Indian Evidence Act, 1872

V.K. Nigam, a Sub‑Inspector, was found to have received illegal gratification from a gambling organiser and was dismissed from service after a departmental inquiry. He challenged the dismissal, contending that he was not furnished with the preliminary inquiry report, violating natural justice, and that the statement of…

The Customs officials seized foreign exchange worth Rs.13,27,212 being exported from India. During investigation, a co‑accused, Mr. Dudani, gave a statement to customs officers under Section 108 of the Customs Act, implicating both himself and the petitioner, Mr. Sukhawani, in the contravention. The Additional Collecto…

In November 1973 a dacoity occurred at Gangaram Yadav's house, resulting in the death of two brothers. The accused were arrested on 9 November 1973, but a test identification parade was conducted only on 5 March 1974, nearly four months later. Three eye‑witnesses, who were relatives of the victims, identified the accus…

The respondent borrowed money from the appellant and executed a nominal sale deed and rent note for a house, claiming the documents were a sham and that the rent represented interest. The appellant sued in the Court of Small Causes for rent recovery, which decreed that the documents were a genuine sale deed, making the…

The case concerns the murder of a ten‑year‑old boy, Muntiyaz Ali, whose body was found on 6 June 2007. The appellants Nazim, Aftab and Arman were convicted under Sections 302, 201 and 120‑B IPC based largely on the testimony of three prosecution witnesses and circumstantial evidence. The Supreme Court examined whether …

The appellant Balvir Singh was convicted of murder under s.302 IPC and dowry harassment under s.498A IPC, while his mother‑in‑law Maheshwari Devi was convicted of s.498A IPC read with s.34 IPC. The prosecution proved that the victim died from aluminium phosphide poisoning, a fumigant not explainable by her heart medica…

The Supreme Court upheld the convictions of eleven accused in a kidnapping‑for‑ransom case in Bihar, finding that the prosecution proved the elements of Section 364A IPC, including abduction, confinement and demand for ransom. The Court held that Section 368 IPC is a deemed offence under Section 364A, so the accused ch…

The accused Om Prakash was charged under Section 302 IPC and Section 27 of the Arms Act for shooting Maman Ram during a village dispute. The trial court convicted him based on eye‑witness testimony, ballistic evidence and the post‑mortem report, sentencing him to life imprisonment. The Punjab & Haryana High Court acqui…

Hem Chand, a police employee, was convicted under Sections 304‑B (dowry death) and 498‑A of the IPC for the strangulation death of his wife Saroj Bala within seven years of marriage. The trial court sentenced him to life imprisonment for the dowry death and two years for cruelty; the High Court affirmed both conviction…

The appellant, a co-accused in a murder case, was acquitted by the trial court on the ground that the prosecution failed to prove that the deceased was last seen in his company. The High Court reversed this acquittal and convicted the appellant under Sections 302 and 201 of the IPC, relying on a disputed 'last seen' th…

The appellant, Ajay Kumar Das, was charged under IPC 304B (dowry death) read with s.34 for the death of his wife, who was allegedly pushed into a well by her parents‑in‑law after a telephone conversation with the appellant. The FIR implicated the parents‑in‑law and the appellant, and a charge‑sheet was filed. The appel…

The Supreme Court considered appeals by L.S. Synthtics Ltd. against orders of the Special Court under the Special Courts (Trial of Offences Relating to Transactions in Securities) Act, 1992, which had directed the appellant to pay a sum of Rs 34,99,900.68 with interest to the Custodian on behalf of the notified party, …

The respondent, Siri Niwas, claimed that he had worked for more than 240 days in the twelve months preceding his termination by the Municipal Corporation, Faridabad, and therefore his retrenchment was illegal under Section 25F of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The Industrial Tribunal found that he had worked only 1…

The appellant Shanti Devi, her son Rajbir and another accused Veena were convicted by the trial court and upheld by the High Court for the murder of Balwant, the informant's son, under Sections 302/34 and 201/34 IPC. The prosecution's case relied entirely on circumstantial evidence, including a motive of illegal occupa…

The case arose from a land dispute between related parties that escalated into a verbal duel and scuffle on 7 June 2002, resulting in the death of a person. The trial court convicted all four accused under Section 302 IPC with a common intention charge, but the Karnataka High Court altered the conviction of two accused…

The State of Rajasthan prosecuted Santosh Savita under Section 302 IPC for allegedly burning his sister-in-law by pouring kerosene and igniting her saree. The deceased gave two dying declarations naming the accused, which were recorded by a police officer and a doctor without a magistrate’s presence. The High Court acq…

The case arose from a murder in which the first informant, Rajendra Singh, alleged that Kapil Dev Singh (respondent No.2) participated. Although the charge‑sheet named only the co‑accused, the Sessions Court summoned Kapil Dev Singh under Section 319 of the CrPC based on the informant’s statement. Kapil Dev Singh filed…

The Supreme Court examined appeals by several accused convicted of murder and offences under the Arms Act. It addressed whether the two‑year delay by the Patna High Court in pronouncing its judgment violated the right to speedy justice under Article 21 and the right of appeal. The Court held that such unexplained delay…

The police intercepted a truck carrying a large consignment of Mandrax tablets that had been dispatched from an Indian port to a fictitious foreign company. The appellant, the chairman of the clearing agency that took possession of the consignment during off‑loading, was identified by a police inspector through a photo…

The petitioners challenged the acquisition of 3,470 acres in Naraina village for the "planned development of Delhi" on the grounds that the land was not required for a public purpose and that the substance of the notification under Section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 had not been properly published in the lo…

The appellant, Karan Kapoor, was a tenant of a residential property owned by the respondent, Madhuri Kumar, under lease agreements from 2011 to 2014. After the lease expired, the appellant stopped paying rent and the respondent filed a suit for possession, rent, and mesne profits. The appellant claimed that subsequent …

Masauddin Ahmed was convicted by the Sessions Court and later by the High Court for raping a maid, Mira Begum, under Section 376 IPC. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined the evidence, noting that the doctor who examined the victim stated she was 18 years old, while the prosecution relied on the victim’s claim of bein…

The cooperative society Mula Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Ltd. entered into a turnkey contract for a paper plant with Pentagon Engineering, which required a 10% retention amount to be secured by a bank guarantee. State Bank of India issued a document on 4 September 1985 that purported to indemnify the society against losse…

The appellants were convicted for murder (IPC s.304 Part II) and related offences after assaulting the deceased and his family while cutting paddy from their field. They contended that the FIR was tampered with and that they acted in private defence. The Supreme Court held that the FIR was genuine and that the plea of …

The accused Ajay Singh was convicted of murdering his wife under Section 302 IPC, primarily on the basis of an alleged extra‑judicial confession and the presence of kerosene on his clothing. The Supreme Court examined whether the confession, recorded by witnesses who were either inimical or had a relationship with the …

