Indian Penal Code, 1860

The State of Maharashtra prosecuted Vishwanath Tukaram Umale and others for stealing railway tyres and tubes from a wagon in transit. The prosecution alleged that accused 1, 2, 5 and an absconding accused had removed the tyres, sold them to accused 3, who later sold some to accused 4. The trial magistrate refused to fr…

The petitioners, including Common Cause, challenged the appointments of K.V. Chowdary as Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) and T.M. Bhasin as Vigilance Commissioner (VC) on the ground that the selections violated the constitutional principles of impeccable and institutional integrity. They alleged that Chowdary had …

Devidas Loka Rathod was convicted under Sections 302 and 324 IPC for assaulting several persons with a sickle, resulting in one death. He pleaded unsound mind, asserting that a pre‑existing psychotic disorder rendered him incapable of understanding his acts. The trial and appellate courts rejected this defence, relying…

The appellant, Sonvir, was convicted along with two others for a double murder under Sections 302, 392 and 34 of the IPC based largely on circumstantial evidence such as recovered jewellery, a blood‑stained knife, a blood‑stained shirt, a Maruti van, and fingerprint matches. The appellant challenged the admissibility o…

The Supreme Court examined whether a magistrate had taken cognizance of an offence under Section 200 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) when a complaint was recorded and whether a complaint could be amended before cognizance was taken. It held that cognizance requires the magistrate to apply his judicial mind to the…

The appellants were convicted for the double murder of two brothers, Ashok and Rohtash, under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code. The sole eyewitness, the victims' brother (PW 3), hid during the attack out of fear and later reported the incident, identifying the appellants and describing the weap…

The appellant, Pundappa Yankappa Pujari, was charged with murder after allegedly assaulting Mahantappa with an axe during a boundary stone dispute, resulting in Mahantappa's death. The trial court acquitted the accused, but the Karnataka High Court set aside the acquittal and convicted him under Section 302 IPC, imposi…

The appellant, a bank branch manager, was charged with multiple IPC offences for allegedly conspiring with co‑accused to cheat a complainant after a lost cheque book was reported. The complainant had written to the bank on 17 May 2004 requesting that the lost cheques not be honoured, and the bank indeed refused to clea…

The case concerned the murder of Channegowda, who was attacked with choppers by three accused. The trial court convicted accused No.2 (Seena @ Srinivasa) under Section 302 IPC and accused No.3 under the same section. The High Court modified the conviction of accused No.2 to Section 326 IPC and acquitted accused No.3, p…

Arjun Jadav was convicted of murder in 1991 and sentenced to life imprisonment simplicitor. He served more than 20 years, including remission, and his wife’s two mercy petitions were rejected; the Superintendent of Alipore Central Jail later recommended his release. Jadav filed a writ petition under Article 32, arguing…

Arnesh Kumar, husband of Sweta Kiran, was charged under IPC s.498-A and the Dowry Prohibition Act s.4. He sought anticipatory bail, which was denied by the trial court and the High Court, prompting a petition before the Supreme Court. The Court examined the statutory framework governing police arrests without a warrant…

The appellant Suryakant Bitale was acquitted by the Sessions Court of offences under Sections 302 and 498A IPC relating to the death of his wife, Archana, who suffered severe burns. The complainant, her father Dilip Kale, sought revision of the acquittal under Section 397 of the CrPC, alleging misappreciation of two dy…

The State of Punjab filed a prosecution under Section 3048 of the Indian Penal Code for dowry death, summoning Gurmit Singh as an accused. Singh contended that he could not be tried under this provision because he was not a "relative of the husband" of the deceased woman. The Punjab & Haryana High Court agreed and quas…

The appellant, Pradeep Kumar, was convicted under Sections 304‑B (dowry death) and 498‑A (cruelty) of the IPC for the death of his wife Manju, who died from burns nine months after marriage. The prosecution relied on her dying declaration, which contained an initial statement of accident that was later found to be tuto…

The appellant, Davinder Singh, was married to Amarjit Kaur who died within seven months of marriage from severe burns. Prior to her death, she had telephonically complained of harassment and dowry demands by her husband and in‑laws, a fact corroborated by her brother and maternal uncle who witnessed the incident. The p…

The appellants were convicted for murder and related offences after an incident in which they allegedly entered the deceased's house and fired indiscriminately, killing Zahiruddin and injuring two others. The prosecution relied on the deceased's statement recorded under Section 161 of the CrPC (Ext.Ka‑9) as a dying dec…

The appellants were charged under Sections 498A, 304B, 406 and 34 IPC for the death of Ms Chandni, the wife of Jasvinder Saini. The trial court initially framed charges under 498A, 304B and 34, but after the Supreme Court’s direction in Rajbir v. State of Haryana to add Section 302 IPC in dowry‑death cases, it mechanic…

The appellants, convicted of murder under Section 302 and kidnapping for ransom under Section 364A of the Indian Penal Code, were sentenced to death. They challenged the constitutional validity of Section 364A on the grounds that prescribing death for kidnapping for ransom violates Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitutio…

The case concerned the murder of Lorik, who was shot dead after his motorcycle was stopped by four accused who opened fire on him. The trial court convicted all four accused under Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC and sentenced them to life imprisonment, also convicting them under Section 379 IPC. On appeal, the acc…

The appellants, Bishnu Sarkar and his brother Madhab Sarkar, were convicted under Section 304 Part I read with Section 34 of the IPC for the death of Shyamalendu, an Income Tax Inspector, after a verbal altercation escalated into a physical assault. The trial and High Courts upheld a ten‑year rigorous imprisonment for …

Makhan Singh was convicted under IPC sections 302 and 201 for the murder of his father Banta Singh and grandson Seva Singh, based on alleged motive over land, a claim that he was the last person seen with the victims, an extra‑judicial confession to Amrik Singh, a statement under Evidence Act s.27 that led to the disco…

The appellant, brother of an accused named Dharmendra Nath Mishra, was summoned to stand trial under Section 319 of the Code of Criminal Procedure despite not being named in the FIR. The FIR, registered under several IPC sections and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, alleged that Dharmendra, his brother and an …

Uttam was convicted under s.302 IPC for allegedly murdering his wife Pushpabai by pouring kerosene on her and setting her ablaze. The conviction rested on two written dying declarations recorded by a Special Executive Magistrate and an Investigating Officer, and two oral dying declarations given to the victim's father …

The incident involved Pussu (alias Ram Kishore) and his associate Sheo Rakhan firing on Bankey Lal and his companions, resulting in Bankey Lal's death and injuries to witnesses. The trial court convicted Pussu under Section 302 IPC (murder) and related offences, sentencing him to death, later commuted to life imprisonm…

Sheikh Zakir was convicted under Section 376 of the IPC for raping Barki Devi, a married tribal woman. The prosecution's case rested on the victim's testimony, corroborated by her husband and two eyewitnesses who saw the appellant on the victim's body and fleeing the scene. The defence argued that the lack of a medical…

