Indian Penal Code, 1860

The respondents were convicted for murder and related offences arising from an incident on 17 January 2002. After being acquitted by the High Court, the Supreme Court restored the conviction in 2022, and the accused served more than four years of imprisonment. The accused then filed a miscellaneous application claiming…

Parveen Kumar was married to Raksha Devi, who filed multiple complaints alleging cruelty, including an FIR under Section 498-A and a maintenance petition under Section 125 CrPC. Within two years of marriage, she died by ingesting aluminum phosphide tablets, and her brother lodged an FIR accusing the husband of cruelty …

The appellant (accused No.2) was convicted under IPC s.420 and the Passports Act for allegedly facilitating the illegal issuance of a second passport to accused No.1, who already possessed a passport. The prosecution relied on the testimony of three witnesses, including a hostile employee and a handwriting expert, but …

The appellant filed an FIR alleging that his son was brutally murdered in broad daylight by a group of seven assailants, resulting in eight grievous injuries. One of the accused, respondent No.2, was granted bail by the Allahabad High Court on the ground of parity with other co‑accused who had also been released on bai…

S.P.S. Rathore, a senior police officer, was convicted under Section 354 IPC for molesting a minor girl, Ruchika, after she was forced into his office and embraced against her will. The prosecution relied primarily on the testimony of a single eye‑witness, PW‑13 (Aradhana), whose account was corroborated by other witne…

The appellant Dhal Singh Dewangan was accused of murdering his wife and five daughters. The prosecution relied on statements of village witnesses (PWs 1,2,3,5) that they heard the appellant’s mother (PW‑6) accuse him, and on circumstantial evidence such as the presence of a blood‑stained knife and the appellant’s uncon…

The appellant, Ranjit Sarkar, was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC for delivering a single blow with a wooden file to the head of the deceased, Anil Das, who later died from head injuries. The prosecution alleged multiple injuries, while the defence argued that only one blow caused the death, making it culpabl…

The appellant, S. Mahaboob Basha, was convicted under Section 498A IPC for subjecting his wife, PW‑1, to cruelty and dowry harassment, along with other offences. The prosecution presented testimony of the wife, her brother, and mother, and documentary evidence establishing repeated ill‑treatment and unlawful dowry dema…

The deceased Rajni died from severe burns after kerosene oil was poured on her and she was set alight. Her dying declaration named her husband Mahender Singh, her brother‑in‑law Prem Kumar Gulati and his wife Simla as participants, but did not specify who actually poured the oil or lit the fire. The trial court and Hig…

Both parties were minors when they allegedly married. The wife filed two suits—one to restrain the husband from remarrying and another seeking a perpetual injunction against alienation of property, claiming a one‑third share for herself and her daughter. She also filed a petition under Section 9 of the Hindu Marriage A…

The appellant, a District Excise Officer, was charged with cheating for allegedly facilitating the replacement of a partnership deed dated 5‑Mar‑2002 with a forged deed dated 6‑Mar‑2003, thereby depriving the complainant of his share in an excise liquor contract. The complainant filed a criminal complaint under IPC sec…

The appellant and the complainant, who are brothers, were involved in a pending partition suit where the appellant produced a deed that the complainant alleged was altered and forged. The complainant filed a criminal complaint under several sections of the Indian Penal Code alleging forgery and related offences. The Hi…

A complaint alleging that police refused to register an earlier FIR was filed before a Judicial Magistrate who ordered an inquiry under Section 202 of the Cr.P.C. The Gujarat High Court set aside that order and directed an inquiry under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C. The appellants challenged the High Court, arguing that once …

The respondents were convicted of murder under IPC s.302 read with s.34 and sentenced to life imprisonment. While on trial they had been on bail and allegedly did not misuse that liberty, and later filed an application under CrPC s.389 seeking suspension of the sentence and bail. The Allahabad High Court granted bail o…

The State of West Bengal appealed the Calcutta High Court's acquittal of Orilal Jaiswal and his mother, Gujarati Debi, on charges of abetment of suicide (Sec. 306 IPC) and cruelty (Sec. 498A IPC). The Supreme Court examined whether the victim’s mother, brother and other close relatives provided sufficient evidence of c…

The case concerned the death of Sudha, who was found burnt in a Delhi flat; the prosecution alleged that her mother‑in‑law Shakuntala and husband Laxman Kumar deliberately set her on fire to avoid dowry demands, while the defence claimed an accidental fire from a kerosene stove. The trial court convicted all three accu…

The petitioners, sentenced to death for murder, challenged the constitutionality of Section 354(5) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which mandates execution by hanging, alleging it is cruel, barbarous and violative of Article 21 of the Constitution. The Court examined whether hanging constitutes a cruel or degrading …

The appellant, Shajan Skaria, an online news editor, published a YouTube video alleging misconduct by the complainant, an MLA belonging to a Scheduled Caste. The complainant filed a complaint under Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(u) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and the Sp…

The appeals challenge the Special Judge’s order on charge (24‑12‑2021) and charge‑framing order (03‑03‑2022) against Karnataka Emta Coal Mines Ltd (KECML) and its former MD for alleged conspiracy to illegally sell coal washery rejects. The Court examined whether the CBI’s investigation was predicated solely on the 2013…

The complainant, a supplier of horse feed, alleged that Delhi Race Club (1940) Ltd. and its officers failed to pay Rs 9,11,434 for goods supplied and filed a private complaint invoking sections 406, 420 and 120B of the IPC. The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, after a magisterial inquiry under Section 202 CrPC, is…

The Supreme Court examined an appeal against a Rajasthan High Court order that granted bail to three accused in a gang‑rape case involving a 15‑year‑old girl. The FIR alleged offences under Sections 376D, 384, 506 IPC, Sections 3‑6 POCSO Act, Section 3(2)(v) SC/ST Act and Section 66 IT Act, with the complainant asserti…

The appellant, Irfan, was convicted and sentenced to death for allegedly setting fire to a room that killed his son and two brothers, based primarily on two dying declarations. The prosecution argued that the appellant had motive and that eye‑witnesses saw him pour inflammable substance and lock the door. The defence c…

The case arose from a fall of a guest from the terrace of the Hyatt Regency hotel in Delhi, leading to charges under Sections 336, 338 IPC read with Section 32 and Section 4 of the COTPA 2003 against the hotel company, its Managing Director (Shiv Kumar Jatia) and its General Manager (Aseem Kapoor). The High Court refus…

An FIR was lodged for corruption and a charge‑sheet was filed against 16 persons, while three individuals—Girish Sharma, Arvind Singh Dhruv and Jeet Ram Yadav—were recorded as witnesses under Sections 161 and 164 of the CrPC and not named as accused. Some of the accused applied under Sections 193/319 to have these thre…

