contradictions in witness statements and noting that t…
BRIJESH MAVIversusSTATE OF NCT OF DELHI
2012 INSC 2663 July 2012Case Partly allowed
The appellant, Brijesh Mavi, was charged with murder (IPC s.302) and possession of a counterfeit stamp (IPC s.460) read with s.34, as well as illegal possession of a firearm (Arms Act s.25). The sole eye‑witness identified only a different accused, and the appellant was later linked to the case through his own confessi…
R. MOHANversusA.K. VIJAYA KUMAR
2012 INSC 2613 July 2012Disposed off
The accused R. Mohan was convicted under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act for issuing a cheque without sufficient funds and was sentenced to three months' simple imprisonment and ordered to pay Rs.5 lakh compensation to the complainant A.K. Vijaya Kumar under Section 357(3) of the CrPC, with an additional …
MAHENDRA SINGH AND ORS.versusSTATE OF M.P.
2022 INSC 6373 June 2022Appeal(s) allowed
The appellants were convicted under Sections 148, 302 and 149 of the Indian Penal Code for the murder of Bhagat Singh, based primarily on the testimony of Amol Singh (PW6). The Supreme Court examined whether PW6's testimony could be relied upon, applying the three‑tier classification of witnesses (wholly reliable, whol…
VINOD DUAversusUNION OF INDIA & ORS.
2021 INSC 3043 June 2021Case Partly allowed
Renowned journalist Vinod Dua was charged under sections 124A, 505(1)(b), 501, 268 of the IPC, sections 52 and 54 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and section 188 of the IPC for remarks made in a YouTube talk‑show about the COVID‑19 pandemic and alleged political use of the crisis. He filed a writ petition under Ar…
SOMASUNDARAM @ SOMUversusTHE STATE REP. BY THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE
2020 INSC 4123 June 2020Disposed off
The case concerns the abduction, extortion and murder of former MLA M.K. Balan, whose body was cremated under a fictitious name. The prosecution relied on extensive circumstantial evidence, the testimony of two accomplices (PW10 and PW11), recoveries of vehicles, a false death certificate, and statements recorded under…
SATISH SHETTYversusSTATE OF KARNATAKA
2016 INSC 4363 June 2016Dismissed
The Supreme Court examined the appeal of Satish Shetty, convicted under IPC sections 498A (cruelty) and 306 (abetment of suicide) for the death of his wife, who had left a ten‑month‑old son and was twenty weeks pregnant. The High Court had set aside the trial court’s acquittal, invoking the presumption under Evidence A…
BIJENDER @PAPU AND ANR.versusSTATE OF HARYANA
2016 INSC 4393 June 2016Disposed off
Five accused were convicted under IPC sections 325 read with 149, 148A, 308/149 and 323/149 for causing grievous hurt and related offences. The trial court sentenced them to three years rigorous imprisonment for the major offence and imposed fines; the High Court enhanced the sentence for the two appellants to five yea…
BHAGWAN SAHAI AND ANR.versusSTATE OF RAJASTHAN
2016 INSC 4383 June 2016Appeal(s) allowed
The appellants, two brothers and their female relatives, were charged with offences arising from an alleged unlawful assembly in which they allegedly injured several persons and their father later died. The trial court held the incident to be a free fight and convicted them individually; the High Court set aside some c…
INDIRA DEVI AND ORS.versusSTATE OF HIMACHAL PRADESH
2016 INSC 4403 June 2016Appeal(s) allowed
The case arose from a land dispute between the victim, Shriram, and his brothers. The victim alleged that three women (the appellants) and two men assaulted him, resulting in gunshot, axe, and other injuries, leading to an FIR under IPC sections 147, 148, 307, 149 and Section 25 of the Arms Act. The trial court convict…
DR. RINI JOHAR & ANR.versusSTATE OF M.P. & ORS.
2016 INSC 4413 June 2016Case Allowed
Dr. Rini Johar, a doctor, and a senior advocate were arrested in November 2012 on a FIR alleging fraud under IPC sections 420 and 34 and the Information Technology Act. The arrest was carried out without complying with Sections 41 and 41‑A of the CrPC, nor the D.K. Basu guidelines, and the petitioners were taken to Bho…
ACHIN GUPTAversusSTATE OF HARYANA & ANR.
2024 INSC 3693 May 2024Appeal(s) allowed
The appellant, Achin Gupta, was the sole accused in a chargesheet under IPC sections 323, 406, 498A and 506 arising from an FIR filed by his wife alleging dowry demands and cruelty. The FIR was lodged in April 2021, more than two years after the husband had filed a divorce petition and after the wife’s mother filed a d…
ANEESversusTHE STATE GOVT. OF NCT
2024 INSC 3683 May 2024Dismissed
The appellant was convicted of murdering his wife inside their home, where their five‑year‑old daughter also lived. The prosecution relied on forensic evidence, the appellant's blood‑stained clothes, and his conduct in leading police to the weapon, while the defence claimed unknown intruders were responsible. The key l…
ALAUDDIN & ORS.versusTHE STATE OF ASSAM & ANR.
2024 INSC 3763 May 2024Appeal(s) allowed
The appellants were convicted under Section 302 read with Section 149 of the IPC for the murder of Sahabuddin Choudhury. They challenged the convictions on the ground that the prosecution witnesses' statements contained material omissions and contradictions, and that the "last seen together" theory and motive were not …
PEETHAMBARANversusSTATE OF KERALA & ANR.
2023 INSC 4813 May 2023Appeal(s) allowed
The appellant, Peethambaran, was charged under Section 420 IPC for allegedly cheating persons by promising jobs in exchange for money. The FIR led to two police final reports: the first concluded the case was false due to lack of evidence, while the second recorded a further investigation ordered by the District Police…
BALWANT SINGHversusUNION OF INDIA & ORS.
2023 INSC 4823 May 2023Disposed off
Balwant Singh was convicted and sentenced to death for his role in the 1995 bomb blast that killed Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh. A mercy petition on his behalf was filed by the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee in 2012, but the petitioner himself never lodged any petition. The petitioner claimed an inordina…
VASANTA SAMPAT DUPAREversusSTATE OF MAHARASHTRA
2017 INSC 4363 May 2017Dismissed
The petitioners, Vasanta Sampat Dupare, were convicted of raping and murdering a four‑year‑old girl and sentenced to death. They sought review, arguing that the trial court violated Section 235(2) of the CrPC by not granting a separate hearing on sentencing, that the State failed to discharge its burden under Bachan Si…
MANGA @ MAN SINGHversusSTATE OF UTTARAKHAND
2013 INSC 3023 May 2013Dismissed
The appellants, a group of fifteen men, were convicted for firing on the complainant's family, causing two deaths and multiple injuries, under Sections 147, 148, 302, 307 read with Section 149 of the IPC. They challenged the convictions on grounds of alleged delay in lodging the FIR and forwarding the express report to…
MADHAO AND ANR.versusSTATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND ANR.
2013 INSC 3053 May 2013Dismissed
The Government of Maharashtra framed a scheme to purchase land and allocate it to Scheduled Castes and neo‑Buddhists below the poverty line. While implementing the scheme, the appellant officials executed sale deeds in favour of the Government. A social worker filed a criminal complaint alleging that the land had been …
BHAIKON @ BAKUL BORAHversusSTATE OF ASSAM
2013 INSC 3063 May 2013Dismissed
The appellant, Bhaikon @ Bakul Borah, was convicted of rape (IPC s.376) and murder (IPC s.302) of Rupamoni Dutta based on the testimony of an eye‑witness (PW‑1) corroborated by the victim's father (PW‑2) and the post‑mortem doctor (PW‑9). The trial court sentenced him to death for murder and life imprisonment for rape;…
VIDYA DHAR & ORS.versusMULTI SCREEN MEDIA PVT. LTD.