The appellant, Om Prakash Sahni, challenged the High Court's order that suspended the life‑imprisonment sentences of three convicts (Jai Shankar Chaudhary, Abhay Kumar and Ram Babu Sahni) for the murder of his brother and released them on bail under Section 389 of the CrPC. The Supreme Court examined whether the High C…

Narsingh Ispat Ltd. had a Standard Fire and Special Perils policy with Oriental Insurance. After a violent intrusion on 23 March 2010 caused extensive damage to its factory, the insurer denied the claim invoking an exclusion clause that barred loss caused by "acts of terrorism". The Consumer Commission upheld the denia…

The appellant, Pawan Kumar, was selected as a constable in the Railway Protection Force (RPF) but was discharged during training for allegedly suppressing information about a criminal case in his attestation form. The FIR registered against him was later found to be false and he was acquitted, yet the employer claimed …

On 23 November 1997, while ploughing a disputed piece of land, accused No.1 (Ashok Singh) and accused No.2 (Kalusinh) allegedly fired three shots, killing Somiben (wife of PW‑5) and injuring PW‑6 and PW‑7. The trial court convicted both accused under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC and sentenced them to lif…

The appellant Tularam was convicted of murder for stabbing Bhadri Lodhi with a spear during a sudden quarrel that escalated into a violent altercation. The key issue was whether Tularam had the intention to cause death or only knowledge that his act could likely cause death. The Supreme Court examined Exception 4 to Se…

The appellant Murugan was convicted under Sections 364 and 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC for the murder of his father-in-law, Murugan, after the main accused Kumar, who had a motive to marry Kumar's daughter, invited the victim for dinner and killed him. The prosecution proved a motive, the invitation, the dinner…

The State of Uttar Pradesh alleged that Sunil, along with his brother‑in‑law Suresh Pal Singh, murdered the complainant's father, mother and two sisters. A confessional statement by the deceased brother‑in‑law led to the recovery of a knife and blood‑stained clothing, but the prosecution could not directly link Sunil t…

The Supreme Court examined a criminal appeal filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation against Indra Bhushan Singh and others, arising from a complaint lodged by the Deputy Registrar of the Allahabad High Court under Section 195(1)(b) of the CrPC. The Court found that the Deputy Registrar had filed the complaint on …

The wife filed a complaint against her husband under IPC sections 494 and 498A. During trial the husband entered into a settlement promising to take her back despite having taken a second wife. She initially expressed willingness to live with both, but later alleged breach of the settlement and petitioned the trial cou…

In 1997 a police party, led by ACP Satyavir Singh Rathi, mistakenly identified two civilians as a notorious criminal and opened fire on their car, killing both occupants and grievously injuring a third. The father of one victim filed a complaint, leading to a CBI investigation and the conviction of ten police officials…

The appellant, a tenant of a plot acquired for a road‑widening scheme, challenged the final allotment of re‑allotted plots on the ground that he had not been served a special notice as required by Sections 52 and 53 of the Gujarat Town Planning and Urban Development Act. The Court held that Rule 26 of the Gujarat Town …

In December 1992, during communal riots triggered by the demolition of the Babri Masjid, an armed mob entered the house of Taheruddin, killing his wife and two young daughters and injuring several family members. The trial court convicted eight accused under IPC sections 302, 134 and 448, but the High Court upheld conv…

The author Dr. P.V. Narayana published a novel titled "Dharmakaarana" depicting the 12th‑century saint Basaveshwara, which included a controversial Chapter 12 alleging the saint's sister bore an illegitimate child. Several eminent persons complained that the chapter insulted religious sentiments, prompting the Karnatak…

The Gujarat Cancer Society imported MRI and lithotripsy machines under a customs duty exemption certificate that required the equipment to be used by the "actual user". The Customs Collector later held the society liable for duty but, considering its charitable purpose, imposed only a token fine and did not prosecute. …

The appellant, Raju, was accused of enticing an 11‑year‑old girl, Rinku, with toffees, raping her and subsequently striking her with two bricks when she threatened to disclose the crime, resulting in her death. The prosecution relied on eyewitness testimony, the appellant's extra‑judicial confession to a local resident…

M.N. Daman filed a private complaint under Section 500 of the IPC alleging that S.K. Sinha and others made false and malicious imputations against him in a bail application, thereby defaming him. The magistrate, after recording Daman's sworn statement, issued summons to the respondents, finding a prima facie case of de…

The appellant, Ramesh Babulal Doshi, was charged with the murder of Khodibhai Patel and related offences. The prosecution relied solely on circumstantial evidence, including sightings of the appellant with the deceased, a trunk containing the body, and blood‑stained articles recovered from the appellant's flat. The tri…

The U.P. State Sugar Corporation Ltd., a government‑owned company, sought to sell eight loss‑making sugar units. Its net‑worth had fallen by more than 50%, making it a potentially sick industrial company under the Sick Industrial Companies (Special Provisions) Act, 1985. The corporation sent a letter dated 7‑11 May 199…

The Supreme Court entertained a writ of habeas corpus filed by Dhananjay Sharma alleging illegal detention by Haryana police on 15‑1‑1994. The police officials (SSP Anil Davra, Addl SP Sham Lal Goel and SHO Rajinder Singh) denied the allegations and filed false affidavits, while also pressurising the taxi driver Sushi …

The State of Maharashtra charged Anand Chintaman Dighe under the Indian Penal Code and the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) for the murder of a municipal corporator, alleging that Dighe had incited violence against political opponents through statements to the press. The Designated Court init…

Vishal Jeet filed a public‑interest writ petition under Article 32 seeking a CBI inquiry into police negligence, the forced prostitution, Devadasi and Jogini systems, and rehabilitation of victims. The Court observed that prostitution is a socio‑economic problem requiring preventive, not merely punitive, measures and t…

The petitioners, social workers who staged a peaceful dharna for school teachers, were arrested, convicted under Section 186 IPC and sentenced to one month’s imprisonment. After serving the sentence they were detained further and alleged that police handcuffed and paraded them in public without any written authority, v…

The State of Uttar Pradesh appealed to the Supreme Court against the High Court's order acquitting 24 of the 41 accused in a mass‑murder case that left 13 victims dead. The prosecution alleged a conspiracy by the accused to murder the victims during a sugar‑cane cutting, relying heavily on the testimony of several ocul…

Sawai Singh, a Superintendent in the Rajasthan Government, was removed from service after a departmental inquiry found him guilty of favouring a candidate, manipulating a dummy candidate's withdrawal, and forging a nomination paper by erasing the word "panch". The inquiry relied on vague charges and the testimony of a …

