Indian Penal Code, 1860

The appellant Kunal Majumdar was convicted of murder (Sec. 302 IPC) and rape of a minor (Secs. 376, 511 IPC), receiving a death sentence for murder and seven years' rigorous imprisonment for rape. The conviction and death sentence were referred to the High Court under Section 366(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC…

Gurpreet Singh, an ex‑Air Force officer, was charged with murdering his wife Kalpna by setting her on fire. There was no eye‑witness; the prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence including a strained marital relationship, a pending divorce with a monetary settlement, prior instances of domestic violence, the appel…

The appellant, K.G. Premshanker, sought to quash criminal prosecution on the ground that a civil suit for damages against him had been dismissed, and he argued that the civil judgment should prevail over the criminal case. The High Court rejected this plea and the matter reached the Supreme Court. The Court examined th…

The case arose from a violent riot in which Laisal Haque and others entered an oil mill, opened fire and caused the death of Gulam Rabbani and injuries to several others. The Additional Sessions Judge convicted sixteen of the forty‑two accused under sections 148, 302 and 324 of the IPC, while acquitting the remaining t…

The State of Maharashtra appointed Justice B. Lentin as a one‑man Commission of Inquiry to investigate the death of 14 patients at J.J. Hospital. The Commission found the appellant, Dr. Baliram Waman Hiray, gave contradictory evidence and issued a show‑cause notice for perjury under s.193 IPC read with s.340 CrPC, dire…

The appellants, employees of the Research and Analysis Wing, were dismissed under clause (b) of the second proviso to Article 311(2) of the Constitution and Rule 19 of the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965, without a charge‑sheet or inquiry, after a violent pen‑down strike and inti…

The State of Maharashtra prosecuted Sk. Bannu, Shankar and Mohammad Nazir for forging a bail bond and affidavit in a bail application filed under the Bombay Prohibition Act. The first magistrate who granted bail later transferred the case to another magistrate, who, after discovering the forgery, filed a complaint unde…

The appellant, a Patwari, was accused of demanding a bribe of Rs.500 and was caught in a trap operation organized by the Lokayukta. He was convicted under Section 353 of the Indian Penal Code for assaulting public servants during the trap, and sentenced to six months' imprisonment and a fine. On appeal, the Supreme Cou…

The father of a 17‑year‑old girl who delivered a baby and then committed suicide filed an FIR alleging rape under IPC s.376 and the POCSO Act against Amit Kumar Tiwari. The Special Judge framed charges, but the accused obtained a criminal revision under CrPC s.397/401 and the High Court discharged him on the basis of a…

The appellant, Shambhu Kharwar, was accused by a woman (the second respondent) of raping her under Section 376 of the IPC, alleging that he had promised to marry her and then broke that promise, leading her to file a complaint. The woman had been in a consensual relationship with the appellant from 2013 to 2017, marrie…

The appellant, B.H. Khawas, was appointed as a Chemical Examiner in the Customs and Central Excise Department on a provisional basis subject to verification of his Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. After the Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee determined that he did not belong to the Halba ST but to the Koshti community, h…

The appellant, Kala (Chandrakala), was convicted along with her father for the murder of her husband Murugesan, alleged to have been strangled with a saree and his body disposed under a canal bridge. The prosecution's case rested on circumstantial evidence, an extra‑judicial confession made by the appellant to the dece…

The petitioners, migrants from Jammu & Kashmir, organized a peaceful march to Delhi to press for relief measures, but were stopped near Katra where police used lathi charge and tear‑gas, beating the petitioners even after the crowd was dispersed. The petitioners claimed violations of Articles 14, 19, 21 and 22 of the C…

The appellant was charged with murder under Section 302 IPC for hacking a father and son to death with an axe while they slept. The trial court acquitted him, citing a 17‑hour delay in lodging the FIR, the absence of a proven motive, and the claim that the family witnesses could not have seen the accused. On appeal, th…

The State of Madhya Pradesh prosecuted Babulal and others for assaulting six persons, causing multiple serious injuries, under IPC sections 148, 324, 326 and 149. The trial court sentenced them to three years’ simple imprisonment; the High Court upheld the conviction but reduced the term to three months, citing a seven…

The dispute arose from two agreements to sell the same parcel of land, leading to parallel civil suits for specific performance. The appellant's father, after losing the civil suit, filed an FIR alleging forgery of the earlier agreement and the respondents obtained a quashing order from the High Court, which relied on …

The appellants Amit Kumar and Brij Bhushan were convicted under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC for the murder of Anita Rani, who was set on fire allegedly over dowry demands. The prosecution relied on the victim's dying declaration recorded by a Judicial Magistrate, corroborated by eyewitnesses who saw the fire and ide…