Manoj Kumar Sharma, a serving Flying Officer, was accused of dowry‑related offences after his wife’s death was initially investigated as a suicide under Section 174 of the CrPC and closed with no foul play. Five years later, the deceased’s brother filed an FIR alleging murder, dowry cruelty and IPC sections 304B, 498A …

The State of Orissa appealed against the Orissa High Court's alteration of the conviction of three accused from murder (s.302 IPC) to culpable homicide not amounting to murder (s.304 Part II IPC). The facts revealed that the accused entered a house at night, molested a woman, and, after the victim's father verbally abu…

The husband and wife obtained a decree of divorce by mutual consent in 2008. The wife later filed a criminal complaint under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 alleging the divorce decree was a sham and that they continued to live together. The husband moved the trial magistrate under Section 482 …

The police, acting on a tip, stopped Daulat Ram who was carrying a bag on his head and offered him a choice under Section 50 of the NDPS Act to be searched before a magistrate, a gazetted officer, or the SHO; he chose the SHO. The bag was opened and contraband opium was found, leading to his conviction under Sections 8…

The State of Maharashtra appealed against the Bombay High Court's order granting bail to six accused, including Sitaram Popat Vetal, in a murder case (Section 302 IPC) concerning the death of Hanumant Vithal Chaudhary. The High Court had released the accused on the ground that they were falsely implicated due to politi…

The appellant, T.K. Reddy, was convicted of murdering his wife Ramulamma by allegedly setting her on fire, based primarily on a dying declaration recorded by a magistrate (Exhibit P‑2) that accused him of the act. A second dying declaration recorded by police (Exhibit P‑5) claimed the wife had set herself on fire due t…

Criminal complaints were lodged against the managing editor, chief editor and resident editor of several newspapers alleging publication of defamatory material. The magistrate took cognizance under IPC sections 319 and 500 and issued summons. The accused filed petitions under CrPC s.482 seeking quash of the proceedings…

The appellant, Nayudu Srihari, and fourteen others were charged with the murder of Nagulu, a member of a rival faction, based solely on the testimony of PW‑1. The trial court and the Andhra Pradesh High Court upheld the conviction, despite inconsistencies in PW‑1's statements, the fact that his parents testified he was…

Rai Singh was convicted for the murder of Smt. Parkashi, who was shot with a pistol inside her house in the early hours of January 30, 1987. The prosecution established that Singh had an illicit relationship with the deceased, and that he was present at the house on the night of the murder, where he fired the pistol af…

The Supreme Court examined the appeal of Mehbub Samsuddin Malek and two co‑accused convicted for a communal riot in Baroda. The driver (appellant No.1) stopped his bus opposite a mob of armed Muslim youths, got down, and conversed with them, after which the mob attacked the passengers, leading to deaths. The Court held…

Ranjit Singh was convicted of murder in 1979 and sentenced to life imprisonment. While on parole he committed a second murder in 1980, for which the Supreme Court in 1983 sentenced him to another term of life imprisonment, directing that the second sentence would not run concurrently with the first and that any remissi…

The complainant filed Criminal Complaint No. 1828 of 2019 alleging offences under several sections of the IPC against the accused. The accused first filed a quashing petition under s.482 CrPC, which the High Court dismissed. Six months later they filed a second quashing petition on the same grounds, and the High Court …

The respondent, a Constable (GD) in the CRPF, filled a verification roll in November 2011 denying any pending criminal cases, despite having been arrested, bailed, and having two FIRs registered against him earlier that year. The employer discovered the omission, issued a show‑cause notice, and after a departmental inq…

The appellant was granted regular bail by a Special Court on 17 June 2023 in a PMLA case, after which the Enforcement Directorate sought cancellation of bail under Section 439(2) of the CrPC. The Delhi High Court, without hearing the appellant’s counsel, issued an ex‑parte interim stay of the bail order on 23 June 2023…

The case arose from a violent incident at a polling booth where the accused, belonging to another village, attacked a voter slip issuer and his brother, using lathis and pistols, causing injuries to several witnesses. The trial court convicted the accused of voluntarily causing hurt under Section 323 IPC and rioting un…

Indra Devi alleged that a fraudulent land transaction involving a forged lease was carried out in collusion with municipal officials, including a clerk (Respondent No.2) who was not named in the FIR. Respondent No.2 sought protection under Section 197 of the CrPC, claiming his actions were performed in the discharge of…

The complainant Shiv Prakash Mishra alleged that five persons, including Subhash Chandra Shukla (respondent No.2), formed an unlawful assembly and attacked his brothers, resulting in the death of Sangam Lal Mishra. While the FIR named all five, the investigating officer, after examining witnesses, concluded that Subhas…

The State of Uttarakhand appealed the acquittal of Girish Singh and Jodh Singh, who were charged under Sections 304B r/w 34 and 306 r/w 34 of the IPC for the alleged dowry death of Ishwari Devi, who committed suicide by burning within seven years of marriage. The High Court convicted them, relying on unproduced letters…

The Supreme Court examined an editorial published by Arun Shourie that criticised a report of a Commission of Inquiry headed by a sitting Supreme Court Judge, Justice Kuldip Singh. Dr. Subramanian Swamy filed contempt petitions alleging that the editorial scandalised the Court. The Court was asked to decide (i) whether…

Mahadeo, a musician, lured a 15‑year‑old girl with promises of recording her bhajans, persuaded her to bring gold ornaments, and confined her for over a month during which he repeatedly forced sexual intercourse. The trial court convicted him under IPC sections 363 (kidnapping) and 376 (rape); the High Court affirmed t…

The appellant, Kaliya, mother‑in‑law, was convicted of murdering her daughter‑in‑law, Guddi, who was burnt alive in the appellant's house. Guddi’s dying declaration, stating that Kaliya poured kerosene on her, was recorded by a doctor and a nurse, but the original document was lost and only a carbon copy was produced. …

The appellant, Polamuri Chandra Sekhararao, was convicted under s.302 IPC for murdering his elder sister's son, Ravi Kishore, on 6 April 2004. The prosecution alleged that the deceased visited the appellant's house, proposed to marry the appellant's daughters, and was subsequently stabbed repeatedly with a knife (M.O.-…

The State of Bihar seized 5,923 bags of wheat from the flour mill of Arvind Kumar & Anr. after a raid based on secret information indicating diversion of subsidised food grains for black marketing. The respondents filed a writ petition seeking quashing of the FIR under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and release of…

The case arose from the suicide of a 21‑year‑old woman, Sunita, who alleged that the accused, Amit, had exploited her sexually after promising marriage and threatening to expose her. The trial court convicted Amit under IPC s.306 (abetment of suicide) and s.376 (rape), sentencing him to life imprisonment for the latter…

The appellant was accused of killing his mother with a burnt wooden stick. The prosecution relied on an alleged extra‑judicial confession made by the appellant before a village Panchayat, witnessed by four persons, and on the recovery of the alleged weapon at the appellant's request. The trial court and the High Court …