The Supreme Court examined two matters concerning the withdrawal of criminal prosecutions under Section 321 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973. In Criminal Appeal No. 287 of 1979, the Court held that a committing magistrate can grant consent to withdraw even when the offence is exclusively triable by a Court of Sessi…

The appellant, Shankar, was convicted for brutally beating his wife, Sugna Bai, pouring kerosene on her and setting her on fire, resulting in her death. The trial court sentenced him to life imprisonment under Section 302 IPC and a year under Section 342 IPC, relying heavily on the victim's dying declaration. On appeal…

The State of Delhi appealed against a Delhi High Court order granting bail to Rajeev Sharma, who was arrested under Sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923 and Section 120B of the IPC. Sharma filed multiple bail applications, all of which were dismissed, and later invoked Section 167(2) of the CrPC claimi…

The appellants were charged with murder and related offences under Sections 302, 201 and 34 of the IPC for the death of Mahesh Sahu, allegedly due to a love‑relation dispute. The trial court acquitted them, finding that the prosecution's circumstantial evidence was unreliable, witnesses were inconsistent, and the chain…

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) sought to deny bail to Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali, accused No.10 in a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA) and several IPC offences, alleging he was a key fund‑raiser for terrorist activities. The Delhi High Court granted bail, holding that the charge‑sh…

National Fertilizers Ltd. (NFL) paid $38 million for urea to a Turkish company, Karsan, but never received the product. The manager of Karsan, Tuncay Alankus, was extradited to India and faced criminal proceedings. The Supreme Court, on 4 September 2006 and again on 14 December 2006, restrained Alankus from withdrawing…

The State prosecuted Basti Ram for gang rape, kidnapping, confinement and intimidation of a girl, H.L., who was below 16 years at the time. The trial court, relying on H.L.'s detailed statement under Section 164 CrPC and her testimony, convicted Basti Ram under IPC sections 376(2)(g), 366, 342 and 506. The High Court, …

The Supreme Court examined the death of Rachhpal Kaur, who died of aluminium phosphide poisoning within seven years of her marriage while staying at her in‑laws' house. The deceased had repeatedly complained of harassment and cruelty by her husband Kulwant Singh and his parents for allegedly insufficient dowry, includi…

The respondent, a serving army soldier, was tried by a General Court Martial (GCM) for six offences including absence without leave, theft of ammunition and possession of a counterfeit seal, receiving dismissal and seven years' rigorous imprisonment. He contended that some offences were committed while he was a juvenil…

The appellant, Prajeet Kumar Singh, who had been living with the family of the informant for four years, was convicted of brutally murdering three children (ages 8, 15 and 16) and assaulting the parents and another child with a dagger. The prosecution relied on the testimony of three injured eyewitnesses who were also …

The appellant Mano was convicted, along with three others, for the murder of Pasupathy under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC. The prosecution case relied on the testimony of two brothers of the deceased and on weapons recovered after the incident, though the weapons were not subjected to forensic analysis. …

The case concerns an appeal by Madan Singh and others against their conviction for murder, attempted murder, assault, robbery and offences under the Arms Act and the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA). The police raided a house where about 20‑25 persons were assembled; a gunfight ensued, result…

The Bihar State Co‑operative Marketing Union (BISCOMAUN) was placed under administration by the State Government, after which its administrator, R.K. Singh, reported alleged financial irregularities involving former Managing Director P.P. Sharma, advisor G.D. Mishra and Chairman Tapeshwar Singh in the purchase of sub‑s…

The deceased Ram Pratap Singh was shot at an Octroi toll barrier; the State charged Awadhesh and Brajendra under IPC 302 read with 34 (and 307) based largely on the testimony of two eye‑witnesses, Rajendra Singh and Chhotey Bhaiya. The trial court found the eye‑witness accounts unreliable, noted contradictions in their…

The State of Orissa appealed the acquittal of Bhagaban Barik, who had struck a man with a lathi on the head, causing death. Barik claimed he acted in private defence of his property, believing the deceased to be a thief, and invoked section 79 of the IPC as a defence of mistake of fact. The Supreme Court examined wheth…

Umesh Chandra was charged under sections 364 and 302 IPC for an offence committed on 12 March 1973. He claimed to be a child (under 16) at the time and sought trial under the Rajasthan Children Act, 1970, which mandates that delinquent children be tried in a Children’s Court. The High Court held the Act inapplicable be…

The State of Punjab charged Sarwan Singh with embezzlement under IPC s.406, alleging the offence occurred on 22 August 1972 and was detected on 5 January 1973. The trial court convicted him in 1976, sentencing him to one year rigorous imprisonment and a fine. On appeal, the Punjab and Haryana High Court acquitted Singh…

The case involved six accused who were charged with murder and rioting under sections 302, 149 and 148 of the Indian Penal Code for the deaths of two brothers. A long-standing animosity existed between the families, and on the day of the incident the accused entered the victims' house, dragged them onto a narrow road a…

The appellant, Rajnish Singh, was charged under Sections 376, 384, 323, 504 and 506 IPC for alleged sexual exploitation and blackmail of the complainant, who claimed he promised marriage and later married another woman. The complainant alleged a 16‑year consensual relationship that began with a forced act in 2006, duri…

The appellant, brother of the deceased, filed FIRs alleging that the deceased wife was subjected to relentless dowry demands and cruelty by her in‑laws, culminating in her death by strangulation within two years of marriage. The trial court denied bail to the accused in‑laws, but the High Court later granted bail to al…

The appellant Karan Singh was convicted along with five others for murder, attempted murder and criminal conspiracy arising from a dispute over a buffalo price that led to a shooting on 8 April 1980. The prosecution alleged that all six accused, armed with rifles and guns, opened fire, killing Brahmapal Singh and injur…

The appellant, Shivaji Chintappa Patil, was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC for the death of his wife, who the prosecution alleged was killed after being abused for not obtaining money from her mother. The case hinged on circumstantial evidence, including the appellant's alleged motive, the lack of a detailed…

The appellants, Samta Naidu and others, challenged the dismissal of a second complaint filed under the Criminal Procedure Code alleging forgery in the sale of a family vehicle. The first complaint had been rejected by a Judicial Magistrate on the ground that no prima facie case was made out, and the dismissal was on me…

The appellants, accused Nos.2‑5, were convicted under Section 302 read with Section 149 of the IPC for the murder of Bal Kishan based solely on the testimony of the sole eyewitness, PW‑8 (Mullo Bai). The Supreme Court examined the consistency of PW‑8's statements recorded under Section 161 CrPC and her later deposition…

The case concerned the murder of Ratti Ram, for which Satish Kumar and Rajeev Kumar were convicted under IPC s.302 r/w s.34 and under Sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act. The trial court acquitted the accused, holding that the prosecution failed to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt, particularly because the dead body …

The State of Karnataka prosecuted four relatives of the complainant for offences under Sections 506, 354 and 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC for the fatal assault of Basavaraj. The trial court acquitted the accused, holding that the prosecution had not proved the case beyond reasonable doubt, particularly questioni…