2013 INSC 3013 May 2013Dismissed
Three petitioners convicted in the Junior Basic Trained (JBT) teachers recruitment scam appealed their convictions before the Delhi High Court. While the appeal was pending, the respondent, a television producer, sought to broadcast a dramatized episode of "Crime Patrol Dastak" depicting the scam. The petitioners obtai…
MD. ISHAQUE AND OTHERSversusSTATE OF WEST BENGAL AND OTHERS
2013 INSC 3073 May 2013Disposed off
The case concerned a mob assault on 5 July 1983 in Siktahar village, where 200‑250 persons, including the accused, forced people out of their houses and attacked them with sharp and blunt weapons, resulting in one death and serious injuries to three others. The trial court convicted the appellants under Section 302 IPC…
ANKUSH SHIVAJI GAIKWADversusSTATE OF MAHARASHTRA
2013 INSC 3093 May 2013Disposed off
Ankush Shivaji Gaikwad and two others were convicted of murder for the death of Nilkanth Pawar after a sudden quarrel over a barking dog, during which Gaikwad struck the victim on the head with an iron pipe. The appellant argued that the incident was a sudden fight without pre‑meditation and that Exception 4 to Section…
ARJUNversusSTATE OF MAHARASHTRA
2012 INSC 1993 May 2012Disposed off
The appellant, Arjun, was convicted of murder (s.302 IPC) and causing grievous hurt (s.326 IPC) after he attacked Jagannath and his family during a property dispute, using a large knife to inflict fatal head injuries on the deceased and injuries on the deceased's wife. The appellant claimed he acted in private defence,…
BHAIYAMIYAN @ JARDAR KHAN & ANR.versusSTATE OF MADHYA PRADESH
2011 INSC 3493 May 2011Appeal(s) allowed
The accused were charged with gang rape under IPC s.376(2)(g) after the prosecutrix alleged that she was assaulted on 30 August 1984. The FIR was lodged 60 hours later at a police station 22 km from the crime scene, and the victim insisted on a medical examination at a hospital 55 km away, where no injuries were found.…
SHAJI AND ORS.versusSTATE OF KERALA
2011 INSC 3513 May 2011Disposed off
Six persons formed an unlawful assembly and attacked Usman, with A‑1 (Shaji) delivering fatal head injuries using a chopper. A‑5 and A‑6 were acquitted, while A‑1 to A‑4 were convicted under Section 302 read with Section 149 of the IPC and sentenced to life imprisonment. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined whether th…
KRISHNA KUMAR VARIARversusSHARE SHOPPE
2010 INSC 2633 May 2010Appeal(s) allowed
Krishna Kumar Variar, accused under Sections 415 and 420 IPC, was summoned by a Delhi court. He contended that only a Bombay court had jurisdiction and filed a petition under Section 482 of the CrPC in the Delhi High Court, which dismissed his challenge. On appeal, the Supreme Court held that an accused must first appr…
CENTRAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIONversusHOPESON NINGSHEN & ORS.
2010 INSC 2593 May 2010Disposed off
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sought transfer of two kidnapping‑murder cases involving an NSCN (IM) activist from the Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court in Ukhrul, Manipur to a CBI‑court in Delhi under Section 406 of the CrPC. The incidents involved the abduction and killing of three government employees, sp…
RAJU @ RAJ KUMARversusSTATE OF RAJASTHAN
2007 INSC 5153 May 2007Appeal(s) allowed
The appellant Raju @ Raj Kumar was convicted under Section 148 of the Indian Penal Code for rioting with a deadly weapon after allegedly stabbing his father during a violent incident. The trial court also convicted him under Section 302 for murder, but the State did not appeal that conviction, and the High Court upheld…
ABDUL AZIZversusSTATE OF RAJASTHAN
2007 INSC 5163 May 2007Case Partly allowed
Abdul Aziz was tried and convicted under Section 460 of the Indian Penal Code for house‑trespass resulting in death and sentenced to ten years' rigorous imprisonment. The State did not file any appeal for enhancement or for conviction under Section 302. In the appellant's own appeal, the Rajasthan High Court substitute…
DAYAL SINGHversusSTATE OF MAHARASHTRA
2007 INSC 5173 May 2007Dismissed
Dayal Singh was convicted under Sections 498A and 302 IPC for cruelty and murder of his wife, Tejinder Kaur, based primarily on her dying declaration recorded by a police head constable in the presence of a doctor. The appellant challenged the admissibility of the declaration, arguing it was not recorded by a magistrat…
SAHEBRAO AND ANR.versusSTATE OF MAHARASHTRA
2006 INSC 2843 May 2006Dismissed
Sahebrao and Bhausaheb, husband and brother-in-law of Sangita, repeatedly demanded additional dowry (Rs 10,000 and a tape recorder) after her marriage, subjecting her to mental and physical cruelty. Within four months of marriage Sangita complained of harassment, was beaten, and eventually committed suicide. Her father…
STATE OF RAJASTHANversusOM PRAKASH
2002 INSC 2563 May 2002Appeal(s) allowed
In 1989 an eight‑year‑old girl was allegedly raped by 18‑year‑old Om Prakash in a Rajasthan village. The victim, her parents and a doctor testified; the FIR was lodged about 26 hours later due to lack of transport. The trial court convicted Om Prakash under Section 376 IPC and sentenced him to seven years’ rigorous imp…
PURAN ETC. ETC.versusRAMBILAS AND ANR. ETC. ETC.
2001 INSC 2513 May 2001Dismissed
The appellants were charged under Sections 498‑A and 304‑B of the IPC for a dowry‑death. The Additional Sessions Judge granted them bail on 13 November 2000 without recording any reasons, prompting the father of the deceased to move the High Court, which cancelled the bail on the ground that the order was perverse and …
STATE OF HARYANAversusTEK SINGH AND ORS.
1999 INSC 2153 May 1999Appeal(s) allowed
The State of Haryana appealed against the Punjab & Haryana High Court’s acquittal of five of eight accused in a murder case involving Tek Singh and Gurdev Singh. The Sessions Court had convicted all eight under Sections 148, 149, 302 and 449 IPC based on eye‑witness testimony, medical reports and circumstantial evidenc…
STATE OF U. P.versusSURESH CHANDRA SRIVASTAVA & ORS
1984 INSC 1013 May 1984Dismissed
In 1967, court staff removed used court‑fee stamps from old High Court files and reused them in new cases, prompting an investigation that led to charge‑sheets under sections 262, 263, 467, 471, 380, 420 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code. The accused contended that the offences under sections 467, 471 and 120B IPC fell…
ORISSA OLYMPIC ASSOCIATION TH. GENERAL SECRETARYversusSTATE OF ORISSA & ANR.
2017 INSC 3103 April 2017Directions issued
The Orissa Olympic Association (OOA) was granted a lease of 20.808 acres for a stadium but later constructed 23 shops and a Kalyan Mandap (Barabati Palace) on land the State claims lies outside the lease. The Supreme Court, after a committee measured the leasehold area, found that the shops and part of the Mandap are o…
SAROJ @ SURAJ PANCHAL & ANR.versusSTATE OF WEST BENGAL
2014 INSC 9543 April 2014Case Partly allowed
The case involved a love affair between Sukumar Ray and Bandana Panchal, which was disapproved by Bandana's family. On the night of July 10, 1990, Sukumar entered Bandana's house and was violently beaten and dragged down a staircase by the accused, resulting in fatal head injuries. The trial court convicted the four ac…
BABUBHAI BHIMABHAI BOKHIRIA & ANR.versusSTATE OF GUJARAT & ORS.