The appellant, S.S. Chheena, a university security officer, was charged under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly abetting the suicide of a student, Saurav Mahajan, who had taken his life after a dispute over a stolen mobile phone. The suicide note recovered from the deceased blamed fellow students but m…

The appellant, a former director of R.P.S. Benefit Fund Ltd., filed a petition under Section 482 of the CrPC to quash criminal proceedings initiated under Section 420 IPC and Sections 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the Prize, Chits and Money Circulation Schemes (Banning) Act, 1978. The FIR alleged cheating by the company for failing…

Jabar Singh shot Sarnam Singh on 13 November 1984, inflicting a wound that was not fatal. The victim died fourteen days later from peritonitis, which the medical experts attributed to inadequate medical care rather than the gunshot injury. The trial court acquitted the accused due to identification doubts, but the High…

The appellants Aizaz and others were convicted for murder and attempt to murder of Ismail under Sections 302 and 307 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code. The trial court’s conviction was affirmed by the High Court, which acquitted one accused (A-4). On appeal, the Supreme Court examined whether Section 34 app…

Six accused, including A‑1 Ravi, formed an unlawful assembly armed with knives and sticks and, driven by a grievance over the death of a sister, entered the house of the victim Shanmugam, assaulted him and caused injuries that led to his death. The prosecution relied on eye‑witnesses (the victim's mother, PW2, and othe…

The State of Orissa appealed against a single judge of the Orissa High Court who had quashed three petitions filed by the accused, Nalinikanta Muduli, under Section 482 of the CrPC, relying on the Patna High Court decision J.A.C. Saldanha (1979). The State contended that the cited decision had been overruled by the Sup…

The appellant, Tarun Bora (alias Aloka Hazarika), was convicted under Section 365 of the Indian Penal Code for kidnapping and under Sections 3(1) and 3(5) of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) for alleged terrorist conduct. The offence occurred on 18 August 1991, whereas Section 3(5) of TAD…

The doctors filed a petition before the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) alleging that a complaint of medical negligence against them should be dismissed or stayed, arguing that the case involved complicated questions of law and fact and that a nine‑year delay in disposal rendered the consumer fo…

The State of Rajasthan appealed the Rajasthan High Court’s judgment that acquitted five accused of murder (Sec. 302 IPC) on the ground of private defence and convicted them only under lesser offences. The incident involved a dispute over agricultural land where the accused were found ploughing the complainant’s field; …

The State of Uttar Pradesh charged Babul Nath with rape of a five‑year‑old girl. The trial court convicted him based on an eye‑witness who saw the victim bleeding and the accused fleeing, and on a medical report showing a torn hymen, lacerations and other injuries indicating sexual intercourse. The Allahabad High Court…

The State of Uttar Pradesh charged Krishna Gopal and an associate with murder under IPC sections 302 and 34. The trial court convicted them based on two eye‑witnesses and the deceased's statements recorded as dying declarations, accepting that the victim remained conscious long enough to make those statements. The Alla…

The deceased wife was alleged to have been repeatedly harassed by her husband Virbhan Singh and his parents for being childless, leading them to murder her. The prosecution proved that she was assaulted, suffered multiple ante‑mortem injuries, and was subsequently hung to simulate suicide. Medical and post‑mortem evide…

The State of Maharashtra charged Champalal Punjaji Shah with criminal conspiracy under S.120B IPC, S.135 of the Customs Act and Defence of India Rules after gold bars with foreign markings were discovered in his flat. The trial was protracted, with the accused contributing to delays, and the High Court acquitted him, c…

The Supreme Court examined the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, in connection with the Delhi excise policy case alleging kickbacks and money‑laundering. Kejriwal challenged the arrest as illegal, arguing that the "reasons to believe" did not disclose all materi…

The respondents claimed ownership of land that had been recorded in the 1962 Record of Rights and later allotted to the Reserve Bank of India. They appealed to the Settlement Officer in 1990, filed a civil suit in 2003 (withdrawn in 2007 without permission to re‑file), and finally filed a writ petition in 2008 seeking …

The case arose from a complaint that the General Manager of Punjab Roadways, in collusion with conductors, was selling and using illegally printed tickets, causing massive loss to the depot. An enquiry was conducted, tickets were seized, and an FIR was filed; fifteen persons were charged, of whom three conductors (Jarn…

The appellant, Sadhna Chaudhary, alleged that a police officer (respondent No.2) drugged and sexually exploited her, threatened to release obscene videos, and continued to harass her for two years, culminating in a violent assault in June 2020 for which she lodged an FIR under Sections 376, 323, 341, 354 and 379 IPC. T…