The appellant, A. Raja, contested and won the Devikulam Assembly seat, a constituency reserved for Scheduled Castes, by filing a nomination stating he belonged to the Hindu Parayan caste, supported by a caste certificate. The respondent challenged the election, alleging that the appellant's paternal grandparents migrat…

The appellant was convicted and sentenced to death for the rape and murder of a 3‑year‑9‑month‑old child based on three strands of circumstantial evidence: a disputed 'last seen together' testimony, an alleged extra‑judicial confession, and a forensic soil match. The Supreme Court examined whether the investigation was…

The case concerns the murder of village Pradhan Ram Aasare Pathak, for which four accused were charged under IPC sections 302 and 34. The trial court acquitted all four, relying on alleged relationships among witnesses, lack of independent witnesses, disputed motive, and questions about the place of occurrence and inju…

The State of Himachal Pradesh appealed the High Court's acquittal of Dr. Rajiv Jass, who was convicted by a trial court for murdering his pregnant wife by forcibly administering organophosphorus poison. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, including multiple ante‑mortem injuries on the victim, the accused…

The appeal concerned a land‑inheritance dispute where the petitioners sought to set aside an order of the Consolidation Officer that rejected their claim to a share of land. The petitioners argued that earlier judgments in a separate proceeding involving the same parties, but concerning a different parcel of land, shou…

The appellants Iqbal and Khurshed were convicted under Section 396 of the Indian Penal Code for participation in a dacoity that occurred on a new‑moon night, based primarily on the testimony of three eye‑witnesses and their identification of the accused in a test identification parade. The prosecution failed to recover…

Sunita, a married woman, committed suicide within three years of her marriage by self‑immolation after a quarrel with her mother‑in‑law over a dowry demand for a gold chain. A dying declaration recorded by an Executive Magistrate, certified by a doctor, alleged that the mother‑in‑law repeatedly harassed her for the dow…

The appellant was convicted of murder, rape and kidnapping of a 4‑year‑old girl based solely on circumstantial evidence, including the testimony of four family members and forensic findings. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined the credibility of the witnesses, noting material contradictions, embellishments and incons…

The appellants Murugan @ Settu (A1) and his accomplices A2 and A3 were convicted for kidnapping, compelling marriage and raping a girl, Shankari (PW‑4). The appellants contended that Shankari was an adult who voluntarily went with A1 and that the birth and school certificates were unreliable. The Supreme Court examined…

The appellant, Suresh Kumar Singh, was convicted under IPC Sections 3048 (dowry death) and 498A (cruelty) for the death of his wife Asha Devi, who died from burns on 8 December 1993. The marriage date was disputed (1983 or 1987), and the prosecution alleged dowry demands and a prior attempt to burn the victim a year ea…

The appellants Raju Premji and Arun Kanungo were convicted under Sections 21, 28 and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act for abetting possession of heroin, based primarily on confessional statements recorded while they were in police custody and later handed over to customs officers. The tri…

The appellant, Baldev Singh, was convicted under Section 302 read with Section 120B IPC for the murder of his brother Pritam Singh. The conviction was based mainly on the testimony of a taxi driver (PW‑26) who claimed to have overheard a conspiratorial discussion, and on an alleged extra‑judicial confession of a co‑acc…

The appellants Subhash Soni and others were convicted under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC for murder, primarily on the basis of an oral dying declaration made by the deceased while being taken to hospital. The High Court upheld the conviction despite discarding the testimony of two eye‑witnesses, relying on the dying …

The appellant, D. Jayana, was convicted by a trial court of dowry death under Section 304-8 IPC and cruelty under Section 498-A IPC, receiving a life term for the former. The Karnataka High Court upheld both convictions but reduced the sentences to seven years for 304-8 and three years for 498-A, to run concurrently. O…

V.P. Patil was accused of murdering his first wife Suman. The prosecution relied on motive, the accused's suspicious conduct, extra‑judicial confessions to two witnesses, blood‑stained articles, the mangalsutra and blood found in the accused's nail clippings, and a medical report indicating death by sub‑dural hematoma.…

The case involved three accused who were alleged to have strangled a rickshaw puller, Bhanwar Singh, using a cloth rolled into a rope. Two constables on night patrol heard the victim’s cries, entered the guest house and saw the assault, catching two of the accused while the third escaped by scaling a wall. The prosecut…

The appellant, Tanviben Pankaj Kumar Divetia, was convicted under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC for the murder of her mother‑in‑law, based solely on circumstantial evidence. The conviction was upheld by a third judge of the Gujarat High Court after a division bench was split, and the appellant appealed to…

The respondent, a Range Forest Officer earning Rs.515 per month, was found in possession of assets worth over Rs.79,000 and was charged under Section 5(2) read with Section 5(1)(e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 for having assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. He claimed the assets belonged…

The plaintiff, the owner of a premises, sued the defendant, the son of the original tenant, for recovery of possession. In his written statement the defendant unequivocally admitted that his father was the sole tenant and that the plaintiff was the owner, and that rent had been paid till May 2021. Relying on these admi…

Mangla Ram, a motorcyclist, was hit by a jeep (No. RST‑4701) driven by respondent No.2, resulting in amputation of his right leg. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded compensation but reduced it on the ground that the claimant contributed to the accident by riding on the wrong side of the road. The High Court set…

A Medical Officer employed by Coal India Ltd and posted at its subsidiary Eastern Coalfields Ltd assaulted his senior officer and other staff, leading to disciplinary proceedings that resulted in his dismissal by the subsidiary's CMD. The dismissal was challenged in the Calcutta High Court, which quashed the order and …

The appellants, Narinder Singh and Ravinder Singh alias Khanna, were charged with murdering Gurdev Singh, the Granthi of a village Gurudwara, after threatening him to relinquish his post. The Sessions Court acquitted them, holding that the prosecution failed to prove motive, that key witnesses were unreliable, and that…

Mayawanti sued Kaushalya Devi for specific performance of a 1971 agreement to sell a factory, machinery and related assets for Rs 50,000, having paid Rs 5,000 as earnest money. The dispute centered on whether the document recorded in the petition writer's register (Exhibit PW‑11/A) proved a valid, certain contract and …

The appellant, Ravinder Kumar, was convicted for the murder of his wife Meena under Section 302 IPC, along with convictions under Sections 304B/34 and 498A/34. The prosecution's case relied entirely on circumstantial evidence, including blood‑stained clothes recovered from the appellant's parental home, an English cale…

Madhabi Patra died after a ceremonial function and the prosecution alleged she was poisoned by her husband Joydeb Patra and his relatives. The trial court and the Calcutta High Court convicted the accused under IPC s.302 read with s.34, relying solely on the ocular testimony of the doctor who performed the post‑mortem …

The police, during a nakabandi operation, apprehended a driver who disclosed that three others had fled. A search of the seized vehicle yielded heroin and opium, leading to a raid on the house of the alleged fugitives where narcotics were found in a box under a bed occupied by three women. The women were convicted unde…