2014 INSC 2433 April 2014Appeal(s) allowed
The appellant, Babubhai Bhimabhai Bokhiria, was summoned as an accused under Section 319 of the CrPC after the trial court relied on a letter written by the deceased a year earlier, in which the deceased alleged the appellant intended to kill him. The Supreme Court examined whether the letter qualified as a dying decla…
DAYA NANDversusSTATE OF HARYANA
2008 INSC 4483 April 2008Case Partly allowed
The appellant Daya Nand was convicted by the trial court and the High Court for murder under Section 302 IPC and Section 27 of the Arms Act for firing a shotgun that killed Chhajju Ram during an irrigation dispute. The Supreme Court examined whether the facts satisfied the statutory definition of murder under Section 3…
RANJIT SINGHversusSTATE OF M. P.
2007 INSC 3683 April 2007Dismissed
The appellant Ranjit Singh was convicted under Section 302 IPC for the murder of Bhanwar Lal and Ram Lal, based on an FIR lodged shortly after the incident and the testimony of three family members who witnessed the killings. The prosecution established specific overt acts, identified the accused, and attributed a moti…
GEORGEversusSTATE OF KERALA
2002 INSC 1793 April 2002Appeal(s) allowed
The deceased, a farm worker, disappeared after leaving for work and his body was later found drowned in a river. The accused, George, was found in possession of the deceased's watch and two gold rings, which he had pledged to others shortly after the disappearance. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, inc…
STATE OF U.P.versusSIKANDER ALI AND ORS.
1998 INSC 1713 April 1998Disposed off
The State of U.P. appealed the acquittal of Sikandar Ali and others, who had been convicted by a trial court for the murder of two brothers‑in‑law, Shamsher Singh and Ramji Tripathi, based on the testimony of two eye‑witnesses (PW‑1 and PW‑2) recorded in the FIR within an hour of the incident. The High Court set aside …
STATE OF U.P.versusAMEER ALI
1996 INSC 4783 April 1996Appeal(s) allowed
The deceased wife was attacked by her husband, who beat her, poured kerosine on her and set her on fire. She gave two dying declarations, one to an Executive Magistrate on the day of the incident and another to a Sub‑Inspector the following day, both describing the accused's actions. At trial, the Sessions Court convic…
MAHESH CHANDER AND ANOTHERversusSTATE OF DELHI
1991 INSC 883 April 1991Appeal(s) allowed
The case involved the murder of Hanumant Singh, allegedly over a dispute concerning gold ornaments, with Mahesh Chander and Mohinder Singh convicted on the basis of eye‑witness testimony. The appellants challenged the conviction, arguing that the FIR was delayed, the names of the accused were omitted, and the refusal t…
NARENDRA PRATAP NARAIN SINGH AND ANR.versusSTATE OF U.P
1991 INSC 893 April 1991Appeal(s) allowed
The appellants, Narendra Pratap Narain Singh and Puran Singh, were in charge of government agricultural seed stores and were charged under IPC sections 409, 467 and 471 for allegedly preparing forged bills and receiving payments for credit sales to village level workers, contrary to government circulars prohibiting suc…
SONE LAL & ORS.versusSTATE OF U.P.
1981 INSC 823 April 1981Dismissed
The case involved a long-standing dispute over a vacant plot of land between the appellants and Pahelwan (PW I) and his son Ram Swarup. The appellants threw rubbish on the land, leading to an altercation; later, armed appellants attacked PW I and his son, during which PW I snatched a spear and defended himself. The app…
DEVINDER KUMAR BANSALversusTHE STATE OF PUNJAB
2025 INSC 3203 March 2025Dismissed
The petitioner, Devinder Kumar Bansal, an Audit Inspector, was alleged to have demanded and facilitated a bribe during an audit of development work while the complainant's wife served as Sarpanch, with co‑accused Prithvi Singh collecting the money on his behalf. An FIR was lodged under Section 7 of the Prevention of Co…
SURESHversusSTATE REP. BY INSPECTOR OF POLICE
2025 INSC 3183 March 2025Appeal(s) allowed
The appellant was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC for allegedly pouring kerosene on his wife and setting her on fire. The prosecution's case relied heavily on a dying declaration recorded by a Judicial Magistrate, which accused the appellant, while earlier statements by the deceased to a doctor and a police c…
C. KAMALAKKANNANversusSTATE OF TAMIL NADU REP. BY INSPECTOR OF POLICE C.B.C.I.D., CHENNAI
2025 INSC 3093 March 2025Appeal(s) allowed
The appellant was convicted under Sections 120B, 468 and 471 of the IPC for allegedly preparing a postal cover that transmitted a forged marksheet. The prosecution’s case hinged on the testimony of a handwriting expert who claimed the cover bore the appellant’s handwriting, but the original postal cover was never produ…
K.S. MEHTAversusM/S MORGAN SECURITIES AND CREDITS PVT. LTD.
2025 INSC 3153 March 2025Appeal(s) allowed
The appellants, K.S. Mehta and Basant Kumar Goswami, were non‑executive directors of Blue Coast Hotels & Resorts Ltd. and were implicated in criminal complaints under Section 138 read with Section 141 of the Negotiable Instruments Act for dishonoured cheques issued to repay an inter‑corporate deposit. They neither atte…
PREMCHANDversusTHE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA
2023 INSC 2073 March 2023Appeal(s) allowed
The appellant Premchand was convicted by the trial court of murder (s.302 IPC) and attempted murder (s.307 IPC) based on oral testimony of prosecution witnesses, while his written statement under s.313(5) CrPC was not considered. The High Court affirmed the conviction. On appeal, the Supreme Court observed that the tri…
NIKHIL CHANDRA MONDALversusSTATE OF WEST BENGAL
2023 INSC 1983 March 2023Appeal(s) allowed
The appellant was accused of murdering his wife, with the prosecution relying primarily on an extra‑judicial confession he allegedly made to three witnesses and on recovered blood‑stained clothes and a knife. The trial court found the witnesses' testimonies contradictory, disbelieved the confession, and rejected the ph…
KARAN @ FATIYAversusTHE STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH
2023 INSC 1973 March 2023Case Partly allowed
The appellant Karan was convicted under IPC and the POCSO Act for heinous offences and sentenced to death, which the High Court affirmed. While the appeals were pending, the appellant claimed he was a juvenile at the time of the offence, prompting a trial‑court inquiry that established his date of birth as 25‑07‑2002, …
SUKHDARSHAN SINGHversusTHE STATE OF PUNJAB & ORS.
2022 INSC 2573 March 2022Disposed off
Sukhdarshan Singh, a clerk in the Punjab State Transport Department, was suspended in 1986 following an FIR and later removed from service in 2003 after a criminal conviction under Sections 324 and 506 of the IPC. The appellate authority set aside the termination but ordered that he receive no salary for the suspension…
SACHIN KUMAR & ORS.versusDELHI SUBORDINATE SERVICE SELECTION BOARD (DSSSB) & ORS.
2021 INSC 1473 March 2021Disposed off
The Delhi Subordinate Service Selection Board (DSSSB) conducted a two‑tier examination for 231 Head Clerk vacancies in 2009, but the Tier‑I exam was delayed until 2014 and only 8,224 of 62,056 applicants appeared. Numerous complaints of question‑paper leakage, mass cheating, lack of randomisation and impersonation led …
SATPALversusSTATE OF HARYANA
2021 INSC 1433 March 2021Leave Granted & Dismissed
The appellant Satpal was convicted for the murder of his wife Pooja Rani, who died from severe burns after he allegedly poured kerosene on her and set her ablaze. A dying declaration was recorded by a Judicial Magistrate while the victim was still alive and fit to speak, in which she identified the appellant as the ass…
RAHULversusSTATE OF HARYANA
2021 INSC 1453 March 2021Leave Granted & Dismissed
The appellant Rahul was convicted for murdering Jitender, allegedly because Jitender had an illicit relationship with Rahul's wife. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, including the testimony of the deceased's brother and mother, forensic findings linking a recovered .315 bore pistol to the fatal bullets…
K. VIRUPAKSHA & ANR.versusTHE STATE OF KARNATAKA & ANR.
2020 INSC 2613 March 2020Appeal(s) allowed
The petitioners, two senior bank officials, challenged a criminal complaint filed under Section 200 of the CrPC alleging that they colluded with an auction purchaser to cause wrongful loss to the borrower, K. Virupaksha, after the bank invoked the SARFAESI Act to enforce a secured loan of Rs.2.68 crore. The borrower’s …
RAM LAXMANversusSTATE OF RAJASTHAN
2016 INSC 11723 March 2016
The Supreme Court examined the convictions of Ram Laxman and Sanju under IPC sections 302, 149 and 148, which had been upheld by the High Court while other co‑accused were acquitted. The trial and appellate courts relied almost entirely on the testimony of a single eye‑witness, the informant Ganesh (PW‑10), whose credi…
CENTRE FOR PIL & ANR.versusUNION OF INDIA & ANR.