The case concerns the murder of MP Magunta Subbarama Reddy, his gunman, and injuries to two witnesses. Accused No.1, Pantangi Balarama Venkata Ganesh, a member of the Peoples War Group, was arrested on the day of the incident with a pistol, cartridges and a pink shirt bearing his blood. Eye‑witnesses, DNA profiling lin…

Munigadapa Meenaiah was convicted of murdering his brother's widow, Yellamma, by striking her with a pestle after suspecting her fidelity. The prosecution relied on the testimony of Yellamma's sons (PW1 and PW10) and a toddy shopkeeper (PW2) who saw the accused and the deceased together, the discovery of the body in fr…

The appellant Bantu was convicted of raping a five‑year‑old girl and murdering her by inserting a wooden stick into her vagina, leading to her death. The trial court sentenced him to death under IPC sections 302, 376 and 364, a decision affirmed by the High Court. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined whether the convi…

Pawan Kumar and Balwinder Singh (Binder) were convicted under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code for the murder of a taxi driver whose body was found in a hotel room. The prosecution relied solely on circumstantial evidence that the accused hired the taxi, stayed in the hotel with the driver, and…

Sunder and Satbir Singh were convicted by a Designated Court under IPC sections 399 and 402 and Section 25 of the Arms Act for alleged theft and possession of knives. They appealed, arguing that the Court lacked jurisdiction because no TADA charge was framed and that the recovery of knives was not proved, as the key re…

The appellant and his brother were convicted of double murder under IPC s.302 and s.302/34 and sentenced to life imprisonment. On appeal, the Allahabad High Court division bench was split, leading to the matter being referred to a third judge. The third judge upheld the conviction but based his opinion largely on the t…

The accused were convicted of murder and related offences by a Sessions Court, which then scheduled a hearing on sentence. The accused failed to appear, leading the trial court to issue non‑bailable warrants. Instead of filing a statutory appeal, the accused filed a petition under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure …

Kavita was accused of throwing her two children into a well and then jumping in, after which she allegedly made an extra‑judicial confession to three villagers that she could no longer endure her husband's torture. The trial court and the Madras High Court convicted her of murder (Sec. 302 IPC) and attempted suicide (S…

Madhu Bala filed two complaints alleging offences under Sections 498A and 406 IPC before Chief Judicial Magistrates. The magistrates, invoking Section 156(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code, directed the police to register a case and investigate; the police registered FIRs, investigated, and submitted charge‑sheets. The…

The deceased, a 20‑year‑old CA final student, was killed when his roommate's car struck a truck that had been left stationary on a dark road without any warning lights or signs. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal held that the negligence lay with the truck driver for leaving the vehicle unattended, and awarded Rs 81,21…

The case arose from a violent incident on 14 November 2012 in which members of a political rival family were attacked, resulting in three deaths. The prosecution relied on three key witnesses – PW‑1, PW‑2 and a 10‑year‑old child PW‑9 – as well as fingerprint and weapon‑recovery evidence to secure convictions of accused…

The appellants, Anjan Kumar Sarma and others, were convicted by the High Court for murder (Sec. 302) and related offences on the basis that they were last seen with the victim, Rekha Dutta, and offered no explanation. The Supreme Court examined whether the "last seen together" circumstance, without any other corroborat…

Mahavir Singh and co‑accused Jagbir Singh were convicted under IPC §§302, 1208 and 201 for murdering Suraj Mal at the behest of the deceased's wife, Sudesh Rani. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, including the "last seen" theory, medical testimony that the death occurred about a week before the post‑mo…

The case involves the murder of Ramasamy, for which 17 persons, including the appellants Paulmeli and Chockaiah, were alleged to have assembled with a common object (aruval) and inflicted multiple incised wounds, causing death. The victim's wife (PW‑1) positively identified the appellants despite claims of darkness, an…

The appellants Sudarshan and others were convicted for the murder of two persons at a holiday resort, based on an FIR that was lodged at a police station outside the incident’s jurisdiction after the complainant first consulted an advocate 15 km away. The Supreme Court examined the abnormal conduct of the complainant, …

The deceased K. Raghunath, a successful realtor and close confidant of MP D.K. Adikeshavalu, was found hanging in 2019 under mysterious circumstances, leading his wife and son to allege murder by certain relatives who were also claimants to his property. Two wills – one dated 2016 favoring the wife and another posthumo…

The appellants and respondents were embroiled in a series of suits and appeals concerning a sale deed of land and the validity of a mutation register entry. The trial court dismissed the plaint on the ground of rejection under Order VII Rule 11, and subsequently, the respondents sought production of the mutation regist…

The appellant, a former Inspector of Police, was charged with dereliction of duty for allegedly failing to control the 1984 anti‑Sikh riots. An inquiry officer exonerated him, but the disciplinary authority disagreed and issued a punishment of reduction in rank, which the High Court set aside and directed a fresh disag…

The complainant Ramyash lodged a FIR alleging that the accused Bhupendra Singh, Moti Lal and Prahlad assaulted his family, resulting in the death of his father. The trial court convicted the accused under Sections 302, 323, 324 (with 34) and other offences, sentencing them to life imprisonment. The Allahabad High Court…

Maharana Pratap Singh, a constable in the CID dog squad, was dismissed from service in 1996 following departmental proceedings that found him guilty of four charges, while he was later acquitted of the related criminal charges. The appellant challenged the dismissal, alleging denial of due process, vague charges, and t…

The appellant, a Manager at the Head Office of HDFC Ltd., was charged in an FIR for allegedly suppressing the fact that a mortgaged property had been acquired by the Tamil Nadu Housing Board and for cheating the purchaser at a public auction conducted in 2012. He filed a petition under Section 482 of the CrPC seeking t…

The State of Himachal Pradesh prosecuted Sanjay Kumar (A1) and Chaman Shukla (A2) for kidnapping, rape and related offences arising from the alleged abduction of a 14‑year‑old girl in March 2012. The trial court convicted both accused, but the Himachal Pradesh High Court set aside the convictions, acquitting them on th…

The appellants, relatives of the husband in a matrimonial dispute, were charged in an FIR alleging they instigated dowry demands, although they lived in Hyderabad while the complainant resided in Guntur. The complainant had earlier withdrawn a restitution of conjugal rights case and later filed a police complaint after…

The Supreme Court examined whether the Kerala High Court erred in quashing five FIRs filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act against a computer teacher accused of inappropriate conduct with female students. The allegations included holding students' hands while using a mouse, asking inva…

The accused, alleged to be a contract killer and member of an organized crime gang, was arrested under Section 3(1) of the U.P. Gangster and Anti‑Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 1986 for the murder of Rajnarain Singh. The Allahabad High Court granted him bail on liberal terms despite his prior involvement in fiftee…

The appellants, Nagji Odhavji Kumbhar and another, were convicted under Sections 302 and 324 IPC for the murder of Bhura Govind and Lakha Arjan on 1 July 1987. They claimed they acted in private defence and that the incident occurred in the spur of the moment, seeking a reduction of the charge to Section 304 IPC. The S…