The State of Madhya Pradesh appealed against a High Court order that reduced the conviction of Golu Raikwari and co‑accused from murder (s.302 IPC) to culpable homicide not amounting to murder (s.304 Part I IPC) and cut their life sentences to ten years rigorous imprisonment. The deceased, Hari Choudhary, was attacked …

The case concerned the murder of Ashok Kumar, for which accused Nos. 2‑5 were convicted under Sections 147, 148, 149, 302 and 397 of the Indian Penal Code. The prosecution’s case hinged on the testimony of two alleged eyewitnesses, PW 25 (Mirza Majid Beg) and PW 24 (Mohamed Shakir), who claimed to have seen the assaila…

The appellants were convicted of murder under Sections 302 and 34 IPC based primarily on the testimony of a single witness (PW7) and the alleged motive that one accused disapproved of the victim's relationship with his sister. The Supreme Court examined the reliability of PW7, noting a material contradiction between hi…

Prahalad Patel was convicted under Section 302 IPC for murdering Daulat, the brother of two witnesses, after a petty dispute over thrown bushes. The prosecution presented eye‑witness testimony, corroborative statements from the victim's brothers, medical reports indicating homicidal injuries, seizure of the axe, and fo…

The State of Goa appealed the acquittal of Sanjay and Anjali Thakran for murder, robbery and criminal conspiracy of a newly‑wed couple. The prosecution relied solely on circumstantial evidence – the accused were last seen with the victims, some jewellery and clothing were recovered from them, and the accused gave no ex…

The complainant Shaikh Saheblal Mardan filed a criminal complaint under IPC sections 406, 420 and 34 against his daughter Rashida Kamaluddin Syed and son‑in‑law Kamaluddin K. Syed for cheating and breach of trust. The complainant died in 1996 while the case was pending. His three sons applied for permission to continue…

The case concerned a gruesome family murder motivated by a land dispute, for which Suresh (A‑1) and his brother‑in‑law Ramji (A‑2) were convicted of murder and sentenced to death, while their wife Pavitri Devi (A‑3) was acquitted. The State appealed the acquittal, arguing that A‑3’s presence at the scene amounted to pa…

The appellants were convicted for offences under Sections 148, 149 and 302 of the IPC based solely on the testimony of PW‑7, a cousin of the deceased and an interested witness. The Supreme Court held that the burden of proof lies on the prosecution and must be discharged beyond reasonable doubt. It found that PW‑7's ev…

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) relied on two spiral notebooks and related documents recovered from J.K. Jain's premises to charge politicians V.C. Shukla and L.K. Advani, alleging they received bribes through a hawala scheme. The Supreme Court examined whether the notebooks qualified as "books of account" un…

The case concerns the murder of Tarkeshwar Prasad Singh on 13 January 1983, when accused Prem Kumar (Accused No.1) and Ramesh Singh (Accused No.2) entered a bus and fired rifles at the victim, killing him instantly. The trial court convicted the two accused under Section 302 IPC and also under Section 307 IPC; the High…

The appellants Arjun Marik, Mulo Marik and Bansi Marik were convicted of murdering Sitaram, his wife and granddaughter and of robbery, and sentenced to death under IPC sections 302, 394 and 411. The Supreme Court re‑examined the circumstantial evidence, finding no reliable motive, inconsistencies in the prosecution’s n…

The appellant, Harendra Nath Manda, was involved in a dispute over harvesting paddy crops with the complainant and his brother. During the confrontation the appellant allegedly struck the brother with a stick, but the victim survived. The Sessions Court convicted the appellant under section 307 read with section 34 (at…

The appellant filed a private complaint for offences under IPC sections 323 and 452 before a Judicial Magistrate First Class, who transferred the case to a Second Class Magistrate for enquiry under CrPC sections 192(2) and 202. The Second Class Magistrate issued process against the respondents, who challenged the issua…

The appellant Suresh Singhal and his father attended a meeting to resolve a property dispute, during which a scuffle broke out and the appellant was allegedly strangled by the deceased Shyam Sunder and his brothers. In the ensuing struggle the appellant drew his revolver and fired, killing Shyam Sunder; the second brot…

The appellants, led by Apparao Pund, entered a cattle shed owned by Madhavrao Range to forcibly take possession of the land, resulting in a scuffle during which they set the shed on fire with kerosene. Savitribai, the wife of Madhavrao, was injured in the blaze and later died from her burns. The trial court and High Co…

The respondents, driven by a prior enmity, tied and assaulted the victim, pressing his mouth and chopping off the lower part of his left leg. The trial court convicted them under Section 307 read with Sections 148 and 149 of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced each to five years' rigorous imprisonment. The High Court a…

The appellant and the informant were involved in a commercial dispute over payment for supplied bags. The informant alleged that the appellant and a third person forcibly took Rs.1580 from his pocket, leading to an FIR that listed offences including extortion under Section 384 IPC. The High Court rejected a compromise …

The appellant was convicted under Section 494 of the IPC for marrying a second time while his first marriage subsisted. He appealed the conviction, which was upheld, and then filed a revision petition under Section 397 of the CrPC. The High Court dismissed the revision petition ex parte because the appellant's counsel …

The petitioners Omi (Omkar) Rathore and another were named in the FIR for a murder case but the investigating officer filed a closure report exonerating them and they were not included in the charge‑sheet. During trial, the first informant reiterated his FIR testimony implicating the petitioners, leading the trial cour…

The appellant, Prem Singh, was convicted of murdering his two sons by manual strangulation and of causing the disappearance of evidence by throwing their bodies into a canal. The trial and high courts held that the prosecution proved the case beyond reasonable doubt through a cogent chain of circumstantial evidence, th…

The appellants Ram Chander and others were convicted for the murder of a mother and her unmarried daughter after the prosecution presented the testimony of Guddi (PW‑9), a close relative and next‑door neighbour, who described the assault, killing with a gandasa, and subsequent burning of the bodies. The defence argued …

The Supreme Court was asked to interpret Section 123(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, specifically the meaning of the pronoun "his" and whether the provision bars appeals based on religion, race, caste, community or language of the candidate, rival candidate, or the voter. The majority, led by Justice …

The Supreme Court examined the conviction of respondents under Section 3 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961. The trial court had sentenced them to three months' imprisonment, far below the statutory minimum of five years, without recording any special reasons. The High Court further reduced the sentence to four days on…

Mohd. Yousuf filed an application before the Chief Judicial Magistrate alleging forgery and fraud, prompting the magistrate to direct the police to register an FIR and investigate under Section 156(3) of the CrPC. The police filed a charge‑sheet, after which Afaq Jahan (respondent No. I) moved the High Court under Sect…