The appellant, Yumnam Ongbi Tampha Ibema Devi, claimed that her father‑in‑law Yumnam Gouramani Singh executed a valid will on 13‑8‑1986 bequeathing land to her. The respondents contested the will, alleging it was not duly executed. The Supreme Court examined whether the will complied with Section 63 of the Indian Succe…

The State of Maharashtra appealed the acquittal of Mangilal, who was charged with the murder of four members of a family in August 1998. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, including alleged illicit relationships, prior threats, a statement under Section 164 CrPC, alleged beating of an eye‑witness who la…

The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal of Santosh Devidas Behade and others, upholding their conviction under Sections 147, 148, 302 read with Section 149 of the IPC for the murder of Bharat Kharat. The Court held that the prosecution had proved a common object of the unlawful assembly, satisfying the requirements of S…

Canara Bank appealed a decision of the Company Law Board (CLB) that had refused to register bonds purchased from Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. The CLB had been hearing the bank's application under Section 111 of the Companies Act when the Special Court (Trial of Offences Relating to Transactions in Securities…

The respondent, a model, complained that a haircut she received at the beauty salon of ITC Maurya Hotel was faulty, alleging deficiency in service and medical negligence. The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) awarded her ₹2 crore in compensation, relying mainly on photocopies of various documents …

The plaintiff, sister of the first defendant, executed a limited Power of Attorney (PoA) on 31 July 1998, which she later cancelled after learning that the first defendant had used it to sell her immovable properties to the second and third defendants on 15 March 2007. The plaintiff alleged that the PoA presented by th…

The appellant Sanjay was convicted of murder and rape of a four‑year‑old girl, X, and sentenced to death by the trial court, a decision affirmed by the High Court. The prosecution's case relied on the victim’s last‑seen testimony, an extra‑judicial confession by the accused that led to the recovery of the body and clot…

The appellant Raja Khan was convicted for murder and concealment of evidence based on circumstantial evidence, including a weapon and gold chains recovered after his alleged disclosure under Section 27 of the Evidence Act. The prosecution relied on the recovery of a stone, a gandasa, and gold chains, as well as testimo…

The appellant, Madan (also known as Madhu) Patek, was convicted under Section 302 IPC for allegedly pouring kerosene on the deceased, Latabai, and setting her on fire. The conviction was based primarily on two dying declarations recorded by a Special Executive Magistrate and a police constable, both certified by a medi…

Arjun Singh, a bus conductor, was alleged to have forcibly sexually assaulted a girl under 16 years of age and kidnapped her. He was convicted by the trial court and the Himachal Pradesh High Court under IPC sections 376 (rape), 511 (attempt to commit rape), 365, 366 (kidnapping) and 109 (abetment). On appeal, the Supr…

The wife, Rashmirekha, hanged herself at home, leading her father to file an FIR alleging that her husband, Ganatanii Paitanaik, and his family murdered her over dowry demands. The trial court acquitted the husband of the dowry‑death charge (Sec. 304B IPC) but convicted him under Sec. 498A IPC for cruelty, sentencing h…

The appellant‑defendant challenged the trial and Kerala High Court judgments that upheld a suit for recovery of Rs 1.5 lakhs on a promissory note (Ex A) executed for the transfer of 3 acres 44 cents of land and a building. The appellant contended that the note was purportedly for cash consideration, that the underlying…

The Supreme Court examined the Election Commission's directives that empowered district collectors and police to determine a person's citizenship and delete alleged foreign nationals from electoral rolls. Petitioners challenged the procedure, arguing that notices relied solely on police reports, limited the documents t…

Gumman Mal was found to be in possession of 28 gold biscuits with foreign markings hidden in a secret chamber of his safe. He admitted that the gold was brought from outside the country by an unknown person and that he held no permit under the Reserve Bank of India or the Gold Control Administrator. He was convicted un…

The appellant UV Asset Reconstruction Company claimed that Electrosteel Castings Ltd (ECL), as promoter of borrower Electrosteel Steels Ltd (ESL), had provided a guarantee for a Rs 500 crore loan from SREI, based on Clause 2.2 of a Deed of Undertaking which required ECL to arrange infusion of funds to help ESL meet fin…

The appellant was convicted under Section 20(b)(ii)(c) of the NDPS Act for possession of ganja and appealed on the ground that the trial was vitiated by non‑compliance with Section 52A, which governs inventory, sampling and magistrate certification of seized narcotics. The Supreme Court examined the legislative purpose…

In the Jessica Lal murder investigation, the police sought a forensic opinion on two .22 cartridges. The appellant, Deputy Director of the State Forensic Science Laboratory, reported that the cartridges were .22 caliber and likely from a pistol, but could not give a definitive opinion on whether they were fired from th…

The dispute arose between two families over irrigation rights and escalated into a violent clash in a court premises on 17 February 1995, resulting in two deaths and several injuries. Darshan Singh, the appellant, was charged with murder (IPC s.302) of Santa Singh and voluntarily causing hurt (IPC s.324) to others, but…

The husband, Nandlal Wasudeo Badwaik, challenged a maintenance order under Section 125 of the CrPC granted to his wife Lata Badwaik and their daughter, asserting that he was not the biological father of the child. He obtained two DNA test reports, both excluding him as the father. The trial courts had upheld maintenanc…

Surendra Mishra was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC and for illegal possession of a firearm under Section 27 of the Arms Act after he shot dead Chandrashekhar Choubey. He appealed, claiming that he was of unsound mind at the time of the offence and therefore entitled to the protection of Section 84 IPC. The S…

The petitioners sought disclosure of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board's (AERB) safety report under the right to information, claiming that Section 18 of the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, which restricts disclosure of nuclear information, was ultra‑vires and lacked guidelines. The Union of India contended that the right to…

The appellant's father purchased a restaurant business in 1951 and placed the respondent in charge, later alleging mismanagement and filing a suit for declaration and rendition of account. In earlier proceedings the respondent admitted in his written statement that he managed the business and claimed sufficient funds t…

Rama Nand was convicted for the murder of his wife Sumitra under Section 302 IPC, with co‑accused Shish Ram and Kali Datt convicted under Section 201 IPC. The prosecution relied on a series of circumstantial facts: a strong motive demonstrated by threatening letters, Sumitra’s last sighting with the accused, the planti…

Basudev Dutta, an Ophthalmic Assistant employed by the West Bengal Government since 1985, was terminated in 2011 after a police verification report, filed 25 years later, labeled him ‘unsuitable’ for the post. He challenged the termination, asserting Indian citizenship based on his father’s migration certificate and ar…

Mahipal filed a criminal appeal challenging the Rajasthan High Court's order granting bail to five accused in the murder of his nephew, Akhilesh. The FIR alleged that the accused assaulted the victim with rods, causing fatal head injuries, as corroborated by a post‑mortem report and a Section 161 statement of an eyewit…