The case involves three appellants who, along with seven others, stopped a vehicle carrying the deceased and his friends, leading to a verbal altercation and subsequent assault with sticks and a brick that caused the deceased's death. The trial court convicted all six remaining accused under sections 302 and 304 IPC, a…

The appellant, Priya Patel, was charged under IPC sections 323 and 376(2)(g) for allegedly facilitating her husband’s rape of a woman. The High Court upheld the charge, holding that Explanation I to Section 376(2) makes a woman liable for ‘gang rape’ if she assists the act. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined the lan…

The case arose from a violent dispute over a bund in which a large number of persons were alleged to have participated. The FIR named fifteen persons, but thirty‑nine were tried. The trial court convicted six accused, including the appellants, under Sections 302/149 IPC despite the charge sheet being framed under Secti…

The Madras Times published an article alleging that K.J. Hospital was involved in illegal kidney trafficking. The hospital's Director filed a criminal defamation complaint under Section 500 IPC, asserting that the imputation harmed the hospital and, by extension, himself. The trial magistrate discharged the publisher, …

During a minister's visit to Kannur in 1994, police firing resulted in five deaths and many injuries, leading to two FIRs (Crimes 353/94 and 354/94). After a change of government, a Commission of Inquiry blamed the firing and the Director‑General of Police ordered a fresh FIR (Crime 268/97) three years later, initiatin…

The appellants, senior engineering officials and contractors, were convicted for alleged conspiracy, cheating and falsification of accounts in connection with jungle‑clearance projects in Nellore district, based solely on circumstantial evidence and a technical report prepared by a departmental officer during the inves…

The case arose from a dispute over agricultural land in Haryana where three members of the complainant party were killed and others injured when the accused entered the land with ploughs and weapons. The accused claimed they acted in private defence of their property and person. The Supreme Court examined whether the c…

Kripa Shankar Chatterjee, who lost the 1990 Nirsa Assembly election, filed an election petition challenging the election of Gurudas Chatterjee on four grounds: alleged improper rejection of a nomination paper on age grounds, alleged improper acceptance of nomination papers of two non‑voters, alleged disqualification of…

Shivaji Patil was charged under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code for the murder of Tulashiram Sutar. The prosecution's case rested solely on the testimony of the deceased's wife, Parvatibai, who claimed to have seen Patil strike her husband with a stick but did not disclose his identity to the police or anyone else…

The Supreme Court examined an appeal by three officers who had participated in a raid on a electricity theft case, challenging the dismissal of their petition under Section 482 of the CrPC. After the raid, the accused filed a complaint alleging that the officers demanded illegal gratification, but the complaint lacked …

The appellant, Ashok Kumar, was convicted under Sections 304B and 498A of the IPC for the death of his wife. He appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing that the presumption of dowry death under Section 113B of the Evidence Act does not apply because the marriage had lasted more than ten years, exceeding the seven‑year p…

The complainant alleged that Narayana Multispecialty Hospital overcharged for an HRCT test that was not performed, delayed the supply of medical records, and that hospital staff threatened him when he raised the issue. He filed a criminal complaint invoking Sections 405, 420 and 120B of the IPC and Section 34 of the We…

The appellant, Harpreet Singh Talwar, was charged with facilitating the import of a consignment of heroin‑laden talc stones through a front company, M/s Magent India, after meetings with a foreign conspirator in Dubai. The prosecution alleged that he coordinated the shipment, used proxy firms, fabricated invoices, and …

The appellant NDA Securities Ltd. filed a criminal appeal challenging a Delhi High Court order that had allowed a petition under Section 482 of the CrPC filed by respondent No.2, directing the Bombay Stock Exchange to release Rs 15.90 lakhs withheld as payout for shares sold on superdari. The dispute arose from an FIR …

The appellant, an Assistant Superintendent at Chennai Port Trust, was convicted for abetting her husband, a public servant, in acquiring assets disproportionate to his known income during the check period 2002-2009. The assets were held in the appellant's name, and she was alleged to have concealed the wealth, thereby …

The appellant Rajesh Chaddha was convicted under Section 498A of the IPC and Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act for alleged cruelty and dowry demands by his wife, who claimed physical and mental torture, including a miscarriage. The High Court, exercising revisionary jurisdiction, upheld the conviction despite the …

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigated alleged tampering of e‑tender bids that led to charges under the IPC, IT Act and the Prevention of Corruption Act. Because those offences are scheduled under the Prevention of Money‑Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA), the ED opened a money‑laundering investigation and the accused,…