The appellants were charged under several IPC sections and Section 3(2)(v) of the SC/ST Act for allegedly firing a gun at Rinku Thakur, a member of a Scheduled Caste, and subsequently abusing a witness belonging to the same community. The medicolegal report, however, found no gunshot wound, and the prosecution’s case r…

The victim was alone at night when the accused entered her room and raped her. She reported the incident to her sister‑in‑law and mother‑in‑law, who did not believe her and even beat her, forcing her to go to her parental home where an FIR was lodged three days later. The trial court convicted the accused under Section…

A land dispute led to a mob assault on Abdul Wahab, resulting in his death. Thirty‑two persons were convicted under sections 147, 148, 149, 302, 201 and related provisions of the IPC. The appellant, Taijuddin, was alleged to have merely pointed out the house where the victim was hiding; he was present at the scene beca…

The appellant, Ashim Kumar Haranath Bhattacharya, was arrested in July 2012 under the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act for offences including conspiracy, waging war, and violations of the Arms and Explosive Substances Acts. Although the charge sheet was filed in 2012, charges were only framed in 2019 and the tri…

The Campaign for Judicial Accountability and Reforms filed a public‑interest litigation seeking a writ of mandamus directing the Supreme Court to constitute a Special Investigation Team, headed by a retired Chief Justice of India, to probe an FIR (RCIO(A)/2017‑AC.III) alleging conspiracy and bribes to obtain a favourab…

The appellant, Khokan Giri, was convicted along with three others for the murder and robbery of an elderly couple in Kolkata, based largely on the confessional statement of an accomplice, Raju Rao, who became an approver. The appellant challenged the conviction, arguing that the High Court gave undue weight to the appr…

The father of a 13‑14‑year‑old girl, Saraswati Kumari, filed a complaint after her body was recovered following a disappearance from a mela. Police recorded statements of several witnesses about a month after the incident, identifying the accused who allegedly kidnapped, raped and murdered the girl. The Additional Chie…

The appellant State of Madhya Pradesh challenged a Division Bench order that had set aside the Superintendent of Police’s refusal to grant a compassionate appointment to the respondent, Parvez Khan, who sought recruitment to the police service after his father’s death in service. The respondent had two criminal cases p…

The State of Rajasthan appealed the acquittal of Shera Ram @ Vishnu Dutta, who had been found not guilty of murder, offences under Sections 302, 295 and 449 IPC on the ground that he was of unsound mind at the time of the incident. The trial court had convicted him, but the High Court reversed the conviction, accepting…

Vimal Kumar Surana, who had passed the Chartered Accountant examination but was not a member of the Institute, impersonated a chartered accountant, prepared audit reports and forged the Institute's seal before tax authorities. The Institute filed a criminal complaint alleging offences under the Chartered Accountants Ac…

The appellant, Wahid Khan, was convicted under Section 376 of the IPC for raping a 12‑year‑old girl, while being acquitted of Section 366. The prosecution relied on the consistent testimony of the victim, an FIR lodged immediately after the incident, and the eyewitness account of a police sub‑inspector who caught the a…

The appellant Sukhdeep Singh was charged with murder under IPC s.302 for allegedly firing at his rival, Karam Singh, resulting in death. The trial court acquitted him, holding that the eyewitness testimony conflicted with the medical report and that the recovered .303 cartridge could not have been fired from the accuse…

Baldev Singh was convicted by the trial court and the High Court for murder (Sec. 302 IPC) and outraging modesty (Sec. 354 IPC) based largely on circumstantial evidence such as injuries on his body, recovered chappals and utensils, and alleged extra‑judicial confessions. The Supreme Court examined whether these circums…

The incident occurred on 19 March 1984 when a mob of labourers attacked police personnel at the Iron Ore Plot in Paradeep, resulting in the deaths of five police officers. Six accused were convicted by the trial court on the basis of eye‑witness testimony of Havaldar U.C. Jena (PW‑2) and another police witness (PW‑8). …

The Supreme Court examined an appeal filed by the State under Section 378(1) and (3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 against the acquittal of Batcu Venkatehswarlu and others by a trial court. The Court held that an appellate court has full power to re‑appreciate, review and reconsider the entire evidence and re…

The appellants Chaman, Vinod Kumar and Naresh entered the deceased Jaswant Singh's house armed with weapons, assaulted him and caused his death. They were convicted under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced to life imprisonment, with Vinod also convicted under Section 323. On appeal …

The case arose from the death of Anita, who allegedly committed suicide after her husband Vijay and mother‑in‑law Suman demanded dowry. The prosecution relied on a letter (Exhibit 19) written by Anita to her father, which mentioned a demand for a gold ring by the mother‑in‑law. The trial court convicted only the mother…

The appellant Prakash, along with co‑accused Badrilal and Dinesh, chased the unarmed deceased Ramprasad with lathis. Prakash struck Ramprasad's leg, causing him to fall, after which Badrilal delivered a fatal blow to the head, leading to death from multiple skull fractures. The trial court convicted all three under Sec…

The State of U.P. appealed the acquittal of two accused who had been convicted for rape under Section 376 IPC by the trial court. The High Court set them free on the sole ground that the prosecutrix was of "easy virtues," without providing any reasoning. The Supreme Court held that a victim's character is irrelevant to…

The State of Madhya Pradesh appealed against the Madhya Pradesh High Court's acquittal of Udai Singh, who had been convicted by the trial court for the murder of three women and the attempted murder of a fourth under IPC sections 302 and 307. The Supreme Court examined whether the eyewitness testimonies—despite minor i…

Anil Kumar was convicted of murder and dowry harassment for setting his wife on fire after she poured kerosene on herself during a quarrel. The prosecution proved that Kumar, under the influence of alcohol, assaulted his wife, after which she drenched herself in kerosene to deter further violence, and Kumar deliberatel…

The petitioner challenged the appointment of U.K. Sinha as Chairman of SEBI on grounds that he failed to satisfy the statutory requirement of "high integrity" under Section 4(5) of the SEBI Act, alleging mis‑representation, irregular deputation, false declarations, and a conspiracy to secure his selection. The Court ex…

The appellant Vithal was convicted of murder (IPC s.302) for allegedly pouring kerosene on the deceased Vishwanath and setting him alight, causing 98% burn injuries. Four dying declarations of the deceased were recorded by police officers and an executive magistrate; all named the appellant and were consistent. The tri…

The complainant filed a criminal complaint in 2002 alleging that the appellants had misled him about an appointment, invoking Sections 406, 409 and 418 of the IPC. The magistrate issued summons, but the appellants challenged the complaint on the ground that it was barred by the three‑year limitation prescribed in Secti…

The State of Uttar Pradesh prosecuted Udai Narain, an Additional Collector of Customs, and Reshamwala, a private individual, for allegedly receiving Rs.2 lakh in a corrupt transaction at Lucknow airport. They were charged under Sections 8, 10, 13(2) read with 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 and Secti…