The Supreme Court examined the State’s appeal against the discharge of several accused in the murder of S.N. Gupta. The prosecution alleged a pre‑planned criminal conspiracy involving Shiv Charan Bansal, his son, and others, supported by call‑detail records, recovered weapon, ballistic reports and statements. The Court…

The Supreme Court examined the validity of certificates issued by Gram Panchayat (GP) Secretaries, countersigned by revenue officials, for married women who migrated to other villages. These certificates were listed as supporting documents for claims of inclusion in the National Register of Citizens (NRC) under Section…

Sister Mina Lalita Baruwa, a Catholic nun, alleged assault, molestation and gang rape during communal violence in Kandhamal. During the trial, PW‑18, a Sub‑Divisional Judicial Magistrate who conducted the test identification parade, gave a statement that conflicted with the official parade record (Exhibit‑8). The victi…

The petitioners challenged the Foreigners (Tribunal) Amendment Order, 2006 which made the 1964 Foreigners (Tribunals) Order inapplicable to Assam, arguing that it contravened Articles 14, 21 and 355 of the Constitution and sought to nullify the Supreme Court's earlier judgment in Sarbananda Sonowal v. Union of India (2…

The deceased Yadav Navkar allegedly entered into a sale agreement for his land with the appellants, but a forged General Power of Attorney was later executed by accused No.1, leading to a sale deed in favour of the appellants. After Navkar went missing, his wife filed a report, a FIR was lodged under Sections 364 and 3…

Salim assaulted his father‑in‑law’s brother Saleem with a pair of scissors during a heated quarrel, causing injuries that led to Saleem’s death. The trial court convicted Salim under Section 324 IPC (grievous hurt) and sentenced him to five years’ rigorous imprisonment. On appeal, the High Court upgraded the conviction…

The case concerned service‑inam lands that were originally attached to a hereditary village office. After the Mysore Village Offices Abolition Act, 1961, the lands were resumed and re‑granted to the plaintiff and his son, who later consented to a re‑grant in favour of his son (defendant No.3). Defendant No.3 sold part …

A pregnant housewife fell from the fourth floor of her apartment and died. The prosecution alleged that the husband, his brother (A‑2 Suresh) and two employees conspired to murder her; the husband was abroad. The only direct evidence was the testimony of an approver (PW‑1) who confessed and implicated A‑2 and A‑3, supp…

In the 1979 Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha election for a Scheduled Caste reserved seat, Jhilmit Ram was declared elected by a margin of 373 votes over Chhedi Ram. A third candidate, Moti Ram, whose caste status made him ineligible for the reserved constituency, had his nomination improperly accepted and secured 6,110 vote…

The exporter, Ganesh PolytEx Ltd., alleged that Transport Corporation of India Ltd. failed to deliver four consignments of yarn fabric to Benapole Customs in Bangladesh, seeking compensation under the Consumer Protection Act. The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission ordered the transporter to pay the claimed…

The appellants were convicted for the murder of a young man whose body was found half‑dug in a cemetery after the accused allegedly scaled the wall, consumed wine and later assaulted a worker. The prosecution relied on extensive circumstantial evidence, including eyewitnesses who last saw the accused with the deceased,…

The State of Madhya Pradesh prosecuted Dhirendra Kumar for the murder of Munibai, alleging motive stemming from an 'evil eye' and supported by eye‑witness testimony, a dying declaration, and the recovery of the murder weapon, a revolver stolen from the police malkhana. The trial court convicted Kumar under s.302 IPC an…

Shantinath Ramu Danole and his mother Housabai (deceased) sued Jambu Ramu Danole for partition of ancestral land, claiming a two‑thirds share as the legitimate son and widow of Ramubabu Danole. The defendant denied that Housabai was ever married to Ramubabu and claimed sole ownership. The trial court accepted the testi…

Shanti Devi was convicted for murder (Sec. 302 IPC) and for causing the disappearance of a body (Sec. 201 IPC) after the father of PW2 allegedly visited her house on 22‑08‑1997 and never returned. The prosecution relied on a series of circumstantial facts: the victim’s disappearance, the appellant’s misleading statemen…

The State of Maharashtra appealed a decision that allowed a co‑accused to cross‑examine an approver whose pardon, granted under Section 307 of the CrPC, was later forfeited by a certificate under Section 308. The Supreme Court examined the statutory scheme of Sections 306, 307 and 308, holding that forfeiture of the pa…

Thanu Ram's wife, Hirabai, committed suicide by self‑immolation in the fourth year of their marriage while six months pregnant. She made a dying declaration before a Naib Tahsildar, which a doctor affirmed was given in a sound mental state. The prosecution proved that the husband and his mother subjected Hirabai to men…

Balai Chand Ghosh, who had three wives and nine children, executed a will bequeathing a suit property to his son Arindam (the third wife's son) and appointed him executor. During the testator's lifetime, sale agreements were executed by Arindam as a constituted attorney, and the testator received part of the considerat…

The appellant, Umashankar, was charged with circulating counterfeit currency after paying for mangoes with a fake Rs 100 note and police recovered additional counterfeit notes and related items from his possession. He was convicted under IPC sections 489‑B (using counterfeit notes as genuine) and 489‑C (possession of c…

The State of Karnataka prosecuted K. Y. Reddy under Section 302 IPC for murdering his lover Rekha with a chopper inside the house of a family friend (PW‑11). The trial court convicted Reddy based primarily on the eye‑witness testimony of PW‑11, who saw the accused stab the victim, and on forensic evidence linking the b…

Jamunadas C. Tuliani, the landlord, sued five tenants and Arjun Khiamal Makhijani (defendant No.6) for eviction under the Bombay Rents, Hotel and Lodging House Rates Control Act, 1947, alleging six months' rent arrears and illegal sub‑letting of a garage. The trial court decreed eviction on the grounds of rent default …

A constable of the Border Security Force was dismissed after pleading guilty before a Summary Security Force Court (SSFC) to an allegation that he photographed a lady doctor while she bathed. The constable challenged the dismissal, arguing that the plea of guilty was obtained without complying with procedural safeguard…

The State of Tamil Nadu, through a Deputy Superintendent of Police, appealed against the High Court’s order discharging a public servant (R. Soundirarasu) and his wife from prosecution under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and IPC s.109 for possessing assets disproportionate to the servant’s known sources of inc…

The appellant, former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, was charged with alleged irregularities in a foreign investment clearance and money‑laundering offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Prevention of Money‑Laundering Act (PMLA). The Enforcement Directorate (ED) produced a sealed cover containing doc…

The case involved the murder of Tapan Chakraborty on 31 August 2000, for which thirteen persons were charged. One accused, Ratan Sukladas (A‑12), applied for and was granted pardon, becoming an approver whose testimony formed the core of the prosecution's case. The trial court convicted only two accused (A‑5 and A‑11) …