2011 INSC 1753 March 2011Case Allowed
The Supreme Court examined the legality of Shri P.J. Thomas's appointment as Central Vigilance Commissioner under Section 4(1) of the Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003, which was based on a recommendation by the High Powered Committee (HPC). The Court found that the HPC failed to consider material indicating pendi…
MAHESH CHOUDHARYversusSTATE OF RAJASTHAN & ANR.
2009 INSC 2963 March 2009Dismissed
Mahesh Chaudhary, a partner of a carpet exporting firm, was alleged to have withheld commission payable to another firm under a 10% commission agreement, leading to a complaint of criminal breach of trust, cheating and forgery. A magistrate ordered an FIR and later took cognizance of offences under IPC sections 420, 46…
SYED ASKARI HADI ALI AUGUSTINE IMAM & ANR.versusSTATE (DELHI ADMN.) & ANR.
2009 INSC 2903 March 2009Dismissed
The appellants sought registration and mutation of a will dated 3 May 1998, which was contested by the testatrix's heir in both civil and criminal proceedings alleging forgery. While the criminal case (IPC 420, 468, 444, 34) was instituted before the probate suit under the Indian Succession Act, the appellants applied …
JAGAN SHRAVAN PATIL & ANR.versusSTATE OF MAHARASHTRA
2009 INSC 3003 March 2009Dismissed
The appellants (accused Nos. 4 and 5) were convicted for the murder of a family member, along with several other offences, on the basis that they acted with a common intention under Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The trial court and the Bombay High Court upheld the conviction, finding that the accused had j…
Y. VENKAIAHversusSTATE OF A.P.
2009 INSC 2943 March 2009Dismissed
The appellants, who were public servants in the Andhra Pradesh Social Welfare Department, were accused of conspiring to withdraw government scholarship funds using fictitious student names, thereby cheating and misappropriating public money. They were charged under IPC sections 120‑B, 420, 468, 477‑A and Section 34 (co…
STATE OF M.P.versusDHARA SINGH & ANR.
2009 INSC 3023 March 2009Appeal(s) allowed
On 3 October 1998, Ohara Singh and Prem Das attacked a bullock cart, resulting in the death of Sohan Lal. The FIR, lodged by Ramhet (PW‑2), named Bhagwan Singh (PW‑3) as an eye‑witness under the alias 'Kaptan'. The trial court convicted Ohara Singh under IPC s.302 and the Arms Act s.25,27 and Prem Das under IPC s.302 r…
RIYOJODDIN RAFIYODDIN SHAIKversusSTATE OF MAHARASHTRA REP. BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR
2009 INSC 3043 March 2009Dismissed After
The deceased Sayarabi was found dead with severe burn injuries and a strong kerosene odor in her matrimonial home. The prosecution alleged that her husband, Riyazoddin (the appellant), had poured kerosene on her and set her alight, while other family members were accused of abetting. The trial court convicted the appel…
RAMATHAL & ORS.versusINSPECTOR OF POLICE & ANR.
2009 INSC 3073 March 2009Disposed off
The appellants, Ramathal and others, were charged under Sections 120‑B and 420 IPC for allegedly cheating a buyer by misrepresenting the status of a mortgaged property and receiving a large advance. Anticipating arrest, they filed an application for anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.…
I. GLASKASDEN GRACE & ORS.versusINSPECTOR OF POLICE & ANR.
2009 INSC 3083 March 2009Disposed off
The appellants, accused of forging documents and cheating a complainant of Rs.62.62 lakh in a property transaction, sought anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the CrPC. The Madras High Court granted bail on the condition that they deposit title deeds worth Rs.20 lakh and furnish a personal bond. The Supreme Court he…
RENU KUMARIversusSANJAY KUMAR AND ORS.
2008 INSC 2783 March 2008Case Allowed
Renu Kumari, the wife of Respondent No.3, filed a complaint under Section 498A IPC and Sections 3 & 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act alleging dowry harassment. The police registered an FIR and a charge‑sheet was filed. The respondents sought discharge under Section 239 CrPC, which was rejected, and their revision was dis…
SHANTABAI & ORSversusSTATE OF MAHARASHTRA
2008 INSC 2843 March 2008Case Allowed
The trial court convicted Shantabai, her husband Sajan and their son Govind for the murder of Gunwant Dhumale based solely on circumstantial evidence, including an alleged illicit relationship and the discovery of the dead body in front of their house. The High Court affirmed the conviction, but the Supreme Court exami…
VINAY D. NAGARversusSTATE OF RAJASTHAN
2008 INSC 2853 March 2008Case Allowed
Vinay D. Nagar was convicted for the murder of Kalu, a chowkidar who had been a prime witness in an abduction case against Nagar. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence and on Kalu's statement recorded under Section 161 of the CrPC to establish motive. The Supreme Court examined whether that statement could …
K.L.E. SOCEITY AND ORS.versusSIDDALINGESH
2008 INSC 2873 March 2008Case Allowed
The respondent, a former peon of K.L.E. Society, filed a private complaint alleging offences under IPC ss.403, 405 and 415 r/w s.34, claiming that salary deductions were made without justification. The Judicial Magistrate took cognizance and issued process, prompting the society to move the Karnataka High Court under s…
REKHA PATELversusPANKAJ VERMA AND ORS.
2008 INSC 2883 March 2008Disposed off
The appellant, married to the first respondent, alleged dowry harassment and a FIR was lodged under sections 498A, 323, 504, 506 IPC and sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act. The respondents filed a writ petition under Article 226 seeking quash of the FIR and a stay of arrest. The Allahabad High Court refused …
RAMESH AND ORS.versusSTATE OF TAMIL NADU
2005 INSC 1163 March 2005Disposed off
The wife filed a complaint in Trichy alleging offences under Sections 498‑A, 406 IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act against her husband, his relatives and the husband’s sister, Gowri Ramaswamy. The accused filed petitions under Section 482 CrPC seeking quashment on grounds of frivolous allegations, l…
V. SUBRAMANI AND ANR.versusSTATE OF TAMIL NADU
2005 INSC 1193 March 2005Disposed off
The Supreme Court examined the appeal of Subramani and another against their conviction for murder under Section 302 IPC. The appellants claimed they acted in private defence while protecting themselves and their property during a violent altercation that resulted in the death of Vadivel. The Court reiterated that the …
KOVVURI SURYA BHASKARA REDDY ETC.versusSTATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH ETC.
1998 INSC 1233 March 1998Disposed off
The case involved six accused who attacked and killed Buchi Reddi with knives, spears and an axe. The trial court convicted all of them under Sections 148 and 302 IPC, and also under Sections 307, 326 and 324 IPC. The High Court set aside the convictions of four accused, reasoning that the FIR did not specify the manne…
THE STATE OF GUJARAT AND ORS.versusDILIPBHAI NATHJIBHAI PATEL
1998 INSC 1243 March 1998Appeal(s) allowed
The State of Gujarat filed a criminal appeal against Dilipbhai Nathjibhai Patel challenging a High Court order that a prior hearing was required before granting sanction for prosecution under Section 147(1)(d) of the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Act. The appellant had obtained sanction from the District Registrar as m…
RAJAYANversusSTATE OF KERALA AND ANR.