Respondent K.R. Pangare, a retired Deputy Engineer of the Maharashtra Public Works Department, was charged in 1990 with multiple offences under the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act. Although sanction for prosecution was obtained in August 1989, he challenged the criminal proceedings before the Bom…

The appellant was convicted of rape and criminal intimidation on 30 April 2015, but before his sentencing hearing the presiding judge was transferred. The appellant sought to have the new judge rehear the case, including the conviction, invoking Sections 353 and 354 of the CrPC. The High Court dismissed the petition, h…

The appellant, an Indian citizen and US Green Card holder, was charged in 2014 with forgery and related offences under the IPC and was arrested in 2020. The High Court granted him eight weeks of interim bail but refused to relax the conditions to allow travel to the United States, despite his frequent prior travel and …

M/S. Magma FinCorp Ltd., the financier, entered into a hire‑purchase agreement with Rajesh Kumar Tiwari for a vehicle. Tiwari paid seven instalments before the financier repossessed the vehicle without a notice addressed to his correct address and later sold it. Tiwari filed a consumer complaint alleging unfair trade p…

The appellant Gurcharan Singh was convicted under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code for abetting the suicide of his wife, Shinder Kaur, who died after ingesting aluminium phosphide. The trial court and the High Court upheld the conviction despite the absence of direct evidence of cruelty, dowry harassment, or wilful…

Sudam @ Rahul Kaniram Jadhav was convicted under Sections 302 and 201 IPC for the murder of his wife Anita and their four children, based largely on circumstantial evidence, two extra‑judicial confessions and motive. The petitioner sought a review of the Supreme Court's affirmation of his conviction and death sentence,…

The Kodungallur Film Society filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking directions to prevent mob violence against cultural establishments, especially following protests over films like Padmaavat. The Court examined whether the State must implement the guidelines from In Re: Destruction of Public and Private Proper…

The case involved two officials of the Rural Water Supply Department of Zilla Parishad, Jalgaon, accused of misappropriating public funds allocated for rural drinking‑water schemes. FIRs were filed after an enquiry by the Revenue Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner, alleging large sums were siphoned through fictitious…

The case concerns the murder of Suresh Chandra, who was tied up and assaulted with lathis and dandas by five accused including Kishan Ram, Pani Ram, Dev Singh, Har Ram and Chandan Singh. The trial court and the High Court convicted the five under Section 302 read with Section 149 of the IPC and sentenced them to life i…

The CBI filed a criminal case against Jagjit Singh and others for cheating and forgery under Sections 420 and 471 IPC, alleging that they obtained bank loans through forged documents with the collusion of bank officials. The accused later settled the debt with Indian Overseas Bank by complying with an order of the Debt…

The complainant filed a criminal complaint alleging offences under sections 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120‑B IPC. The Chief Judicial Magistrate, invoking s.202 CrPC, ordered a police investigation and later dismissed the complaint under s.203, stating the dispute was civil. The complainants sought revision under s.397 read…

The State appealed the acquittal of Sait & Krishnakumar, who had been convicted by a Sessions Court of murder (IPC s.302) and robbery (IPC s.392 r/w s.397) based on the testimony of prosecution witnesses PW‑1 to PW‑3 and PW‑8. The High Court set aside the conviction, holding that PW‑1, PW‑2 and PW‑3 had seen the accuse…

The Sessions Judge convicted Palanisamy (Selvan) for murder under s.302 IPC based on two pieces of circumstantial evidence: witnesses 1 and 2 who claimed to have seen the deceased with the accused at 11 p.m. on a dark night, and an alleged extra‑judicial confession made to the village head (PW‑3) on the following morni…

Six accused were tried for the murder of Sajjan Singh and injuries to two other persons. The trial court convicted all under Section 302 read with Section 149 IPC and sentenced them to life imprisonment along with other terms. The High Court altered the murder conviction to Section 304 Part II and, for five of the accu…

The appellant Jaipal was convicted by the trial court and the Punjab & Haryana High Court for murdering his wife Prakash Devi by allegedly administering aluminium phosphide (celphos) based on circumstantial evidence. The prosecution relied on the testimony of the sister‑in‑law, the victim's father, medical findings, an…

The appellant K. Prabhakaran challenged the election of P. Jayarajan, who had been convicted of several offences and sentenced to 29 months of imprisonment, on the ground of disqualification under Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. The trial court had ordered the sentences to run consecutively, ma…

The brothers Nandu Rastogi and Bal Mukund Rastogi, together with Jagdish Chamar and two unknown persons, were convicted for the murder of Shankar Rastogi, the son of informant Shyam Mohan Rastogi, over a property‑eviction dispute. The prosecution proved that the accused entered the informant’s shop armed, seized the vi…

The case concerned the murder of Ravinder Singh, alleged to have been committed by Prem Singh and Deepinder Singh in a dispute over land. The trial court convicted both under Section 302 IPC, relying on eyewitness testimony, an extra‑judicial confession and alleged weapon recoveries. The High Court acquitted them, find…

The appellant, Dinesh Dutt Joshi, was accused of demanding a bribe for providing an electric connection. The trial court discharged him, but the Rajasthan High Court, invoking its inherent power under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, set aside the discharge and ordered that charges be framed against him, …

The appellant, Sukhar, was convicted under Section 307 IPC for allegedly shooting his uncle Nakkal, who later died. The prosecution relied on the FIR, the victim's statements, and the testimony of PW2, who claimed the victim identified Sukhar as the shooter after PW2 arrived at the scene. The Supreme Court held that th…

The appellants Sukhbir Singh and others were initially charged under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) and tried by a designated TADA court. The designated judge held that no offence under TADA was made out and, relying on a Punjab and Haryana High Court decision, ordered the case transfer…

Balbir Singh and Inderjit Singh, brothers, were charged with murder of their relative Onkar Singh under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC. The Sessions Judge acquitted them, but the Punjab and Haryana High Court, on appeal by the State, convicted them and sentenced them to life imprisonment. The appellants appealed to the…

The case concerned the conviction of Tarun Sharma under Section 302 IPC for the murder of Munish Kumar, based primarily on a dying declaration recorded by a police Sub‑Inspector. The Supreme Court examined whether the dying declaration was reliable, given that the victim had been unconscious for most of the period, the…

The case involved a minor girl who became pregnant after being allegedly raped separately by two accused, Hare Ram Sah and Manish Tiwari, in 2016. The trial court convicted them under IPC s.376(2) and POCSO §§4,6, imposing rigorous life imprisonment, but the High Court acquitted them, holding that the prosecution faile…

The appellant, M/s Triveni Engineering and Industries Ltd., a sugar manufacturer, was ordered by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to pay Rs.18 crore as environmental compensation for alleged illegal discharge of untreated effluents and related violations. The appellant challenged the orders on the ground that it was n…