The appellants were convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC for the killing of Albert Walter, based primarily on the testimony of PW‑1, the deceased's brother, who identified the accused and asserted that sufficient street lighting enabled him to see the incident. The appellants challenged the conviction, arguing tha…

The State of Karnataka prosecuted M.N. Ramdas for the murder of his companion Ananthu in a lodge in Mysore on 28 June 1988. The accused made an extra‑judicial confession to a lodge counter clerk (PW2), who promptly informed the lodge proprietor’s father (PW3) and the police; the police subsequently found the accused in…

The appellant, Indira Bai, bought property and built a godown with the assistance of the respondent, Nand Kishore, who did not initially assert any pre‑emptive right. After construction, the respondent served a notice claiming his statutory right of pre‑emption under the Rajasthan Pre‑emption Act, 1966 and sued to enfo…

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) filed a criminal complaint against Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) alleging violation of Section 77 of the Companies Act, 1956 for alleged fraudulent allotment of shares. SEBI’s investigation report of 2005 was inconclusive, prompting SEBI to obtain two opinions from reti…

The appellant executed a sale deed in favour of the respondent but refused to cooperate for its registration. The respondent filed a suit for specific performance seeking registration of the deed, along with injunction or possession of the immovable property. The trial court held that the suit was not maintainable unde…

The appellant, accused No.2, was convicted along with another accused for murder and related offences based solely on the testimony of his 12‑year‑old son, PW‑1, who claimed to have witnessed the crime. The trial court administered an oath to the child after a perfunctory preliminary examination consisting of only thre…

The appellants, Pritinder Singh (alias Lovely) and Manjit Kaur, were convicted for murder under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC based on circumstantial evidence, an alleged extra‑judicial confession, and the "last seen" theory. The Supreme Court examined the reliability of the extra‑judicial confession, the…

The Supreme Court considered appeals against the Gujarat High Court's judgment that acquitted several accused of murder and terrorism charges in the killing of former Home Minister Haren Pandya and the attempted murder of Jagdish Tiwari. The CBI had investigated and found both incidents were part of a larger conspiracy…

The suit sought partition of three parcels of land that were part of the joint family of the deceased Narayana. The defendant claimed that the first two parcels had been relinquished by the plaintiffs through a village panchayat resolution and receipts, while the third parcel was his self‑acquired property. The trial c…

The appellant, a government watchman, assaulted his wife and mother with a sharp weapon and caused the death of his one‑year‑old daughter during a sudden quarrel. He pleaded insanity under Section 84 of the IPC, but the trial and High Courts rejected the plea due to lack of credible medical or behavioural evidence. The…

On 16 December 2012, a 23-year-old paramedical student and her male friend boarded a bus in Delhi. Six men, including the appellants, gang-raped her, inserted an iron rod into her private parts causing severe internal injuries, and threw both victims out of the moving bus. The woman died from her injuries. The appellan…

The deceased headmaster of a government school died intestate, leaving his brother and nephew as natural heirs. The nephew, Dhirjo Kumar Sengar, applied for a compassionate appointment claiming to be the deceased's adopted son, supported by an unregistered deed of adoption and a succession certificate. The Joint Direct…

The appellant, Ram Suresh Singh, appealed against a High Court order that held the accused, Prabhat Singh, to be a juvenile on the basis of school admission register entries showing a birth date of 10‑02‑1987. The trial magistrate had appointed a Medical Board which estimated the accused's age to be over 20 years, but …

The appellants were convicted by the trial court for offences under Sections 306 (abetment of suicide) and 498-A (dowry harassment) of the Ranbir Penal Code, although the charge originally framed was only under Section 302 IPC (murder) read with Section 34. The High Court upheld the conviction, reducing the sentence fo…

The appellant filed a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, and the complainant's evidence was recorded by affidavit. The appellant later sought to have the complainant summoned again for examination in chief, invoking Section 145(2) of the Act, despite the affidavit already constituting …

The appellant, Narendra, was charged with murder and cruelty under Sections 302 and 498A IPC for the death of his wife Mythradevi in February 1994. The trial court acquitted him, accepting his alibi that he was away buying milk and finding the prosecution evidence insufficient. On appeal, the Karnataka High Court set a…

Hari Ram was arrested in 1998 for offences under the IPC and the trial court initially held him to be a juvenile (under 16) and sent the case to the Juvenile Justice Board. The Rajasthan High Court later held he was over 16 and applied the 1986 Juvenile Act, rejecting the claim of juvenility. On appeal, the Supreme Cou…

Vishnu Dutt Sharma sued Daya Sapra for recovery of a loan, while simultaneously filing a criminal complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act for a dishonoured cheque. The criminal trial resulted in an acquittal of Sapra. Sapra then sought to have the civil suit dismissed under Order 7 Rule 11(d) CPC,…

The Supreme Court considered whether the involuntary administration of narcoanalysis, polygraph, and Brain Electrical Activation Profile (BEAP) tests for investigative purposes violates fundamental rights. The Court held that compulsory administration of these techniques violates Article 20(3) of the Constitution, whic…

The deceased businessman Satish Kumar Mehra was found dead near Udyog Bhavan, Chandigarh, and rickshaw pullers including Sunny Kapoor were charged with murder under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC. The trial court convicted them based largely on circumstantial evidence and alleged extra‑judicial confessions to a social …

The case concerns the ownership of Rs. 50 crore 9% tax‑free bonds (the "suit bonds") issued by Nuclear Power Corporation Ltd. (NPCL). Andhra Bank Financial Services Ltd. (ABFSL) sold the bonds to Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) on 26‑27 February 1992, and SCB paid consideration and received a Banker's Receipt. Canbank Mu…

The Supreme Court examined a criminal revision petition filed by the State of Tamil Nadu under Section 397 of the Code of Criminal Procedure challenging a Metropolitan Magistrate’s order granting one‑day police custody to the accused, Joy Immaculate. The Court held that such a remand order is a pure interlocutory order…

The Supreme Court dismissed a review petition and several writ petitions filed by Lily Thomas and others seeking to set aside the earlier judgment in Sarla Mudgal’s case, which held that a Hindu husband who converts to Islam without dissolving his first marriage commits bigamy under Section 494 IPC. The Court held that…

The State of U.P. appealed the Allahabad High Court’s acquittal of four accused who had been convicted for the murder of Shanker Lal under IPC sections 302 and 34. The High Court had set aside the trial court’s conviction, relying on an inquest report under Section 174 CrPC that omitted mention of a ‘banka’ weapon, and…

The husband and wife were married in 2013, lived together in the United Kingdom for over seven years and later separated in 2021. The wife filed a divorce petition under Section 13(1)(ia) of the Hindu Marriage Act, alleging non‑consummation due to the husband’s alleged impotency. The husband filed an application under …