Parag Bhat, alleged to be a juvenile, claimed minority based on school certificates, but the certificates were found forged or doubtful. The Juvenile Justice Board, after noting the discrepancies, referred the matter to a medical board which, through ossification tests, determined the appellant to be about 19 years old…

The appellant, Rambraksh (Accused No.2), was convicted under IPC sections 302 read with 34 and 201 for the murder of Ramsevak. The prosecution's case relied solely on circumstantial evidence and the "last seen" theory, asserting that the deceased was last seen with the appellant on 7 October 1992 and his skeletal remai…

The petitioner, Sujatha Ravi Kiran, filed a complaint alleging physical and mental cruelty, sexual abuse and wife‑swapping by her naval officer husband, his family and five other naval officers, leading to FIR No.260/2013 in Kerala. The husband’s anticipatory bail was denied and the Kerala High Court ordered a special …

The Allahabad High School Society amended its Rules, Constitution and Bye‑laws on 28 May 2007 and registered the changes on 30 May 2007. The Assistant Registrar, exercising powers under Section 12D(b) of the U.P. Societies Registration Act, 1860, cancelled the registration, finding that the amendments were made arbitra…

The appellants were charged with murder under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC, alleged to have killed two men during a land‑dispute. The trial court acquitted them, finding the FIR was delayed, the oral dying declarations unreliable, and the sole eye‑witness's testimony unnatural. The State appealed, and th…

The appellants purchased an undivided share of a joint family land but did not acquire any specific portion or possession. On the day of the incident the co‑owner Harda Ram and his son were ploughing the field when the appellants, armed with lathis and jallies, entered the land and inflicted fatal injuries on Harda Ram…

The Supreme Court upheld the convictions of six accused in a gang‑murder case at Radhika Gymkhana, Ahmedabad, where nine persons were killed on 3 August 1992. The trial court had relied heavily on confessional statements recorded under Section 15 of the TADA Act, along with a dying declaration, witness testimony, and f…

The appellants were summoned as additional accused in a murder trial under Section 319 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) solely on the basis of the first informant’s statement. The trial court allowed the application, and the High Court dismissed the appellants’ revision, prompting a criminal appeal before the Supr…

The case concerns the murder of Karanjit Singh on 7 February 1995 when accused Gurlabh Singh, on the instruction of co‑accused Rajesh Narang, fired a .12‑bore DBBL gun after stopping a college bus with a gypsy. The trial court convicted both accused under Section 302 IPC (murder) and, for Narang, under Section 29 of th…

The appellant, Rahim Bux, was convicted under Section 302 IPC for murdering his brother-in-law while chasing his brother-in-law with a sword after a quarrel. The appellant argued that he only intended to injure the brother-in-law and that the death of the brother was accidental, seeking to have the conviction altered t…

Manu Sharma was acquitted by the trial court of murder (IPC 302 r/w 201, 120B) and an Arms Act offence, but the Delhi High Court set aside the acquittal, convicted him and sentenced him to life imprisonment. While his appeal against the conviction was pending before the Supreme Court, he filed an application under Sect…

Umrao filed a FIR alleging that when he, his son Rajinder and his brother went to a tube‑well owned by the brother, the accused were removing an electric motor from it. A quarrel ensued and the accused struck Rajinder and others with various weapons. Rajinder was hospitalized, discharged on 25 September 1992, readmitte…

The appellant, a Deputy Superintendent of Stamps, was charged under the IPC and Sections 3(2), 3(5) and 24 of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) for allegedly aiding a large‑scale fake‑stamp racket. He had been in custody for over two years when the Special Court denied his bail application under Se…

The State of Himachal Pradesh appealed a High Court revision that set aside the conviction of Karanvir, a postmaster, under Section 409 of the IPC for misappropriating Rs. 8,000 entrusted to him for the purchase of National Savings Certificates. The complainant had deposited the amount with the postmaster, who, as a pu…

The appellants, Budh Singh and five others, were charged with murdering Ram Gopal and his wife Chatarvati and attempting to murder their son Rajveer Singh over a land dispute. The prosecution’s case relied on an FIR lodged at 00:25 on 13 April 1992, which reached the court on 18 April, and on medical and eyewitness evi…

The Supreme Court, acting suo moto, examined an affidavit filed by Advocate R. Karuppan in support of a writ of quo‑warranto challenging the age of the Chief Justice of India. The Court found that Karuppan knowingly asserted that the President had not determined the Chief Justice’s age, despite clear evidence that the …

The appellants filed a complaint alleging that police officers, who had arrested and detained them, failed to produce them before a magistrate within 24 hours and beat them while in custody. The magistrate, relying on a Maharashtra Government notification under Section 197(3) of the CrPC, discharged the officers on the…