1998 INSC 1253 March 1998Dismissed
The appellant, Raja Yan, was married to Sanalkumari who later committed suicide. The prosecution alleged that the appellant repeatedly demanded dowry before and after the marriage, leading to mental and physical cruelty that caused her death. The trial court acquitted the appellant, but the Kerala High Court reversed t…
KATTA RAMUDUversusSTATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH
1997 INSC 2193 March 1997Dismissed
The appellant, a resident of Velleturu village, attacked V. Nageswara Rao (the deceased) at a police‑ordered meeting, stabbing him in the chest with a knife that penetrated the right ventricle, causing instant death. The prosecution proved that the appellant uttered the words "do away with the deceased" before the assa…
S.K. VISWAMBARANversusE. KOYAKUNJU & ORS.
1987 INSC 683 March 1987Appeal(s) allowed
The Supreme Court examined an appeal by Deputy Superintendent of Police S.K. Viswambaran (appellant) who sought expunction of adverse remarks made against him by the Kerala High Court in an order relating to petitions filed by two police officers (respondents). The High Court, while considering the respondents' request…
MOHAMMAD USMAN MOHAMMAD HUSSAIN MANIYAR & ANR.versusSTATE OF MAHARASHTRA
1981 INSC 533 March 1981Dismissed
The appellants, four brothers who ran the shop M.F. Maniyar & Sons, were convicted under Section 5 of the Explosive Substances Act, Section 120B of the Indian Penal Code and related provisions for possessing and selling large quantities of potassium cyanide, potassium chlorate, detonators and other explosives without a…
WAHIDversusSTATE GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI
2025 INSC 1453 February 2025Appeal(s) allowed
The appellants, Wahid and Anshu, were convicted for robbery under IPC sections 392/397 and for possession of arms under the Arms Act, based on an FIR that named no specific perpetrators. The prosecution’s case relied on the complainant’s identification of the accused at a bus depot two days after the incident and the r…
RAMU APPA MAHAPATARversusTHE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA
2025 INSC 1473 February 2025Appeal(s) allowed
The appellant, Ramu Appa Mahapatar, was convicted for the murder of his live-in partner Manda based primarily on an extra‑judicial confession he allegedly made to the landlord (PW‑1) and the deceased's brother (PW‑3), which was later endorsed by PW‑4 and PW‑6. The Supreme Court examined whether such a confession, coupl…
AIRPORTS AUTHORITY OF INDIAversusPRADIP KUMAR BANERJEE
2025 INSC 1493 February 2025Appeal(s) allowed
The respondent, an Assistant Engineer of the Airports Authority of India, was arrested and convicted for demanding illegal gratification, leading to his dismissal from service. After being acquitted on benefit of doubt in a criminal appeal, he sought reinstatement, but the Authority initiated fresh disciplinary proceed…
NEW OKHLA INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (NOIDA)versusYUNUS & ORS.
2022 INSC 1423 February 2022Appeal(s) allowed
The dispute arose from a land acquisition notification where the original compensation award was Rs.24,033 per bigha. The respondents did not file an application under Section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act, but later a reference was made and a Lok Adalat, under Section 20 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, p…
SMT. REKHA JAIN AND ANR.versusTHE STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH AND ORS.
2022 INSC 1413 February 2022Appeal(s) allowed
An FIR was lodged under Sections 406, 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120‑B IPC against six persons, including Smt. Rekha Jain and Smt. Minakshi Jain, alleging misappropriation of deposits and the sale of an attached property. The FIR primarily implicated a co‑accused, Arun Kumar Maheshwari, while the only allegation against th…
SURYAVIRversusSTATE OF HARYANA
2022 INSC 1393 February 2022Appeal(s) allowed
The appellant Suryavir was convicted along with Devender for the murder of Rajinder (Raju) under Sections 302/34 IPC and Section 25 of the Arms Act. The prosecution’s case rested on the testimony of the victim’s parents (PW‑12 and PW‑15) and a box identification made in court, without any prior test identification para…
VISHWAS BHANDARIversusSTATE OF PUNJAB & ANR.
2021 INSC 573 February 2021Appeal(s) allowed
An FIR was lodged alleging that the appellant and another accused had kidnapped a 17½‑year‑old girl for the purpose of marriage. The complainant later limited her allegations to the other accused, Vikram Roop Rai, and the prosecutrix testified that she had voluntarily married Vikram with family consent and bore two chi…
STATE OF RAJASTHANversusFATEHKARAN MEHDU
2017 INSC 1043 February 2017Appeal(s) allowed
The State of Rajasthan appealed against the High Court’s order quashing charges framed by a Special Judge against mining engineer Fatehkaran Mehdu and Kishan Singh Rawat under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The charges alleged that Mehdu, while granting a quarry licence, sanctioned an area of 80,000 sq. ft. on…
AVEEK SARKAR & ANR.versusSTATE OF WEST BENGAL & ORS.
2014 INSC 753 February 2014Appeal(s) allowed
The appellants, editors and publishers of Sports World magazine and Anandabazar Patrika, reproduced a semi‑nude photograph of tennis player Boris Becker and his fiancée Barbara, originally published in the German magazine STERN, which was intended to protest apartheid and promote interracial love. A lawyer filed a comp…
BACHU DASversusSTATE OF BIHAR AND OTHERS
2014 INSC 9193 February 2014Appeal(s) allowed
The complainant filed a criminal complaint under Sections 147, 148, 149, 323, 448 of the IPC and Section 3 of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. The Sessions Judge held that a prima facie case was made out against the accused. The High Court, however, granted anticipatory ba…
BAVO @ MANUBHAI AMBALAL THAKOREversusSTATE OF GUJARAT
2012 INSC 733 February 2012Disposed off
SUSANTA GHOSHversusSTATE OF WEST BENGAL
2012 INSC 743 February 2012Disposed off
Susanta Ghosh, a sitting MLA, was named in a fourth FIR lodged nine years after a 2002 incident in which seven persons were killed. The earlier three FIRs and charge‑sheets did not mention him. He had earlier been granted anticipatory bail, but the trial court denied regular bail, prompting an appeal to the Calcutta Hi…
NACHHATTAR SINGH & ORS.versusSTATE OF PUNJAB
2011 INSC 953 February 2011Appeal(s) allowed
Balbir Kaur, a married woman, was found dead from poisoning. The prosecution alleged that her husband and parents-in-law demanded dowry and subjected her to cruelty, leading to her suicide. The trial court convicted the parents-in-law under Section 3048 (dowry death); the High Court acquitted them of that charge but co…
JAGGA SINGH AND ANR.versusSTATE OF PUNJAB
2011 INSC 963 February 2011Disposed off
The case involved three accused who shot Baggar Singh, injuring his leg, and subsequently abducted Hoshiar Singh, whose body was found the next morning with only lacerated wounds and no gunshot injury. The trial court convicted them under Section 307 IPC, while the High Court upheld a conviction for murder under Sectio…
STATE OF M.P.versusRAMESH @ CHHINGE & ORS.
2009 INSC 973 February 2009Appeal(s) allowed
The State of Madhya Pradesh prosecuted Ramesh (alias Chhinge) and three others for the murder of Ramavtar and attempted murder of two others. The trial court convicted them under IPC s.302 and s.302 r.w. s.34, and also under the Arms Act. The Madhya Pradesh High Court acquitted the accused, relying on alleged discrepan…
DALBIR SINGHversusSTATE OF U.P. AND ORS.
2009 INSC 983 February 2009Disposed off
The petitioner, Dalbir Singh, filed a writ petition alleging that his 17‑year‑old son, Somvir Singh (Sonu), died as a result of custodial torture by Noida police and that the police attempted to portray the death as a suicide. The State of Uttar Pradesh responded that an FIR had been lodged, police officials were charg…
JITENDRA PANCHALversusINTELLIGENCE OFFICER, NCB & ANR.