Madhyamam Broadcasting Ltd (MBL) had its permission to uplink and downlink the news channel ‘Media One’ revoked by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) denied a security clearance, citing national security concerns and alleged links to JEI‑H. MBL challenged the rev…

The appellant filed a criminal appeal against the grant of bail to his brother-in-law, the first respondent, who was charged under Sections 498-A and 304-B of the IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act for the unnatural death of his sister within a year of marriage. The Sessions Judge had denied bail, bu…

The parties were co‑owners of a joint family property and entered into a family settlement on 30‑03‑1973 whereby certain co‑owners were to pay Rs 15,000 each to another co‑owner in instalments, after which they would relinquish their rights. The appellant failed to make the payment and the respondents filed a suit for …

The Supreme Court considered the appeal of T. Arunthperunjothi, who had been convicted under Section 304B of the IPC for the alleged dowry death of his wife Davamani, who committed suicide in 1994. The prosecution alleged that the husband or his relatives had demanded dowry and harassed the deceased, relying on stateme…

The State of Chhattisgarh prosecuted Lekhram for abduction and rape of a married minor, Sushila Bai. The trial court, relying on a school register entry and oral testimony, held that she was a minor at the time of the offence and convicted Lekhram under Section 376 IPC, sentencing him to three years' rigorous imprisonm…

The case involved Constable Narender Singh, who confessed to theft of firearms while in police custody and was later discharged in the criminal trial due to lack of other evidence. He was dismissed from service in a departmental proceeding based on that confession. The Central Administrative Tribunal and the Delhi High…

The Supreme Court examined the murder of Porkodi, who was manually strangulated in her in-laws' house, and the related dowry death allegations. The trial court had acquitted Balasubramaniam (A-2) for lack of evidence of his participation, while convicting Rajammal (A-1) and Murugesan (A-3) for murder and dowry offences…

Shahabuddin Shaikh was convicted under IPC Section 302 read with Section 34 and TADA Section 3 for the murder of Manoharbhai, based solely on the testimony of the victim's brother (PW‑2). PW‑2 gave materially contradictory statements about the place from which he observed the incident, the role of the accused, and the …

The case involved a dispute in which the deceased Prem Lal was assaulted by his brother Pyare Singh and two friends, Sita Ram and Onkar, who struck him on the head with a sickle (darat) and beat him. The victim later lodged an FIR himself, was hospitalized, developed gastroenteritis and died nine days later; the post‑m…

The appellants, Suman L. Shah and Laxmichand Shah, had borrowed money in 1996-1997 from companies later alleged to be benami entities of Pallav Sheth, a notified debtor under the Special Court (Trial of Offences relating to Transactions in Securities) Act, 1992. The Custodian sought recovery of Rs.50 lakh and Rs.25 lak…

The appellant, Manoj Suryavanshi, was accused of kidnapping and murdering three minor children of Shivlal after a personal enmity arising from his wife's elopement. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence: the children were last seen with the appellant, the bodies were recovered from locations he disclosed, a…

The appellants were convicted of murder and robbery based largely on the testimony of a nine‑year‑old child witness, recoveries under Section 27 of the Evidence Act, fingerprint and forensic reports, and the alleged motive of robbery. The Supreme Court examined whether the prosecution had discharged its burden of proof…

The incident arose from a dispute over water where accused No.1 (Nasibkha) and No.2 (Asif Khan) first assaulted the complainant and his brother Sardarkha, then left on a motorcycle and returned after ten minutes armed with a knife. Accused No.2 held Sardarkha’s neck while accused No.1 stabbed him, causing a fatal liver…

The appellant, Khushwinder Singh, was convicted of murdering six members of a family by kidnapping, drugging them with sleeping tablets and drowning them in a canal, motivated by a desire to steal Rs.37 lakh and ornaments. The prosecution relied on the eye‑witness testimony of the surviving victim (PW‑5), independent w…

The appellant was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC on the basis of his wife's dying declaration that he had set her on fire. The appellant challenged the conviction, arguing that the victim was not fit to give a dying declaration and that the statement was unreliable. The Supreme Court examined the principles …

The owner of a tractor, who was also driving it, caused a fatal accident on 5 January 2001. The claimants obtained a motor accident claim award of Rs.1.32 lakh. The insurer refused to reimburse, arguing that the driver did not hold a valid licence because his learner's licence had expired on 22 December 2000 and he had…

The case involves a murder on a bus where the deceased was killed and his son injured. The trial court acquitted all accused, disbelieving the injured witness and other eye‑witnesses, while the High Court convicted nine of the accused and acquitted the rest. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined whether an appellate co…

The respondent, a technician, repeatedly absented himself from duty without sanctioned leave despite warnings and prior disciplinary actions, including a reduction in basic pay. He admitted the charges of misconduct in each proceeding, yet continued to be absent, leading the disciplinary authority to order his removal …

The State of West Bengal challenged the constitutional validity of several provisions of the West Bengal Sales Tax Act, 1994 and its 1995 Rules, including Section 2(6), the explanation to Section 11, and Section 14(4), as well as Rules 172, 173, 174, 188 and 189. The respondents argued that these provisions created a s…

The appellants were convicted of murder, robbery and rape for the killings of a family in Pune in July 1992. They challenged the admissibility of witness identifications made for the first time in court without a test identification parade, the legality of the search and seizure of articles, and the doctor’s testimony …

Surinder Pal Jain was charged with murdering his wife, Usha Jain, with the prosecution relying solely on circumstantial evidence such as a neighbor's call, dogs of a dog squad pointing to the accused, alleged injuries on the accused, and a purported disclosure statement leading to the recovery of the victim's ornaments…

The case concerned the alleged kidnapping and murder of Brindaban, son of PW‑1. Five persons were tried in 1973 and acquitted; a fresh investigation in 1977 led to the prosecution of Vinod Chaturvedi and co‑accused. The trial court again acquitted them, finding the eye‑witness testimony unreliable and the investigation…

The State of Gujarat filed a criminal appeal challenging a Gujarat High Court order that set aside a magistrate’s cognizance and issuance of summons against Afroz Mohammed Hasanfatta in a complex economic offence involving alleged hawala transfers of foreign exchange to Dubai and Hong Kong. The prosecution’s charge‑she…

The appellant, Sunder @ Sundararajan, was convicted of kidnapping a seven‑year‑old boy for ransom and subsequently murdering him. The prosecution relied on eyewitness identification, phone‑call records, a confessional statement, and forensic evidence. The key issue was whether circumstantial evidence could establish th…

The appellant Siddaramesh was convicted for the death of his wife Usha, who committed suicide by hanging within seven years of marriage. The prosecution proved that the husband and his family had repeatedly demanded dowry—gold, cash and a motorcycle—and that the wife was subjected to mental and physical cruelty when sh…

Tukaram S. Digole, who lost a Lok Sabha election, filed an election petition alleging that Manikrao Shivaji Kokate had made communal appeals in violation of Section 123(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Digole sought to prove the allegation by producing a VHS cassette he claimed was a certified copy fro…