The appellant Raj Singh was convicted of murder (later reduced to culpable homicide not amounting to murder) for shooting and killing Girdhari Lal during a violent altercation at the complainant's house. He claimed the act was in private defence, invoking Exception 2 to Section 300 IPC, asserting that the complainants …

The appellant, Puran Chand, was convicted under Section 376 IPC for raping a 17‑year‑old girl who later attempted suicide. He appealed, claiming false implication due to enmity, a 20‑day delay in filing the FIR, and that the medical report showing an intact hymen created reasonable doubt. The Supreme Court held that th…

Advocate Anjani Kumar Chaudhary was assaulted by a group demanding money for a Holi celebration; the assailants used lathis, rods, and sharp weapons, threatened to kill him, and inflicted multiple injuries. An FIR was lodged charging several offences including Section 307 IPC (attempt to murder). The Sessions Court, an…

Alber Oraon, a mason and civil‑works contractor, was engaged by Pushpa Devi to construct a house. During the work they became intimate and Oraon lived with her, posing as her husband. Pushpa and her two minor children later disappeared; their bodies were recovered from a soak‑pit that Oraon had dug and sealed with bric…

The appellant was first prosecuted under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act for issuing a dishonoured cheque and was convicted, later acquitted on appeal, with the appeal still pending. Subsequently, the same complainant filed an FIR under Sections 406, 420 and 114 of the Indian Penal Code alleging criminal …

The appellant, Dharmabir, was convicted of murder and attempted murder committed in August 1991 when he was 16 years, 9 months old. At the time of the offences the Juvenile Justice Act, 1986 did not deem him a juvenile, but the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000, which defines a juvenile as a …

Three men, including Nafe Singh, attacked a group of farmers over a dispute concerning agricultural land, using weapons such as a ballam, gandasi and lathi. During the assault, Bhanwar Singh was killed and two others were injured. The trial court convicted all three under Sections 302, 323 and 324 read with Section 34 …

The State of Madhya Pradesh appealed the acquittal of Munshi Singh and others for the murder of Sobran. The trial court had found the testimony of three eye‑witnesses unreliable and, relying on ballistic evidence that contradicted their statements, acquitted the accused. The High Court upheld this acquittal, holding th…

The appellant, the aunt of the husband, was convicted under Section 498A of the IPC for allegedly participating in dowry demand that led to the death of the wife. The prosecution alleged that the husband, his brother, and the aunt demanded jewellery and cash, and that the husband and brother strangulated the wife while…

The State of Orissa appealed against the High Court's acquittal of eight accused of rape and murder of Chhabirani. The husband (PW‑1) witnessed the gang‑rape and murder at a river bed and, despite police inaction, lodged an FIR. The trial court convicted all eight under Sections 302 and 376 IPC read with Section 34, al…

The Supreme Court considered two appeals: one under Section 409 IPC where the appellant sought discharge under Section 167(5) of the CrPC after the two‑year investigation period expired, and another under Section 7(1)(a)(ii) of the Essential Commodities Act concerning the limitation bar under Section 468 of the CrPC. I…

The appellant was tried before the Sessions Court for uxoricide and was convicted under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code for murder. On appeal, the Andhra Pradesh High Court set aside the murder conviction and, invoking Section 222 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, convicted him instead under Section 306 IPC for a…

The case concerns the murder of Suhas on 5 July 2011, for which three accused—Netaji Achyut Shinde (A‑1), Samadhan Shinde (A‑2) and Balasaheb Shinde (A‑3)—were charged under Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC. A telephonic intimation at 17:45 was treated by the trial court as the FIR, leading to the conviction of A‑2…

Gorusu Nagaraju was convicted of murder under IPC s.302 and of concealing the offence under s.201, based primarily on circumstantial evidence linking him to the victim's death. The trial court and the Andhra Pradesh High Court both upheld the conviction, relying on seven material circumstances, including the appellant'…

The appellants were convicted for the murder of Rameshbhai Prajapati, who was attacked with a large knife while sleeping, after the accused objected to his brother's marriage. The trial court convicted four of the five accused under Sections 302, 147, 148 and 149 IPC, acquitting one; the High Court later set aside the …

The Supreme Court examined whether the Central Government's Rule 7 of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules, 1995 – which mandates that investigations under the SCST Act be conducted by a police officer not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police – is valid, and whether th…

The State of Madhya Pradesh appealed against the High Court’s order that set aside the trial court’s decision to frame charges against three municipal officials accused of corruptly granting building and completion certificates for Sayaji Hotel. The officials were alleged to have conspired to issue a revised building p…

In January 2000, a group of six accused attacked three brothers in Rajasthan, resulting in the death of one brother, Lalu, and injuries to the others. The accused were charged under IPC sections 148, 302/149, 323, 324/149 and 325. The trial court convicted them of all offences, including murder, and sentenced them to l…

Hari, the appellant, was convicted under Section 302 IPC for murdering his cousin Khemsingh and sentenced to life imprisonment, with a co‑accused also convicted under Section 324. The appellant challenged the conviction on three grounds: a delay of a few hours in lodging the FIR, the prosecution’s failure to explain in…

The petitioner filed a writ petition under Articles 226 and 136 of the Constitution seeking quashing of an FIR (Crimes No.1133/2007) alleging offences under Sections 467, 468, 471, 420, 409 and 218 of the IPC. The High Court refused to quash the FIR but directed that bail would be considered if the petitioner surrender…

The appellant was part of a group that abducted Bhagvandas Sindhi and attempted to extort money; when the victim resisted, the appellant allegedly fired a revolver at him, causing a fatal head wound. The weapon and a bullet were later recovered, and a ballistic expert testified that the bullet was fired from the seized…

The victim Aruna suffered severe burns after the appellant Jaishree allegedly poured kerosene on her and set her alight; Aruna died fifteen days later. During her dying period she gave five dying declarations, which were recorded by medical staff and police. The trial court convicted Jaishree of murder under Section 30…

The appellant, father of a woman allegedly murdered by her husband (respondent No.2), challenged the grant of regular bail by a Metropolitan Magistrate in a murder case (Section 302 IPC) after the accused had earlier obtained anticipatory bail for lesser offences. The High Court dismissed the revision petition without …

The petitioner was detained under the Gujarat Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act, 1985 on the basis of several isolated incidents, including a 1993 shooting, alleged harbouring of an offender, assaults on a businessman and a witness, and possession of an unlicensed revolver. He challenged the detention order, arg…

The State of Madhya Pradesh prosecuted Balveer Singh for the murder, concealment and conspiracy to murder his wife, relying heavily on the testimony of the 7‑year‑old daughter, Rani, as the sole eye‑witness. The High Court acquitted the accused, holding that the child’s delayed statement and residence with an inimical …