2009 INSC 1003 February 2009Dismissed
Jitendra Panchal was arrested in Austria, extradited to the United States and convicted under the US Controlled Substances Act for conspiracy to possess and distribute hashish, serving a 54‑month sentence. After deportation to India, he was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau and charged under the NDPS Act for imp…
MOHABBAT AND ORS.versusSTATE OF M.P.
2009 INSC 1013 February 2009Case Partly allowed
Nine persons were convicted of murder under IPC s.302 read with s.149, 147 and 148 based largely on the testimony of PW‑6, the brother of the deceased. Three of the convicted appealed, arguing that PW‑6, being a close relative, was a partisan witness and that the dying declaration did not name them. The Supreme Court h…
STATE OF PUNJABversusGINDER SINGH
2009 INSC 933 February 2009Dismissed
The State of Punjab appealed the acquittal of Ginder Singh and his second wife Manjit Kaur, who had been convicted by a trial court for murder (Sec. 302 IPC) and conspiracy to murder (Sec. 201 IPC) of Bant Singh. The prosecution relied on two eye‑witnesses – the deceased’s brother and a friend – and alleged that the ac…
SUBE SINGHversusSTATE OF HARYANA AND ORS.
2006 INSC 673 February 2006Disposed off
Petitioner Sube Singh alleged that police illegally detained and tortured him and his family while trying to locate his son, who had killed a constable. He filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking directions to stop the alleged atrocities and compensation as a public law remedy for violation of Article 21. The Co…
SHIVA NATH PRASADversusSTATE OF WEST BENGAL AND ORS.
2006 INSC 723 February 2006Dismissed
The case arose from a criminal complaint alleging that the deceased Priyamvada Devi Birla (PDB) and her husband Madhav Prasad Birla (MPB) had created five mutual trusts intended for charitable institutions, which were later allegedly revoked and the assets misappropriated through a forged will in favour of R.S. Lodha. …
STATE OF U.P.versusVIRENDRA PRASAD
2004 INSC 743 February 2004Appeal(s) allowed
The police raided the house of a gambling den where Virendra Prasad and his father Ram Prasad were present. When the police attempted to seize a rifle, Virendra snatched it from his father and fired seven rounds at the police party, killing ASI Gokaran Nath Pandey and injuring two constables. The trial court convicted …
STATE OF U.PversusNAWAB SINGH (DEAD) AND ORS.
2004 INSC 753 February 2004Appeal(s) allowed
The deceased, a witness in a murder case, was shot dead at his home by the accused who sought to silence him. The trial court, relying on eye‑witness testimony and a post‑mortem report showing multiple gunshot injuries, convicted the accused under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC and sentenced them to life imprisonment. …
KAMMARI BRAHMIAH AND ORS.versusPUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF AP .
1999 INSC 373 February 1999Dismissed
Six accused were tried for murder (IPC s.302). The Sessions Court acquitted them, but the High Court on appeal convicted one under s.304(II), another under s.325 and the remaining four under s.325 read with s.149, even though the trial court had not framed a charge under s.149. The appellants contended that conviction …
SACHIDA NAND SINGH AND ANR.versusSTATE OF BIHAR AND ANR.
1998 INSC 523 February 1998Dismissed
The appellants forged a certified copy of a Jamabandi (Rent Roll) and introduced it in a court of Executive Magistrate during proceedings under Section 145 of the CrPC. A complaint alleging forgery offences (IPC §§ 468, 469, 471) was filed before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, who forwarded it to police, leading to an …
STATE OF UPversusDAN SINGH AND ORS.
1997 INSC 853 February 1997Disposed off
The State of Uttar Pradesh alleged that a large mob of villagers attacked a scheduled‑caste marriage party, killing 14 and injuring 7. The key issue was whether the mob constituted an unlawful assembly with the common object of killing the Doms, and whether the accused could be held liable under Section 149 IPC based o…
MOHMOODKHAN MAHBOOBKHAN PATHANversusSTATE OF MAHARASHTRA
1997 INSC 873 February 1997Appeal(s) allowed
The appellant, a Sub‑Registrar, was convicted under Section 161 IPC and Section 5(2) read with 5(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 for allegedly receiving Rs 60 as illegal gratification for issuing certified copies of sale deeds. The prosecution set up a trap and caught him taking the money, but the appel…
SANTOSH DE AND ANOTHERversusARCHNA GUHA AND ORS.
1994 INSC 433 February 1994Dismissed
The complainant, Archna Guha, filed a private complaint in 1977 alleging torture by five police officers in 1974. Two of the accused, Santosh De and Ranjit Guha Niyogi, sought discharge under Section 245(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code, arguing that the prosecution had failed to produce all evidence within four years…
NEERAJ SHARMAversusSTATE OF CHHATTISGARH
2024 INSC 63 January 2024Case Partly allowed
The appellants, Neeraj Sharma and Ashwani Kumar Yadav, abducted an 18‑year‑old student, attempted to murder him by strangulation and burning, and stole his money and phone. The trial court and High Court convicted them under Sections 307/120B, 364‑A, and 392/397 of the IPC, imposing life imprisonment for the 364‑A char…
STATE OF NCT OF DELHIversusRAJ KUMAR @ LOVEPREET @LOVELY
2024 INSC 113 January 2024Appeal(s) allowed
The respondent was arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Indian Penal Code and the Arms Act, and the investigation period of 90 days expired on 15 September 2020. The investigating officer obtained two extensions, first to 11 November 2020 and then, on 7 November 2020, a further 30‑day extension …
PERUMAL RAJA @ PERUMALversusSTATE, REP. BY INSPECTOR OF POLICE
2024 INSC 133 January 2024Dismissed
The appellant, Perumal Raja, was detained during an investigation into a separate murder and gave a disclosure statement that led police to recover the body parts of his cousin, Rajini, and other stolen items. The key issue was whether the appellant was "in custody" for the purposes of Section 27 of the Evidence Act de…
KAUSHAL KISHORversusSTATE OF UTTAR PRADESH & ORS.
2023 INSC 43 January 2023Reference answered
Writ Petition (Criminal) No. 113 of 2016 and Special Leave Petition (Diary) No. 34629 of 2017 were referred to a Constitution Bench to answer five questions concerning the scope of freedom of speech under Article 19(1)(a) and the enforceability of fundamental rights against non-State actors. The petitions arose from st…
MAHARASHTRA STATE ROAD TRANSPORT CORPORATIONversusDILIP UTTAM JAYABHAY
2022 INSC 53 January 2022Appeal(s) allowed
The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) dismissed driver Dilip Uttam Jayabhay after a departmental enquiry found him guilty of rash and negligent driving that caused a 1992 accident killing four passengers. Although the driver was later acquitted in a criminal trial under IPC sections 279 and 304(a) du…
RAJENDRA BHAGATversusSTATE OF JHARKHAND & ANR.