The case concerns a murder that occurred in 1995, for which respondent No.2 was initially acquitted by the trial and High Courts but later convicted by the Supreme Court under Sections 302 and 307 of the IPC. The principal issue before the Court was the appropriate sentence, including whether the death penalty was warr…

The appellant, Bhadresh Bipinbhai Sheth, was originally charged in 2001 under Section 506(2) IPC for harassment. After a nine‑year delay, the prosecutrix sought addition of a rape charge under Section 376 IPC, which was finally framed in 2014. The appellant obtained anticipatory bail from the Additional Sessions Judge …

Abdul Waheed, aggrieved by a civil suit and contempt petition, went armed with a pistol and firearms to the chabutra of Abbas Khan, where he and co‑accused fired shots and assaulted the complainants with lathis, resulting in the deaths of Abbas Khan and Israr Khan and injuries to several others. The prosecution relied …

The appellant, a Head Constable with 34 years of service, was dismissed after his son and two others were arrested for stealing a car under Section 392 IPC, the car being recovered from the government quarters occupied by the appellant. The disciplinary authority held the appellant guilty of negligence, indiscipline, a…

Ajit Singh, the appellant, assaulted Laxmi Devi after a quarrel over her cutting fodder in his field, ordering his servant to fetch a spade and then striking her twice on the neck, causing grievous injuries from which she died after four days. The trial court convicted him under Section 302 IPC and sentenced him to lif…

The case involved the murder of Sanjay Kumar, a union leader, who was shot with his own licensed pistol after being taken to a hotel by four accused Union members. The trial court convicted all four under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC, but the High Court upheld the conviction of only two appellants, Santo…

The case involves the murder of a BJP leader in Kerala, allegedly carried out by workers of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) as part of a political rivalry. The victim's wife, along with two other eyewitnesses, identified the assailants, and a dying declaration of the victim corroborated their testimony. The tria…

The appellant Sushil Kumar was convicted of murdering his wife and two young children and was sentenced to death. The prosecution proved the murders through eyewitness testimony, forensic evidence, and the appellant's own disclosure memo, while the alibi he claimed was rejected as contradictory. The Supreme Court exami…

The appellant Dhanapal and co‑accused were acquitted by the Sessions Judge of offences under IPC ss.307, 302 read with s.34. The Madras High Court set aside the acquittal, convicted them and imposed life imprisonment and five years. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined whether the High Court was justified in overturni…

The deceased Vijay was tied to a cot and brutally assaulted with an iron pipe and wooden stick by six accused, leading to his death. While on his deathbed he gave a dying declaration to his brother (PW9) and mother (PW10) identifying all six assailants. The trial court convicted the principal accused under Section 304 …

The appellant V.D. Chaudhary challenged a bail order granted by the Allahabad High Court to the accused (respondent No.2) for offences under Sections 304 and 338 IPC, alleging that the High Court had not given reasons and that the bail was being used to delay the trial. The case originated from a FIR alleging shooting …

The appellant, Nirmal Jeet Kaur, alleged dowry harassment and filed a criminal complaint against her husband (Respondent No.2) under Sections 498A, 506 IPC and the Dowry Prohibition Act. Respondent No.2 sought anticipatory bail under Section 438 CrPC, which the High Court disposed of, directing him to apply for regular…

Sukhdev Singh, a personal security officer, got into a quarrel with Devender Singh over a parked scooter. During the scuffle he drew his pistol and fired, killing Singh and injuring a passer‑by. He claimed the pistol was snatched and the discharge accidental. The trial court convicted him of murder (Sec. 302 IPC) and a…

The tenant, Mohan Singh, obtained two successive permissions for a limited tenancy under Section 21 of the Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958. After the second limited period expired, the landlord sought possession and the tenant alleged that the second permission was procured by fraud and that he was absent from the court o…

Amrutlal Someshwar Joshi was convicted of murdering three persons, including a three‑year‑old child, during a robbery and was sentenced to death under IPC 302. He appealed, arguing that he was only 17 years old at the time of the offence and that age should be a mitigating factor, citing Hamam and Raisul as precedents.…

Shashi Bhushan Prasad, a constable of the Central Industrial Security Force, was charged criminally under Section 25(1) of the Arms Act for allegedly supplying an unlicensed revolver used in a murder, and was acquitted when prosecution witnesses turned hostile. Simultaneously, a departmental inquiry under Rule 34 of th…

The appellants were convicted for kidnapping, rape, and murder of a three‑year‑old girl based largely on circumstantial evidence, including telephone call records, a scarf, a drawing book, a rexin bag, and chocolate wrappers. The prosecution alleged that the appellants made threatening calls, possessed the bag in which…

Manoharan was convicted for kidnapping, gang‑rape of a 10‑year‑old girl and the murder of the girl and her 7‑year‑old brother, who were thrown into a canal after a failed poisoning attempt. The prosecution proved the offences beyond reasonable doubt through extensive witness testimony, forensic DNA evidence linking Man…

The victim, a minor at the time of rape, became pregnant and delivered a child at a hospital where three staff members – a gynecologist, a pediatrician and a hospital administrator – were later charged under Sections 19(1) and 21(1) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and Sections 201 and 34…

The case arose from a politically motivated attack on a Congress Sewa Dal president who was campaigning against the removal of a mayoral candidate. Four accused, including the nephew of one accused, arrived together in a car; one accused (A‑2) fired a revolver at the deceased while the others provided cover and later f…

The CBI filed a charge sheet alleging a false insurance claim and charged several persons, including advocate M. Sivamani, under IPC sections 182, 120‑B, 420, 468, 471 and the Prevention of Corruption Act. Sivamani moved a petition invoking CrPC s.195(1)(a)(i), contending that the court could not take cognizance of the…

The appellant was accused of raping an eight‑year‑old girl who later died of neurogenic shock. Although the initial FIR did not name him, the investigation recovered the child's shawl and recorded a voluntary confessional statement. The trial court convicted him under IPC sections 376, 302 and 201 and sentenced him to …

The case arose from the murder of Devi Lal, who was killed by Gajanand with an axe while a dispute over grazing goats escalated. The trial court convicted Gajanand under s.302 IPC and sentenced him to life imprisonment, but the Rajasthan High Court acquitted him, accepting his claim of exercising the right of private d…

The State of Kerala appealed a trial court acquittal of Valson and others for offences including murder (IPC s.302) and assault (s.324) read with s.34. The High Court reversed the acquittal, convicting two accused and sentencing them to life imprisonment. The Supreme Court examined the scope of appellate power under Cr…

The appellant had taken a loan and issued post‑dated cheques which were later dishonoured; a legal notice was sent on 17‑01‑2001 and a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act was filed on 20‑04‑2001, later amended to include Section 420 IPC. The High Court held that the amendment to Section 142(b)…