The appellant filed a criminal complaint alleging cheating, forgery and offences under the SC/ST Act, which the Judicial Magistrate dismissed for lack of evidence. The appellant sought revision before the Sessions Court, which held that the appellant belonged to a Scheduled Caste, found a prima facie case and remanded …

Pankaj Jain, accused in a CBI case involving serious offences under the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act, was issued a non‑bailable warrant and proceedings under sections 82 and 83 of the CrPC. He voluntarily appeared before the Special Judge, CBI, and sought release on a bond under section 88 of the Code of Cr…

The appellants, armed with bombs and guns, attacked the informant's nephews, hurling bombs that caused two deaths and injuries to others. The trial court convicted several accused under Sections 302 and 149 of the IPC, Sections 3 and 4 of the Explosive Substances Act and Section 27 of the Arms Act, sentencing two to de…

The Central Bureau of Investigation filed an appeal against the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s order quashing FIR No. SIA‑2001‑E‑0006, which alleged cheating, forgery and conspiracy (IPC sections 420, 471, 120B) against Sadhu Ram Singla and others. The FIR arose from alleged fraudulent stock statements that enabled a …

The Central Bureau of Investigation appealed against orders that held the Chairman‑cum‑Managing Director and Executive Director of Global Trust Bank (a private bank before its 2004 amalgamation with Oriental Bank of Commerce) were not public servants for purposes of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (PC Act). The …

The appellant, a neighbour, abducted a three‑year‑old girl from her home under the pretext of giving her biscuits, subsequently raping and murdering her. The trial court convicted him under IPC sections 364, 376, 377, 302 and 201 and imposed death for the murder, which the High Court affirmed. On appeal, the Supreme Co…

The appellant, Sonu Sardar, along with four others, entered the house of a scrap dealer, demanded money, and committed dacoity followed by the murder of five persons, including two children, using a knife, axe and iron rod. The prosecution proved the appellant's participation through the testimony of the victim's daugh…

The Supreme Court, hearing a suo motu writ petition, examined the midnight police raid on a sleeping crowd at Ramlila Maidan on 4-5 June 2011, where police used teargas, lathi charge and brick‑batting after revoking permission for a yoga camp and a fast led by Baba Ramdev. The Court found that the order under Section 1…

The case arose from a violent incident that followed a marriage ceremony in Vaishali district, where six accused formed an unlawful assembly and opened fire, killing Shankar Rai and injuring his brother Dineshwar Rai. The prosecution proved that the accused slapped and fisted the bride's brother-in-law, after which the…

The State of Uttar Pradesh appealed to the Supreme Court under Article 136 against the Allahabad High Court’s acquittal of Guru Charan, Sunil, Pramod and Brahma Pal for the alleged murder of Ramesh Narain and Jitendra (Guddu) and the murderous assault on Nathu Singh. The trial court had convicted the accused under IPC …

The appellant, Kirpal Singh, was convicted for murdering Ram Kumar Singh after allegedly firing a gunshot during a family dispute. The trial court and High Court relied on the medical testimony confirming a homicidal death and on eyewitness accounts of the appellant's wife and son, which were corroborated by the FIR fi…

The daughter of complainant Billu Khan went missing and was later found dead. The trial court convicted Hanif Khan and others under IPC sections 376(2)(g) (rape), 302 r/w 34 (murder), and 201 r/w 34 (concealment of body). The High Court, without discussing the testimony of PW2 (the wife of an accused who was an eyewitn…

The appellants, a husband and his in‑laws, were convicted for the death of the wife by strangulation allegedly motivated by a dowry demand. Both the trial court and the Madras High Court upheld convictions under IPC sections 302 (murder) and 498A (dowry death based on dowry demand). On appeal, the Supreme Court examine…

The complainant appealed against a Madras High Court order that granted anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the Cr.P.C. to three accused who were apprehending arrest in a dowry‑related murder case. The High Court had stipulated detailed conditions and effectively released the accused without requiring their surrende…

The appellants, Ramashraya and another, attacked the deceased Ajeet with a lathi, inflicting severe injuries to his skull and body, which caused his death. They argued that the incident arose from a sudden quarrel, that there was no pre‑meditation or intention to kill, and that the offence should be treated as culpable…

The appellant, Ravindra Trimbak Chouthmal, conspired with his father to murder his wife Vijaya for dowry, severing her head and cutting her body into nine pieces to conceal evidence, also causing the death of the unborn child. He was convicted of murder under s.302 read with s.1208, and of offences under s.201/34, s.31…

Inder Singh was convicted of murder under Section 302 of the IPC for the killing of his nephew, Amar Singh. The prosecution proved that Singh, armed with a barchha, lay in wait and delivered a fatal blow to the victim's neck after a series of assaults on the victim and his family members. The defence argued that Singh …

Sardar Singh, his wife Saraswati and his brother's wife Savitri were charged with murder and with concealing evidence under Sections 302/34 and 201/34 of the IPC. The prosecution relied solely on circumstantial evidence: the deceased's illicit relationship with Saraswati and Savitri, the discovery of his body buried in…

Dwarka Prasad was convicted of murder under sections 302 and 307 IPC. The prosecution alleged that he and a co‑accused attacked the deceased and a witness with knives, motivated by a prior altercation, and that the FIR was lodged several hours after the incident. The accused claimed he was guarding his grandfather's fi…

The case concerned the murder of Manmohan Ghosh in 1989, for which six relatives were charged, including Nimai Ghosh, Sonachand Ghosh and Sambal Ghosh. The trial court acquitted all accused, finding the eyewitness testimonies unreliable and noting the absence of the weapon and forensic evidence. The High Court reversed…

The appellants, senior employees of Juniper Networks India, were accused by a former employee of forcibly terminating her employment, confiscating her laptop, and using "filthy language" while evicting her from the premises. The complainant filed a non‑cognizable report, followed by an FIR alleging offences under secti…

M. Venkateswaran was convicted under Section 498A of the IPC and Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act for demanding gold sovereigns and harassing his wife‑de‑facto complainant. The trial court sentenced him to three years imprisonment and a fine, which the Madras High Court modified to two years imprisonment under Se…

The case involved the murder of a widow, Brijitha, during a robbery. Accused No.1 (the appellant) was living with the deceased and was arrested after giving a disclosure statement that led to the arrest of Accused No.2, who was later convicted of murder and robbery. The trial court acquitted Accused No.1, holding that …

The case arose from FIR 205/2015 alleging murder, attempted murder and offences under the Arms Act in a land‑dispute incident, with Resham Chand Kaler, a British national, alleged to be the kingpin. The trial court rejected his bail application, but the Punjab & Haryana High Court later granted regular bail. The compla…

On 3 August 2008, PW‑19 Birichram went to a neighbour's house for a child's birth celebration when the appellants, armed with battleaxes and sticks, threatened and assaulted him. The assault escalated, resulting in the deaths of three persons (Chedilal, Bablu, Bhuru) and injuries to two others, with weapons and blood‑s…