2022 INSC 63 January 2022Appeal(s) allowed
The appellant, a serving army Naik, was convicted under Section 498-A IPC for cruelty towards his wife and sentenced to three years' simple imprisonment. After his conviction, the parties entered into a genuine settlement, resumed cohabitation, and the wife was nominated as his service record nominee. The High Court, n…
SATISHCHANDRA RATANLAL SHAHversusSTATE OF GUJARAT AND ANOTHER
2019 INSC 23 January 2019Appeal(s) allowed
The appellant, a retired bank employee, obtained a loan of Rs.27 lakh from a money‑lending company whose director (respondent No.2) later filed a criminal complaint alleging non‑payment and threats. The High Court dismissed the appellant's Section 482 CrPC application to quash the FIR and the charge‑sheet, holding that…
KISHORE BHADKEversusSTATE OF MAHARASHTRA
2017 INSC 143 January 2017Dismissed
The Supreme Court examined the appeal of three accused (Nalini, Kishore Bhadke and Satish) convicted of murder, abduction and related offences arising from a land‑transaction dispute that led to the killing of Raman. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence – motive established by the land deal, the victim’s l…
HEM RAJ S/O. MOTI RAMversusSTATE OF HARYANA
2014 INSC 8983 January 2014Appeal(s) allowed
Hem Raj was convicted by the trial court and the High Court for raping a 19‑year‑old neighbour under Sections 376 and 450 of the IPC. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined the credibility of the prosecutrix, who was declared hostile after retracting her statements and denying that she had signed the police statement. T…
VAJRESH VENKATRAY ANVEKARversusSTATE OF KARNATAKA
[2013] 1 S.C.R. 803 January 2013Dismissed
The appellant, a husband, was charged with cruelty, dowry harassment and abetment of suicide after his wife, Girija, died by consuming poison in their matrimonial home within seven years of marriage. The trial court acquitted all accused, but the Karnataka High Court convicted the husband under Sections 498A and 306, r…
JAGAT SINGHversusSTATE OF H. P.
2011 INSC 13 January 2011Case Partly allowed
Jagat Singh (A‑1) and three others were involved in a land‑dispute altercation that escalated into a free fight during which the deceased, Bachittar Singh, was stabbed and later died. The trial court acquitted all accused, but the High Court convicted A‑1 under Sections 302 and 307 IPC read with Section 34, sentencing …
S. GANESANversusRAMA RAGHURAMAN & .ORS
2011 INSC 33 January 2011Appeal(s) allowed
The appellant, father of the deceased G. Arulmozhi, challenged the acquittal of a married couple (Rama Raghuraman and her husband) by the Andhra Pradesh High Court. The trial court had convicted them under Section 302 read with Section 120‑B IPC for murder, based on circumstantial evidence that the victim died from ham…
STATE OF KERALAversusRANEEF
2011 INSC 53 January 2011Dismissed
The State of Kerala appealed a Kerala High Court order granting bail to Dr. Raneef, a dental surgeon accused of aiding assailants who assaulted a college professor and severed his right palm. The prosecution alleged that Dr. Raneef, a member of the Popular Front of India (PFI), had pre‑arranged to provide medical treat…
STATE OF HIMACHAL PRADESHversusPARAS RAM AND ORS.
2008 INSC 23 January 2008Case Partly allowed
The accused were tried for offences under several IPC sections, including arson and assault, and were acquitted by the trial court. The State of Himachal Pradesh sought leave to appeal the acquittal under Section 378 of the CrPC, but the High Court dismissed the application with a one‑word order, "Dismissed," without p…
RAKESH KUMAR MISHRAversusTHE STATE OF BIHAR AND ORS.
2006 INSC 33 January 2006Appeal(s) allowed
The appellant, a police officer supervising a dacoity case, ordered a warrantless search of the residence of Respondent No.2, the father of a suspect, which led to a complaint alleging harassment. The Judicial Magistrate took cognizance of offences under IPC sections 342, 389, 469, 471 and 1208, and the appellant sough…
SURYANARAYANAversusSTATE OF KARNATAKA
2001 INSC 33 January 2001Dismissed
The appellant Suryanarayana was convicted under IPC Section 302 for the murder of Saroja, based primarily on the testimony of a four‑year‑old child witness, Bhavya, who identified the appellant as the assailant. The appellant appealed, arguing that a conviction cannot rest on the sole testimony of a child and pointing …
TUHIN KUMAR BISWAS @ BUMBAversusTHE STATE OF WEST BENGAL
2025 INSC 13732 December 2025Appeal(s) allowed
The appellant, Tuhin Kumar Biswas, was charged under IPC sections 341, 354C and 506 for allegedly restraining a complainant and voyeuristically photographing her when she attempted to enter a disputed property. The complainant claimed intimidation and intrusion of privacy, while the appellant argued that he was enforci…
ROUSANARA BEGUMversusS.K. SALAHUDDIN @ SK SALAUDDIN & ANR.
2025 INSC 13752 December 2025Appeal(s) allowed
Rousanara Begum married S.K. Salahuddin in 2005 and divorced him in 2011. At the time of marriage her father gave Rs 7 lakh and 30 bhori of gold, which the appellant sought to recover under Section 3 of the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986. Lower courts awarded partial amounts, but the Calcutta …
ASHOKversusSTATE OF UTTAR PRADESH
2024 INSC 9192 December 2024Case Allowed
The appellant was accused of raping and murdering a ten‑year‑old girl in 2009, with the prosecution relying primarily on the testimony of the victim's seven‑year‑old cousin and recovered clothing items. The trial court convicted him under IPC sections 376, 302, 201 and the SC/ST Act, imposing the death penalty, which t…
PRAMOD SINGH KIRARversusSTATE OF MADHYA PRADESH & ORS.
2022 INSC 12412 December 2022Case Partly allowed
The appellant, Pramod Singh Kirar, applied for the post of Police Constable in 2013‑14 and, in the verification form, truthfully disclosed that he had been tried under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code for an alleged offence arising from a matrimonial dispute, for which he was acquitted in 2006. The selection board…
CENTRAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIONversusP.S. JAYAPRAKASH ETC. ETC.
2022 INSC 12432 December 2022Appeal(s) allowed
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered an FIR in 2021 against 18 persons, including former Kerala Police and Intelligence Bureau officials, for allegedly filing false espionage cases against ISRO scientists. The FIR was filed following a Supreme Court‑directed committee report (Justice D.K. Jain) that rec…
NIMAY SAHversusSTATE OF JHARKHAND
2020 INSC 6702 December 2020Appeal(s) allowed
The appellant, Nimay Sah, elder brother of the deceased's husband, was convicted under Section 498-A read with Section 34 IPC for alleged dowry harassment leading to the death of his sister‑in‑law, Asha Kumari. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses and found that, apart from…
SANDEEP KUMAR AND OTHERSversusSTATE OF UTTARAKHAND AND ANOTHER
2020 INSC 6712 December 2020Appeal(s) allowed
The appellants (husband, father‑in‑law and mother‑in‑law) were convicted under Section 304B IPC for dowry death based on a claim that the deceased was poisoned after demanding Rs 10 lakhs. The Supreme Court examined whether the prosecution proved the essential ingredients of a dowry death – marriage within seven years,…
GURPAL SINGHversusSTATE OF PUNJAB
2016 INSC 10902 December 2016Case Partly allowed
The appellant and his son were involved in a family land dispute with their brother (the informant). After a verbal altercation, the appellant fetched a 12‑bore DBBL gun and fired at the informant, killing him, and subsequently shot at the informant's wife and two friends, killing one and injuring another. The trial co…
GURCHARAN SINGHversusSTATE OF PUNJAB
2016 INSC 10922 December 2016Appeal(s) allowed
The case involved the suicide of Surjit Kaur and her two daughters, who died after ingesting aluminium phosphide. A suicide note blamed the appellant Gurcharan Singh, his wife Ajit Kaur and a co‑accused for depriving the victims of their share in family property and subjecting them to harassment. The trial court and th…
UNION OF INDIAversusV. SRIHARAN @ MURUGAN & ORS.
2015 INSC 8862 December 2015Reference answered
The case arose from the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, for which several accused were convicted and sentenced to death, later commuted to life imprisonment by the Supreme Court. The State of Tamil Nadu proposed to remit the life sentences of the convicts, prompting the Union of India to file a wri…
SUJOYMITRAversusSTATE OF WEST BENGAL
2015 INSC 8852 December 2015Disposed off
The appellant, Sujoy Mitra, was charged with rape of an Irish citizen (PW5) and the trial court recorded PW5's testimony via video conference. The appellant challenged the procedure under Section 482 of the CrPC, arguing it was unfair and seeking access to the video recording. The High Court had prescribed a set of saf…
VINAYAK NARAYAN DEOSTHALIversusC.B.I.