Four accused abducted the deceased, who later died en route to the hospital. The prosecution relied solely on a statement recorded under Section 161 CrPC, treated as a dying declaration, to secure convictions. The trial court convicted all four; the High Court acquitted two on the ground that the dying declaration was …

Anter Singh was convicted for the murder of Hansraj based largely on a pistol and empty cartridges recovered after he, while in police custody, disclosed their location. The prosecution relied on Section 27 of the Indian Evidence Act to admit the recovered items, asserting they were the murder weapon. On appeal, the Su…

The appellants, successors of the late Chogyal Sir Tashi Namgyal, claimed ownership of plots 1013, 1014 and part of 1040 in Gangtok, alleging they formed part of the Chogyal's private estate. The respondents had constructed a hotel and other structures on the land, asserting that the plots had been acquired by the Sikk…

Six persons, including Hari Om, Sanjay and Saurabh, were tried for murder (IPC s.396), dacoity (IPC s.412), offences under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the Arms Act. The trial court convicted all of them for murder, sentencing Hari Om to death and the others to life imprisonment; the High Court affirmed…

The appellant claimed ownership of a disputed immovable property on the basis of a registered Gift Deed dated 15‑05‑1970, asserting that Section 90 of the Evidence Act, 1872 would give a presumption of proper execution because the deed was over thirty years old. The trial court, and subsequently the High Court, rejecte…

The wife of Narwinder Singh, who was pregnant, committed suicide within four years of marriage. The trial court convicted the husband and his parents under Section 304‑B IPC for dowry death, but the High Court, finding no dowry demand at the time of death, converted the husband's conviction to Section 306 IPC (abetment…

The case arose from a robbery‑murder where the victim’s shop‑assistant (PW‑1) and other eyewitnesses identified four accused persons, including the appellant, after a test identification parade (TIP) and a confession obtained under Section 27 of the Evidence Act. The appellant challenged the conviction on three grounds…

Sultan Sadiq, who had been rendering voluntary services as an assistant teacher in a madrasa, contested a legislative assembly election. The first respondent challenged his election alleging that Sadiq held an office of profit under the State of Assam because his services were purportedly regularized by a government or…

The appellant filed an FIR alleging his sister was shot by her husband, based on a nine‑year‑old niece’s information. The deceased gave two statements to police under Section 161 CrPC, first naming the husband and later implicating the husband’s mother, brother and brother‑in‑law as instigators; she later died. The pro…

Ram Lal, a constable of the Rajasthan Armed Constabulary, was dismissed in 2004 after a departmental enquiry found him guilty of altering his date of birth on his 8th standard marksheet to appear of majority age at recruitment. He was later convicted under IPC Section 420 by a trial court, but the appellate court acqui…

The deceased K. Satyanarayna died intestate, and his brother Karedla Parthasaradhi claimed inheritance of the suit house. Defendant Gangula Ramanamma (defendant No.1) asserted that she was the deceased's legally married wife, having lived with him for over three decades, and thus claimed ownership as a Class‑I heir. Th…

Gudu Ram was accused of assaulting his cousin Dalip Singh and another resident, Jai Pal Singh, with a wooden stick (thapi), resulting in Dalip Singh's death. The sole eyewitness, Jai Pal Singh, turned hostile during trial, yet the trial court and High Court convicted the appellant for murder under IPC s.302. On appeal,…

Naresh Govind Vaze, a judicial officer of Maharashtra, was subjected to departmental disciplinary proceedings for alleged misconduct, including the use of intemperate language in representations to the High Court and other administrative lapses. A District Judge was appointed as the inquiry officer, who found the charg…

The dispute concerned a parcel of land in village Nardu, alleged to be either private property of the appellants or a public street (shamlat deh). The trial court held the appellants had title and dismissed the respondents' injunction suit; the appellate court and the High Court reversed, finding the land to be public …

Thirteen persons were tried for the murder of Mohan Lal on 11 June 1984. The trial court convicted eleven, acquitting two; the High Court later acquitted eight of the convicted and upheld the conviction of three appellants under sections 148 and 302/149 IPC. The appellants challenged the reliance on the sole eye‑witnes…

The Anti‑Corruption Bureau raided Natwarlal Damodardas Soni's residence and seized 100 gold biscuits of foreign origin concealed in a jacket; the Customs authorities subsequently took possession. Soni, who was absent at the time, was later convicted under sections 135(a) and (b) of the Customs Act, 1962 and the Defence…

The Supreme Court entertained a writ petition under Article 32 seeking implementation of the Srikrishna Commission's recommendations on the 1992-93 Mumbai riots, including compensation for victims, tracing of missing persons, and police reforms. The Court observed that while the Commission's report is not binding, the …

The husband appealed against a Family Court order granting interim maintenance of Rs 15,000 per month to his wife and Rs 10,000 per month to his son under Section 125 of the Cr.P.C., which was affirmed by the Bombay High Court. The Supreme Court upheld the lower courts' orders, directed the husband to pay the full arre…

The Supreme Court considered appeals by five police officials convicted for the abduction, illegal detention and murder of human‑rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. The trial court and High Court had found the appellants guilty based on the testimony of several witnesses, including an accomplice, despite the absence …

Banti (Guddu) and Teekaram were convicted for the murder of Pravin Pathak under IPC s.302 r/w s.34. The prosecution relied on two eye‑witnesses, PW‑I (the deceased’s brother) and PW‑II (a friend), who identified the accused. The defence presented DW‑1, who initially corroborated the eye‑witnesses but later recanted, cl…

The appellant, an armed constable of the Special Reserve Police, shot and killed his immediate superior, a Head Constable, at the Khampla Dam site, claiming he was discharging his patrol duties and feared a miscreant would set fire to a tower. The trial court acquitted him on the basis of reasonable doubt, but the Guja…

The case involved the murder of Bibhishan Vithoba Khadle and injuries to six others during a politically motivated assault by a group of accused. The trial court acquitted all accused, rejecting eye‑witness testimony on the ground of contradictions, alleged interest, and procedural defects. The High Court reversed the …

The appellants were charged with gang rape, abduction and robbery under Sections 376(g), 366, 392 read with 34 of the IPC based on the testimony of a prosecutrix who alleged she was abducted, assaulted and robbed. The trial court acquitted them, but the Karnataka High Court reversed the acquittal and convicted them. On…

The appellant, Kumbhar Dhirajlal Mohanlal, was charged with murdering his wife, Hansaben, by pouring kerosene on her and setting her on fire. The deceased gave three dying declarations—before a doctor, a head constable, and an executive magistrate—stating that her husband had set her ablaze. The trial court acquitted t…

Raja Bai executed a registered gift deed on 20 June 1957 in favour of Suresh Chandra, retaining possession and enjoyment of the property for her lifetime. She later executed a registered will on 27 December 1965 bequeathing the same property to the appellant. After her death in May 1966, the appellant sued for declarat…