The State of Madhya Pradesh charged Nande (also known as Nandkishore Singh) with murder and attempted murder after he allegedly hurled a burning cow‑dung cake at women attending a marriage ceremony, causing severe burns that later led to the deaths of two victims. The trial court convicted him under Section 304 Part I …

The complainant Priya lodged an FIR alleging that the accused Prashant Bharti had assaulted, molested, and later raped her under sections 328, 354 and 376 IPC, claiming these acts were committed on the promise of marriage. Investigation revealed mobile‑phone records disproving the presence of both parties at the allege…

The appellant, C.P. Subhash, the General Manager of SNP Ventures, filed a criminal complaint alleging that senior managers of Gorden Woodroff Ltd. forged two 1922 sale deeds to fraudulently claim title over land he possessed. An FIR was registered under IPC sections 468 and 471, but the respondents obtained a quashing …

The father of the deceased, Madan Lal Kapoor, filed a criminal complaint alleging his daughter Dr. Monica Thapar was poisoned, later also claiming strangulation. The trial court discharged the accused, Rajiv Thapar and others, on the basis of post‑mortem, forensic and inquest reports showing natural death due to a card…

The appellant, Rajendra Ramchandra Kavalekar, was accused of obtaining a forged degree from Ranchi University in collusion with university officials and using it to secure employment with ITDC. The CBI filed a case in Ranchi, Jharkhand, under sections 120(b), 420, 467, 468, 471 of the IPC and sections 13(2) and 13(1)(d…

The appellant, a truck driver, was convicted under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code for raping the prosecutrix, who was also assaulted by other accused persons. The appellant challenged the conviction on the ground that his name was not mentioned in the FIR, alleging false implication, and contended that the eviden…

Vakil Prasad Singh, an Assistant Engineer of the Bihar State Electricity Board, was accused in 1981 of demanding a bribe and a charge‑sheet was filed in 1982. The case languished for decades, with the High Court ordering a fresh investigation in 1990 that was never completed, and a new charge‑sheet only filed in 2007. …

The petitioner, Rajesh, sought transfer of a criminal case (FIR No.352 dated 7‑12‑2005) under Sections 406, 498A read with Section 34 IPC, pending in the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Chittorgarh, to a court in Hissar. The matter was posted before the Supreme Court Lok Adalat on 6‑12‑2008, where both parties appeare…

The appellants were convicted under Sections 302 and 506 of the IPC for the murder of Shiv Kumar. While the conviction was under appeal, the co‑accused (respondents 2 and 3) applied for bail under Section 389 of the CrPC. The Allahabad High Court granted bail without recording detailed reasons, relying merely on the ab…

Navjot Singh Sidhu, a sitting Member of Parliament, was convicted by the Punjab High Court under Section 304 Part II IPC and sentenced to three years' rigorous imprisonment. He resigned from the Lok Sabha and sought a fresh mandate, filing an application to suspend the order of conviction, arguing that under Section 8(…

The Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation dismissed K. Meerabai, a junior assistant, after a departmental enquiry found her guilty of misappropriating stock and money, while a parallel criminal case against her under Sections 409 and 477-A IPC ended in acquittal. The High Court ordered her reinstatement, holding that t…

The appellants, Kulwant Singh and others, were charged with murder, attempt to murder and causing hurt arising from a land‑boundary dispute in which two of the victims, Kartar Kaur and Partap Singh, were injured and later died. The trial court acquitted them on the basis of private defence, but the High Court convicted…

The case involved a murder arising from a rivalry between two village groups, leading to the death of Ramkumar. Five persons were tried; the trial court convicted all under Sections 148, 302 and 149 of the IPC, sentencing them to life imprisonment. The Rajasthan High Court acquitted three of the accused of the charges …

The Supreme Court examined the conviction of Bhagwan Singh and two co‑accused for murder and related offences under the IPC and the Madhya Pradesh Dacoity Vihavaran Kshetra Act. The conviction was based primarily on the testimony of a six‑year‑old child eye‑witness and a judicial confession recorded under Section 164 C…

The case involved three brothers—Husna, Rupa and Jalour Singh—accused of house trespass, murder of Salish Kumar and illegal possession of arms. The FIR did not name the accused; they were later identified in a supplementary statement recorded by police during investigation. The Supreme Court held that such a supplement…

Harbans Lal was convicted for the murder of his wife Punni Devi, who died from burns, along with his two sons. The trial court sentenced all three to life imprisonment; the High Court acquitted the sons but upheld the husband's conviction. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined the prosecution's case, which rested mainl…

The State of Rajasthan prosecuted Ram Narain and two others for abducting, wrongfully confining, and raping a minor girl aged between 15 and 17. The trial court convicted all three under IPC sections 376, 366 and 342 and imposed rigorous imprisonment of seven, five and one years respectively, with a fine on the first a…

The appellants were convicted under Sections 364, 302, 120-B and 201 of the IPC for the abduction and murder of Gurpal Singh, based largely on the testimony of an alleged eyewitness, CCTV footage, and confessional statements made to police. The Supreme Court examined the credibility of the eyewitness, noting material o…

The appellant, K.S. Muralidhar, suffered a severe spinal injury resulting in 100% functional disability after his company vehicle collided with a negligently driven lorry. The Tribunal awarded Rs.58,09,930 plus interest and future medical expenses, while the Karnataka High Court enhanced the award to Rs.78,16,390, calc…

The appellant, an Additional District and Sessions Judge, appealed to the Supreme Court seeking expungement of adverse remarks recorded by the Delhi High Court in its order dated 2 March 2023. The remarks criticized the appellant’s conduct in rejecting an anticipatory bail application and directing inquiries against po…

The case arose from a land‑dispute over a pathway between the prime accused Surjaram and the deceased Ladduram, which escalated into a violent clash on 18‑07‑1989 resulting in two deaths and several injuries. The trial courts and the High Court delivered mixed judgments, convicting some accused under Section 302 r.w. S…

The appellant, a government medical officer, was charged under Section 376(2)(b) IPC, Section 420 IPC read with Section 34, and Section 3(1)(x) of the SC/ST Act after a widow nurse alleged that he had a consensual relationship and failed to marry her. The appellant sought quashing of the FIR and charge sheet under Sect…

The appellant, K.V. Prakash Babu, was convicted under Sections 498‑A and 306 of the IPC for the suicide of his wife, who allegedly suspected him of an extra‑marital affair. The prosecution alleged that the husband's alleged relationship and the resulting suspicion constituted mental cruelty that drove the wife to kill …

The case involves the death of Roshni, who suffered 100% burns and gave a dying declaration to a Judicial Magistrate in hospital after a doctor certified her fitness to speak. The trial court acquitted the four accused, rejecting the dying declaration and relying on the victim's brother's testimony that the accused wer…