2014 INSC 10342 December 2014Disposed off
Vinayak Narayan Deosthali, an assistant manager of UCO Bank, was convicted for diverting Rs 7.75 crore of public funds belonging to the Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC) to the private account of broker Harshad S. Mehta. The Special Court found that he issued bank receipts for securities that did not exist, f…
NEELAM BAHAL & ANR.versusSTATE OF UTTARAKHAND
2009 INSC 12712 December 2009Disposed off
The dispute arose when a servant, Shanichar, left Satish Chandra's tea shop over wage issues and joined Rakesh Bahal. This led to a heated altercation during which Rakesh Bahal, armed with a knife, inflicted injuries on Satish Chandra. Rakesh, his mother Raj Bahal and sister Neelam Bahal were convicted by the trial cou…
RAJENDRAN & ANR.versusSTATE ASSTT. COMMNR. OF POLICE LAW & ORDER
2008 INSC 13752 December 2008Dismissed
The appellants, husband and parents‑in‑law of a married woman who died by self‑immolation, were tried for offences under Sections 3048 and 498A of the IPC. The trial court acquitted them of the dowry‑death charge under Section 3048 but convicted them under Section 498A for cruelty that allegedly drove the woman to suic…
RAMA KANT VERMAversusSTATE OF U.P. & ORS.
2008 INSC 13742 December 2008Appeal(s) allowed
The case involved six accused persons charged under IPC sections 302, 149 and 148 for the murder of four individuals. The trial court convicted four of the accused and sentenced them to death. The Allahabad High Court, however, acquitted the accused and dismissed the State's appeal. The complainant (informant) and the …
VISHWAMBHAR NARAYAN JADHAVversusMALLAPPA SANGRAMAPPA MALLIPATIL & ANR.
2008 INSC 13782 December 2008Appeal(s) allowed
The appellant Vishwambhar Narayan Jadhav was attacked with acid on a bus, sustaining serious burns. He was convicted by the trial court under Section 326 of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced to three years' rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs.3,000. The conviction and sentence were affirmed by the Additional Sessi…
INDRA PAL SINGHversusSTATE OF U.P.
2008 INSC 13862 December 2008Dismissed
The trial court acquitted the accused of murder, but the High Court convicted them under Sections 302 read with 149 and 148 of the IPC. The appellants argued that the FIR was lodged late, that the eye‑witnesses (PW‑1 and PW‑4) gave contradictory and unreliable statements, that their testimony conflicted with the post‑m…
BABULAL BHAGWAN KHANDARE AND ANR.versusSTATE OF MAHARASHTRA
2004 INSC 6912 December 2004Dismissed
On 8 August 1997, a quarrel between the accused Babulal Bhagwan Khandare, Nandulal and others and three deceased persons (Shivaji, Madhukar and Ramesh) escalated into a violent assault with knives and a rapier, resulting in the deaths of the three victims. The accused pleaded that they acted in private defence and that…
PRAKASHversusSTATE OF HARYANA
2003 INSC 6852 December 2003Dismissed
The appellant, Prakash, was charged along with another accused for kidnapping and attempted rape of a 5½‑year‑old girl. The victim’s grandmother (PW‑5) witnessed the incident and testified that she heard the child’s cries and found the child naked in the accused’s house. The trial court convicted the appellant under Se…
C.K. RAVEENDRANversusSTATE OF KERALA
1999 INSC 5422 December 1999Appeal(s) allowed
The appellant, C.K. Raveendran, was married to Yashoda who later went missing and her body was discovered in a ravine. The prosecution alleged that Raveendran killed her, relying on circumstantial evidence such as sightings of the couple together in a jeep, the recovery of Yashoda’s wrist‑watch from Raveendran, and an …
STATE OF TAMIL NADUversusP. MUNIAPPAN
1997 INSC 7782 December 1997Appeal(s) allowed
P. Muniappan, an assistant professor, was charged with murdering his wife Nagammal after she was found hanging in their kitchen with burn injuries and signs of struggle. The prosecution relied on extensive circumstantial evidence—Muniappan's motive to obtain a divorce and a second marriage, his exclusive presence in th…
STATE OF RAJASTHANversusPRAKASH CHAND AND ORS.
1997 INSC 7762 December 1997Appeal(s) allowed
The Supreme Court allowed the State of Rajasthan's appeal against a single High Court judge, Justice Shethna, who, while hearing a criminal revision petition, improperly called for the record of a writ petition already disposed of by a Division Bench, made intemperate allegations against the Chief Justice and former ch…
P.D. PUSHPARAJANversusSTATE OF KERALA
1992 INSC 3262 December 1992Dismissed
The Supreme Court examined the murder of Divakaran, for which four accused, including Pushparajan (A‑3) and Murali (A‑4), were convicted under IPC sections 302 and 324 read with section 34 and sentenced to life imprisonment. The appellants argued that A‑3 should only be liable for the assault (section 324) and that all…
THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA & ANR.versusDR. MAROTI S/O KASHINATH PIMPALKAR
2022 INSC 11522 November 2022Appeal(s) allowed
The State of Maharashtra filed a criminal appeal against the quashing of FIR No.185/2019 and the charge‑sheet against Dr. Maroti, a medical practitioner, who was alleged to have failed to report sexual assaults on minor tribal girls in a hostel as required under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) A…
SHATRUGHNA BABAN MESHRAMversusSTATE OF MAHARASHTRA
2020 INSC 6242 November 2020Case Partly allowed
A two‑and‑a‑half‑year‑old girl was abducted, brutally raped and murdered by her maternal uncle, Shatrughna Baban Meshram. The trial court convicted the appellant under Sections 302, 376(1), 376(2)(f,i,m) and 376A of the IPC and Section 6 of the POCSO Act, imposing death sentences on the charges of murder and rape‑resul…
HIMACHAL PRADESH CRICKET ASSOCIATION & ANR.versusSTATE OF HIMACHAL PRADESH & ORS.
2018 INSC 10392 November 2018Disposed off
The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) was granted lease of government land to build a world‑class cricket stadium, later receiving additional land for a club house and a hotel at commercial rates. Two FIRs were filed alleging illegal lease grants, cheating, criminal breach of trust and violations of the Preve…
SATHYA NARAYANANversusSTATE REP. BY INSPECTOR OF POLICE
2012 INSC 5052 November 2012Dismissed
The case involved twelve accused members of an ashram who were charged with murdering a woman, Leelavathi, who was a trustee of the ashram. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, including the fact that the accused were last seen with the deceased, distress cries heard by a neighbor, commotion in the ashram…
MUTHUversusSTATE BY INSPECTOR OF POLICE, TAMIL NADU
2007 INSC 11252 November 2007Case Partly allowed
Muthu, a waste‑paper merchant, was charged with murder after he stabbed Siva, a waste‑paper collector, who had thrown rubbish into Muthu's shop. The trial court convicted Muthu under Section 302 IPC and sentenced him to life imprisonment, a decision upheld by the High Court. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined whethe…
STATE OF HARYANAversusMAHENDER SINGH AND ORS.
2007 INSC 11282 November 2007Dismissed
The respondents, life convicts sentenced in 1988 for murder, challenged a 2002 executive policy of the State of Haryana that set new criteria for premature release of life prisoners based on the nature and number of murders. The Punjab Prison Rules and Section 433A of the CrPC required a minimum of 14 years’ imprisonme…
STATE OF MAHARASHTRAversusBHARAT FAKIRA DHIWAR
2001 INSC 5492 November 2001Appeal(s) allowed
The State prosecuted Bharat Fakira Dhivar for the murder and rape of a three‑year‑old girl, Nisha, relying on the testimony of two child witnesses who saw the accused carrying a blood‑stained bag, and on forensic evidence linking the accused to the crime. The trial court convicted the accused under Sections 302, 376 an…