The appellant, a husband, and his parents-in-law were convicted under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC for the death of the appellant's wife, who allegedly died after being set on fire. The prosecution's case rested on four dying declarations made by the deceased, which were contradictory: two statements blamed the paren…

The appellant, Veer Prakash Sharma, entered into a contract to purchase welding rods from the respondents but failed to pay the full price and issued two cheques that were later dishonoured. The respondents filed a criminal complaint alleging offences under Sections 402, 406, 409 and 417 of the IPC, and a Special Judic…

The State of Madhya Pradesh charged Basodi with the murder of his nephew under IPC s.302 and the Arms Act s.27, alleging he shot the victim with a muzzle‑loading gun. The trial court convicted Basodi, relying on an alleged extra‑judicial confession made before three witnesses. On appeal, the High Court found the confes…

The State of Karnataka appealed against the acquittal of accused persons (including A‑3 and A‑4) who were alleged to have thrown the deceased's body into a fire, based on the testimony of PW‑26. The principal issue was whether Section 201 of the Indian Penal Code could be invoked when there was no proven offence and wh…

Gurdev Singh and Satnam Singh were part of a five‑person gang that opened fire on a wedding feast and later on another house, killing 15 people and injuring eight. They were tried separately after absconding, convicted under IPC s.302 r/w s.149 and sentenced to death, a judgment affirmed by the High Court. The Supreme …

The appellant, G. V. Rao, was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC based solely on circumstantial evidence, including the identification of the deceased’s skeletal remains, a witness who last saw the victim with the accused, the accused’s extra‑judicial confession, and the recovery of clothing and other items purs…

The Supreme Court examined two criminal appeals arising from a 1980 incident in which a dispute over tubewell irrigation led to a lathi assault followed by simultaneous gunshots that killed the victim, Mangali. The Court held that the two accused who fired the guns (Ram Swarup and Raja Ram) shared a common intention to…

The appellants were charged with murder of a man who refused to sell his property. The trial court acquitted them, finding that the prosecution failed to prove motive, that the eyewitnesses were unreliable and that there was no evidence of common intention. The High Court reversed the acquittal, convicting the accused …

The appellant was convicted for murder under Section 302 IPC based on the testimony of the deceased's son, who claimed the appellant killed his father with an axe over a marital dispute. The trial court and the Madhya Pradesh High Court upheld the conviction despite serious inconsistencies, lack of corroboration, and t…

The appellants were charged with murder under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC for allegedly tying a woman to a tree and beating her with heated weapons. The Sessions Court acquitted them, finding the sole eye‑witness, the husband of the deceased, unreliable due to contradictions, omissions and lack of corroboration. The…

The appellants, three brothers, were convicted under IPC sections 302, 394 and 34 for the murder of Bigna Bedia and robbery of his house. The sole eye‑witness, the victim's wife (PW‑14), claimed to have identified the accused but later said she was unconscious until the police arrived, casting doubt on her testimony. T…

The appellant Neeraj Gupta filed a private complaint alleging that his father died after an altercation with the respondents, leading to a criminal proceeding under sections 302 IPC. The complaint was taken up by a Judicial Magistrate First Class under Section 156(3) CrPC, and the magistrate recorded some pre‑charge ev…

Manoranjan Pandey, a 39‑year‑old construction contractor and sole breadwinner, died in a road accident on 29 May 2018. His legal representatives filed a claim under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded Rs 2.27 crore based on the deceased’s income tax return (ITR) f…

Chandrikaben Kishor Dafda appealed against the High Court's refusal to quash a criminal case initiated for allegedly suppressing her spouse's property in an election affidavit filed for the 2015 municipal councillor election. The trial magistrate had taken cognizance under Section 125A of the Representation of Peoples …

Parveen Kumar was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment in 2009. In 2022 he applied for remission under the 2002 Haryana remission policy, which required the Governor’s approval under Article 161 of the Constitution, but his application was rejected on the ground that the later 2008 policy, issued unde…

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) investigated the murder of Rudresh and charged Asim Shariff, the Bengaluru unit president of the Popular Front of India, along with four others under multiple provisions of the IPC, Arms Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Shariff filed an application for discharge …

The appellants Mumtaz alias Muntyaz and Dilshad alias Pappu were convicted under Sections 302 and 34 IPC for setting fire to the victim Pawan Kumar, who later died of burn injuries. The prosecution relied on eyewitness testimony and a dying declaration recorded by a Sub‑Divisional Magistrate, which was endorsed by a do…

The victim Tikaram was attacked, had petrol poured on him and was set ablaze. While burning, he was surrounded by the accused, who prevented his escape, threw a burning tyre and a sword at him, and later he died of his injuries. The trial court convicted all accused under Section 302 read with Section 149 of the Indian…

The police intercepted the vessel M.V. Seaman Guard Ohio within Indian territorial waters and seized a large quantity of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, leading to a charge sheet under the Arms Act, 1959 and other statutes. The accused challenged the charge sheet through revision (s.397) and a petition under the in…

Madan Lal was convicted by a Sessions Court for raping a seven‑year‑old girl under IPC Section 376(2)(f) read with Section 511 and sentenced to five years’ rigorous imprisonment. The High Court, relying on a compromise between the accused and the victim’s parents, set aside the rape conviction, reduced the charge to Se…

The State of Uttar Pradesh appealed the High Court’s acquittal of Satveer and others for the murder of an eight‑year‑old boy. The prosecution’s case rested on the testimony of a single eyewitness, PW2, who claimed to have seen the accused take the child into a baithak and later find his dead body there. The Supreme Cou…

The State of Jammu & Kashmir appealed the acquittal of two accused in a bomb‑blast case that killed eight people and injured eighteen. The trial court had dismissed the confessional statement of Ghulam Nabi Guide because it was recorded in Hindi, not in the accused's native language, and consequently acquitted both Ghu…

Amar Singh Yadav, a police constable, was convicted for murdering his wife and three of his children by locking them in a van and setting it ablaze. The trial court relied on the dying declarations of the wife and two daughters, which were corroborated by injured eyewitnesses, to uphold convictions under Sections 302, …

The appellant, Manohar Lal, was convicted under Section 3048 of the IPC for the alleged dowry death of his wife, who died from burn injuries within seven years of marriage. The prosecution alleged that the deceased was subjected to cruelty and harassment for dowry, culminating in her death, and charged the appellant un…

The appellant and four others were accused of attacking the father of the complainant with weapons, causing fatal injuries that led to his death. The trial court convicted them under Sections 302, 149 and 148 of the IPC, while the High Court altered the murder conviction to Section 302/34 and acquitted them of the Sect…

The Supreme Court examined the conviction of Umakant and his in‑laws for murder under Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC, which was based solely on the victim's dying declaration. The Court held that the dying declaration was unreliable, showing signs of tutoring and contradictions with other evidence, and therefore …