The appellant, Vadlakonda Lenin, was accused of murdering his wife while she slept and fleeing the scene. The prosecution's case relied entirely on circumstantial evidence, including the appellant's history of dowry demands, a quarrel with the victim, the victim being found injured in her home, the appellant seen runni…

Satish Mehra filed a criminal complaint alleging cheating and forgery in the renewal and encashment of five foreign currency non‑resident fixed deposits (FCNRFD). The trial court framed charges against two bank officials (Chief Manager and Senior Manager of Canara Bank) and against the complainant's wife and father‑in‑…

The case involved seven accused charged with murder (s.302 IPC) and rioting (s.147, s.148 IPC) arising from an altercation that escalated into a violent assault. The prosecution alleged that the accused formed an unlawful assembly with a common object to kill the deceased, invoking constructive liability under s.149 IP…

The case arose from a violent clash between two rival groups in Pedagarlapadu village, Andhra Pradesh, where the appellants formed an unlawful assembly, armed with deadly weapons, and set fire to about 50 houses belonging to a Harijan colony. The trial court convicted the appellants under IPC sections 148 and 436 (read…

Shiv Shankar Singh filed two protest petitions against the State of Bihar after two FIRs were lodged for the same incident, one alleging a dacoity and the other alleging murder for property disputes. The first petition, filed before the police final report, was deemed incompetent, while the second petition was entertai…

The Supreme Court examined a special leave petition filed by Rajbir (the husband) and his mother, who were convicted for the murder of Rajbir's pregnant wife Sunita under Section 304B of the IPC. The trial court had sentenced Rajbir to life imprisonment, but the Punjab & Haryana High Court reduced his term to ten years…

Thathamsetty Suresh was convicted under Section 302 IPC for the murder of his wife and sentenced to life imprisonment. He filed a Special Leave Petition before the Supreme Court seeking relief from the conviction and sentence. The Court examined the post‑mortem report, which showed multiple ante‑mortem head injuries ca…

The deceased, Jharia Kisku, was alleged to have been caught stealing and was tied and assaulted by the accused, Parme Hansda and Churka Hansda, along with other villagers. He later died from his injuries. The trial court convicted the accused under IPC Sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 342 (w…

The appellant, Gangaram Shantaram Salunkhe, was convicted under IPC Section 302 read with Section 34 for the murder of Bhaulal Jadhav. The prosecution relied on two eye‑witnesses (PW4 and PW5), a dying declaration of the deceased recorded by PW6, and medical evidence. The appellant challenged the identification, arguin…

The Supreme Court examined the appeal of Surender, convicted under Sections 306/34 (abetment of suicide) and 498A/34 (dowry harassment) of the IPC. The prosecution proved that Pushpa, his wife, was repeatedly harassed and beaten for dowry demands, was expelled from the matrimonial home, and later committed suicide whil…

The trial court convicted Reshampal Singh and another for murder under Section 302 of the IPC and sentenced them to death. The Punjab and Haryana High Court affirmed the conviction but reduced the sentence to life imprisonment, imposed a fine of Rs. 50,000 and additional rigorous imprisonment for default, and upheld a …

Four accused were convicted under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, the Indian Penal Code and the Explosive Substances Act on the basis of confessional statements recorded by a Superintendent of Police under Section 15 of TADA. The police officer failed to furnish the certificate of satisfaction…

Kailash Nath, a retired Executive Engineer, was charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act for the purchase of sign boards in 1979; the FIR was filed in 1985, three years after his retirement and six years after the alleged misconduct. He challenged the FIR invoking the third proviso of Rule 2.2(b) of the Punjab Ci…

The trial court acquitted Ms. Uma and co‑accused of murder, holding that the prosecution had not proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, particularly discounting medical evidence in the absence of an eyewitness. The State appealed, and the Madras High Court reversed the acquittal, convicting the appellants on charges …

The Income Tax Department ordered HDFC Bank to stop operation of certain lockers and accounts, but later revoked the order only for the accounts, leading bank officials to mistakenly allow a locker to be operated. The department filed a complaint and an FIR was registered against the bank and its officials for multiple…

The petitioner obtained a loan of Rs.3,00,000 from Shriram Transport Finance Company to purchase a vehicle, defaulted on repayments and allegedly forged documents to clear the hypothecation and sell the vehicle to a third party. The trial court convicted him under sections 406, 420, 468, 465 and 471 of the Indian Penal…

The State of Madhya Pradesh appealed against the High Court's order that reduced the sentences of four accused who had been convicted of assault with axes and sticks (IPC s.326 r/w s.34) and house‑trespass after preparation (IPC s.452). The High Court had limited its reasoning to the fact that it was the first offence …

The Central Bureau of Investigation filed a case against former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram under Sections 120B, 420 IPC and Sections 8, 13(2), 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act for alleged irregularities in the FIPB clearance of INX Media. After his arrest, the Delhi High Court refused regular bail, cit…

A complaint under the IPC and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was filed against the appellant. The Chief Judicial Magistrate initially dismissed the complaint, finding no case, but the Additional Sessions Judge remanded the matter for a fresh review. On remand, the magistrate re…

The case arose from a caste‑based election dispute in Melavalavu village where six Dalits were murdered and forty persons were charged, seventeen of whom were convicted under IPC sections 302, 149 and 34 and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The appellants challenged their convictions on the ground that the Fir…

Six persons were charged with offences under Sections 452, 323 read with 34, and 376(2)(g) of the Indian Penal Code for abducting and raping a woman. The prosecutrix identified some of the accused by hearing them address each other by names, but the appellant, Arjun Singh, was not apprehended at the scene and no test i…

The appellant, Sonu Kumar, was one of six accused charged under IPC sections 452, 323 r/w 34, 376(2)(g) and SC/ST Act section 3(x) for the alleged rape of a woman belonging to a Scheduled Caste. The prosecution’s case relied on the victim’s testimony that the accused were addressing each other by names, and on a test i…

The prosecution alleged that Bal Kishan, along with others, forcibly dragged the prosecutrix to a forest and raped her. The trial court convicted the accused based on the testimonies of the prosecutrix, her son and an elderly neighbour, despite finding that the test identification parade conducted by the magistrate did…

A writ petition challenged the selection of Panchayat Secretaries and alleged irregularities involving the former Rural Development Minister, Nirmal Singh Kahlon. The High Court, after a prima facie finding of fraud, directed an inquiry which led to a Vigilance Department FIR and charge‑sheet. The Court then ordered th…

The appellant Sudheer Singh was tried along with four others for robbery, murder and attempted murder. The trial court convicted him under IPC sections 394 and 302 read with 34, and sentenced him to rigorous imprisonment. The Andhra Pradesh High Court upheld the conviction under section 394 but acquitted him of the mur…