The appellant Munna Pandey was convicted and sentenced to death for the rape and murder of a ten‑year‑old girl, based largely on circumstantial evidence and the testimony of witnesses whose statements to police were not properly confronted. The Supreme Court examined whether the High Court erred in confirming the convi…

Jagbir Singh was convicted of murder (Sec. 302 IPC) and criminal intimidation (Sec. 506 IPC) for allegedly pouring kerosene on his wife and setting her ablaze. The victim gave three statements: two early statements (24‑01‑2008 and 25‑01‑2008) describing an accidental fire, and a later dying declaration on 27‑01‑2008 im…

The appellants Nizam and Shafique were convicted for the murder of Manoj under Sections 302 and 201 IPC based primarily on the "last seen theory" that Manoj was last seen alive with them. The Supreme Court examined the circumstantial evidence and held that the prosecution failed to establish a complete, unbroken chain …

The case involved thirteen accused charged under IPC sections 302, 148, 149 and the Explosive Substances Act for the murder of Y. Ramachandra Reddy. The trial court convicted six of them (A‑1 to A‑6) while acquitting the rest; the High Court later reversed this, acquitting all six. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined…

The appellant, Rakhal Debnath, was charged with abetment of suicide under Section 306 IPC and cruelty under Section 498A IPC after his wife died from severe burns within 35 days of their marriage. The prosecution alleged that the husband demanded money from his father‑in‑law, pledged his wife's jewellery, and maintaine…

In the 2004 Lok Sabha election for Muvattupuzha, P.C. Thomas was declared elected by a narrow margin. The election petitioner, P.M. Ismail, challenged the result alleging that Thomas had committed corrupt practices under Sections 123(3) and 123(5) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 by printing and circulatin…

The appellant, Narayan Yadav, lodged a First Information Report (FIR) in which he confessed to killing Ram Babu Sharma during a drunken quarrel. The trial court convicted him of murder under Section 302 IPC, a conviction later altered by the High Court to culpable homicide not amounting to murder under Section 304 Part…

The State of Bihar prosecuted Surajdeo Mahto (Appellant No.1) and Prakash Mahto (Appellant No.2) for the murder of Arun under sections 302 r/w 34 and 120B IPC, with Appellant No.1 also charged under section 364 IPC. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, chiefly the "last seen" theory, motive stemming from …

The appellant, a lawyer, was charged with murdering a married Scheduled Caste mid‑wife by setting her on fire after an alleged attempted rape. Three dying declarations were recorded: two (to a magistrate and to police) stated the burns were accidental, while a third (by the husband) alleged homicide. The High Court rej…

The respondents filed a title suit for eviction of the appellant, claiming ownership and landlord status over a shop in Purulia. The appellant denied being a tenant, asserting that he entered possession under a sale agreement and later pleaded adverse possession, claiming over twelve years of possession. The trial cour…

The appellant Dinesh Singh and several co‑accused fired at a man identified as Juguntha, who died from a gunshot wound. The trial court acquitted all accused, but the Allahabad High Court convicted Dinesh Singh under Section 304 Part II IPC while acquitting the others, holding that the evidence showed he acted without …

Baldev Singh was convicted under Section 304‑B IPC for the death of his wife Satwant Kaur, who died by poisoning within two years of marriage. The prosecution proved that she was repeatedly harassed for dowry, including demands for a fridge, TV and a cash amount, in addition to a claim on her share of ancestral propert…

The appellant and his elder brother (respondent) partitioned their father's property, but the brother failed to vacate a portion of a theatre belonging to the appellant, leading to a suit for mandatory injunction which was decreed in the appellant's favour. While the appeal was pending, the dispute was referred to a Lo…

The plaintiff, K.M. Shaffi, sued for a declaration of ownership of a plot and an injunction against the defendant, relying on a certified copy of a 1944 sale deed (Ex.P1) and a 1966 gift deed (Ex.P2). The trial court admitted the documents, applying the presumption of authenticity under Section 90 of the Evidence Act b…

The original landlord, Mohammad Yahya, had authorized Fatimabi to collect rent. When municipal taxes remained unpaid, the Municipal Council attached the house and sold it at public auction to Fatimabi, who later transferred the title and the right to recover rent arrears to Sheikh G.S. Ibrahim. The tenants refused to r…

The deceased, Islamuddin, died from burn injuries after his in‑laws allegedly poured kerosene on him and set him alight. His statements recorded by an Assistant Sub‑Inspector (ASI) in the hospital and by a magistrate were treated as dying declarations. The Supreme Court examined whether the ASI's statement, made before…

The case arose from a bomb attack on a police lock‑up in Mumbai where a detainee was killed. Police constable PW‑2 identified two accused, Vijay and Keshya, as miscreants, but his statement did not contain their surnames. The FIR later listed full names, and the accused were arrested, photographed while in lock‑up, and…

The landlord, I.M. Lal, obtained permission under Section 21 of the Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958, to let his newly built premises to Ramesh Khanna for a two‑year residential tenancy, after stating that he did not require the premises for that period. When the tenant refused to vacate after two years, the landlord sough…

The case arose from the alleged torture and rape of a woman (PW‑3) by police officials after she was taken for interrogation on 9 February 1989. PW‑3 filed a petition to the Governor, a criminal complaint before a magistrate, and later testified in trial, alleging that she was detained overnight and raped, with her hus…

The appellant Rajaram Prasad Yadav was convicted for offences under Sections 324, 307 and 34 IPC. After the trial, the second respondent (the informant PW‑9) sought re‑examination under Section 311 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, alleging coercion. The trial court dismissed the application, but the High Court allowe…

The appellant Ganga Singh was charged with rape under Section 376 IPC for allegedly assaulting PW‑5, the prosecutrix, in a field. The trial court acquitted him, holding that the sexual intercourse was consensual, but the High Court convicted him based on the prosecutrix's testimony, corroborated by her mother‑in‑law’s …

The three appellants, Sunil Rai (alias Paua), Sher Bahadur (alias Sheru) and Ram Lal, were convicted for the murder of Dile Ram under IPC s.302 read with s.34 based on four alleged circumstances: the deceased being chased, an extra‑judicial confession by Sunil Rai, a blood‑stained jacket recovered from a rickshaw, and …

The appellant Krishan Kumar Malik was convicted along with seven others for abduction (s.366 IPC) and gang rape (s.376(2)(g) IPC) based solely on the testimony of the prosecutrix PW‑9. The Supreme Court examined the credibility of her evidence, noting that she failed to name the appellant in the FIR, gave inconsistent …

The appellant, a share broker, was charged under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act for the dishonour of a cheque issued to a member of the Cochin Stock Exchange. He contended that the cheque was given as security, not in discharge of any debt, and that he had discharged the initial evidential burden under S…