The State of Uttar Pradesh appealed the Allahabad High Court's acquittal of Chandrapal and Jagannath, who had been convicted by the trial court for murder under IPC s.302 and s.302 r/w s.34. The High Court set aside the convictions, holding that the medical evidence on the victim's injuries conflicted with the oral tes…

Ramachamy was convicted by the trial court for murder (Sec. 302 IPC) and dacoity (Sec. 392 IPC) based solely on circumstantial evidence linking him to the deceased Kuttappan in a hotel where both were alone on the night of the incident. The High Court upheld the convictions. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined whethe…

The son of the petitioner was injured in a firearm attack and a case was registered under IPC s.307. The investigating officer submitted a final report excluding the accused on the basis of an alibi, prompting the petitioner to file a writ petition under Art.226 seeking a fair investigation. The High Court directed the…

An armed group stopped a bus at gunpoint, attempted to drag out the conductor Ram Babu, and shot him, resulting in his death. The prosecution relied on the testimony of an eye‑witness, Kedarnath, corroborated by a police informant, to convict the principal shooter (A‑1) under Section 302 IPC and the remaining accused, …

The State of Karnataka alleged that a police constable (A1) borrowed money from a fellow police officer who later demanded repayment, leading A1's wife (A2) to invite the victim to their home and murder him with two choppers. The trial court convicted A2, A3 and A4 under Section 302 read with Section 34, while acquitti…

The petitioners, National Alliance for People’s Movements and others, challenged the categorisation adopted by the High‑Powered Committee (HPC) of Maharashtra for granting interim bail or parole to prisoners during the Covid‑19 pandemic, alleging that the exclusion of certain categories—such as serious economic offence…

Shantanu Sitaram (also known as Anil Divekar) was convicted along with two co‑accused for the murder of his wife Supriya, whose body was found in a car with ligature marks. The prosecution proved that gold ornaments worn by the victim were recovered from a neighbour of Shantanu and that a rope, stick and knife used in …

The Supreme Court examined a dispute arising from a 1999 technology‑transfer agreement between the government‑run research institute ARCI and private firm Nimra Cerglass. Nimra alleged that ARCI made false representations about having a perfected extruded ceramic honeycomb technology, leading it to invest heavily and l…

The Supreme Court affirmed the conviction of Sushil Ansal, Gopal Ansal and H.S. Panwar under IPC sections 304‑A, 337, 338 read with s.36 and s.14 of the Cinematograph Act, 1952 for the Uphaar cinema fire. The issue before the Court was the appropriate quantum of sentence, given the statutory maximum of two years’ rigor…

The case involves a brutal murder of Dr. Rajveer Singh, his sons, and his brother over a land dispute, for which six accused were tried. The trial court convicted them under various IPC sections and sentenced five of them to death. On appeal, the Allahabad High Court held that the case did not fall within the "rarest o…

The case involves Tej Pal, who was convicted of murder under IPC sections 302 and 149 arising from a land dispute, and sentenced to life imprisonment. Tej Pal appealed the conviction before the Supreme Court, while a separate Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by co-accused Narendra had already been dismissed. The Cour…

The appellant Gajraj Singh was convicted for the murder of his brother-in-law Harish Kumar after the victim's body was discovered with a missing revolver, mobile phone and Rs.3 lakh. Investigation revealed that the victim's SIM (9871879824) was used on a handset bearing IMEI No.35136304044030, which was later used with…

The Supreme Court examined an appeal by Sanjeeta Das against a decree of divorce granted by the Orissa High Court on the basis of an affidavit in which the husband, Tapan Kumar Mohanty, offered to pay Rs 10 lakh as maintenance. The husband had earlier filed a petition under Sections 13(1)(ia) and 13(1)(ib) of the Hindu…

The appellant lodged an FIR alleging murder and later filed a protest petition that was treated as a complaint, leading to two parallel criminal proceedings: one based on a police charge‑sheet and another on the complaint. The accused in the police case were the witnesses in the complaint case and vice‑versa, and none …

The appellant Premia @ Prem Prakash was convicted of rape under Section 376 IPC and sentenced to seven years by the trial court, a decision upheld by the Rajasthan High Court. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined the evidence, noting that the victim described only "fondling" with no injury to her private parts and tha…

The appellants, a family of five, were charged under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC for allegedly pouring kerosene on the wife of one of them, setting her on fire and causing her death. The trial court acquitted them, finding the post‑mortem report of Dr PW‑7 showed death by asphyxia due to smothering and that the burn…

On 11 April 1998, accused A1 stabbed the deceased Parshant to death while witnesses PW2 and PW3 attempted to intervene. Accused A2 stood by, threatened the witnesses and inflicted a knife injury on PW3, thereby preventing them from assisting the victim. The trial court convicted A1 and A2 under Sections 302, 504 and 56…

The appellants, wholesale dealers in dry chillies, stored and handled large quantities of chillies in a godown located in a residential locality. Residents complained that the loading, unloading and storage caused health problems and physical discomfort, and invoked Section 133(1)(b) of the Code of Criminal Procedure b…

The State of Punjab appealed the acquittal of Pohla Singh and Balkaur Singh, who had been convicted by the trial court for murder under s.302 r/w s.34 IPC. The Punjab and Haryana High Court set aside the conviction, citing an alleged delay in lodging the FIR and questioning why the murder was committed at 5.30 a.m. The…

The appellant, Bhaskar, was tried before a Designated Court under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) for offences under Sections 302 and 120B of the IPC, Section 4 of the Tamil Nadu Public Property Act and Sections 3 and 5 of TADA. While the trial was pending, the TADA Act expired and the D…

The accused Rajendran, a jobless alcoholic, was alleged to have strangled his wife and set fire to their hut, resulting in the deaths of his wife and two daughters. The trial court, relying on a series of corroborative circumstantial facts – including repeated quarrels, the accused’s presence in the house at the time o…

Maniyeri Madhavan, a journalist, alleged that Kerala police assaulted him and his newspaper office and sought an impartial investigation. The Kerala High Court directed a Deputy Inspector General to investigate, but the investigation stalled and the Supreme Court, exercising its Article 142 jurisdiction, ordered the CB…

The appellant Dinesh Sahu was convicted, along with a co‑accused, for murder under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC. The prosecution alleged that the accused attacked the victim with a khukri, leading to his death, and that the weapon and the victim's blood group were recovered from the appellant's house. On…

The appellants, the mother‑in‑law and sister‑in‑law of the deceased Sahitya, were convicted by the trial court and the Karnataka High Court for murder under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC based on a prosecution theory that they conspired with alleged assailants (accused Nos. 4 and 5). The Supreme Court exa…

The case involved the murder of Babu, for which seven accused (A‑1 to A‑7) were charged under Sections 302, 34, 120‑B and 342 of the IPC. The trial court convicted A‑1 to A‑6, but the Madras High Court affirmed the conviction of only A‑1 to A‑3 and acquitted the rest. A‑2 and A‑3 appealed to the Supreme Court, challeng…