The respondent‑police officer filed a complaint before a Metropolitan Magistrate alleging that the appellants, police officers, had committed offences including sections 166, 167, 219 etc. of the IPC and an offence under section 147(G) of the Bombay Police Act. The Magistrate took cognizance and issued process, which t…

Himmat Singh Chahar, a petty officer in the Indian Navy, was convicted by a Court Martial for outraging the modesty of a woman under Section 354 IPC and Section 77(2) of the Navy Act, receiving a nine‑month imprisonment and dismissal. He appealed to the Chief of Naval Staff and the Central Government, both of which uph…

The case involved a mercenary killing where the victim Ramu Somani survived and gave a statement to a magistrate, which the prosecution treated as a dying declaration. The Supreme Court held that because the declarant was alive, the statement could not be admitted under Section 32 of the Evidence Act and could only be …

The father, Bhagirath, and his two nephews were convicted by the Sessions Court for the murder of Bhagirath's blind son, Subhram, under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC. The High Court upheld the nephews' convictions but acquitted Bhagirath, invoking a "benefit of doubt" despite reliable eye‑witness testimon…

The appellants conspired to kidnap a ten‑year‑old boy and demand a ransom of Rs 5 lakhs. After abducting the child, Mohan and Gopi administered poison, tied the boy’s limbs and neck, and strangled him, later disposing of the body in a TV box placed in a well. All four accused – Mohan, Gopi, Muthu and Pushparaj – were s…

The Haryana Subordinate Selection Board conducted a written test and interview for 96 Taxation Inspector posts in 1988‑89, but the process was riddled with fabricated interview sheets, fake roll numbers, forgery, ministerial interference and the destruction of original records. Unsuccessful candidates filed writ petiti…

The case arose from the abduction and murder of a child, Varun Kumar, for which five persons were convicted under Sections 302, 149, 120B of the IPC, Section 3 of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) and related provisions. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined whether the prosecution had pro…

Kikar Singh was convicted of murder for repeatedly striking his unarmed neighbour with a spade, causing three injuries, the third of which severed the victim's neck and was deemed sufficient to cause death in the ordinary course of nature. The appellant argued that the killing occurred in the heat of passion during a s…

The Lions Club organized an eye‑camp in Khurja, Uttar Pradesh, inviting Dr. R.M. Sahay to perform cataract surgeries. Post‑operative intra‑ocular infections rendered many operated eyes permanently blind. Two social activists filed a public‑interest writ petition under Article 32 seeking compensation for victims, an inq…

The accused police officers were tried for murder, assault and creating false evidence after Balwant Singh died while in police custody. The Sessions Judge acquitted them, finding the prosecution’s case implausible and the evidence unreliable. On appeal, the High Court reversed the acquittal, relying chiefly on the pre…

The appellant alleged that the respondents forged a personal recognizance bond and a surety bond before they were filed as evidence in a criminal case pending before a Judicial Magistrate. The lower courts dismissed the appellant's complaint and the revisional court directed a preliminary enquiry under Section 340 of t…

Pearl Beverages' Porsche, insured with IFFCO Tokio, was destroyed in a high‑speed crash on 22 December 2007. The driver, Aman Bangia, was reported to have smelled of alcohol and was later convicted under IPC 279 for rash driving, but no breath or blood test was conducted. IFFCO Tokio denied the claim invoking an exclus…

The case concerns Accused X, convicted of kidnapping, raping and murdering two minor girls, for which a death sentence was imposed. The petitioner challenged the conviction on two grounds: (i) the trial court failed to conduct a separate pre‑sentence hearing as required by Section 235(2) of the CrPC, and (ii) the petit…

The Supreme Court examined whether Section 84(2) of the Electricity Act, 2003 obliges a High Court Judge to be appointed as Chairperson of a State Electricity Regulatory Commission and whether a member of law is required on the Commission. By interpreting the statutory language, the Court held that Section 84(2) is mer…

The case arose from the murder of Tamanna Khatoon, for which her husband Mukhtar filed an FIR against two accused. During investigation, witnesses under Section 164 of the CrPC alleged that Mukhtar himself killed his wife. The CJM took cognizance of the murder and related offences after reviewing the charge‑sheet and s…

The petitioners, convicted under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) and sentenced to death, sought commutation of their sentences under Article 72 of the Constitution. After a delay of about eight years in deciding the mercy petition, they argued that the delay itself warranted conversion o…

The appellant's daughter died within five months of her marriage, leading to FIRs under Sections 498A, 304B, 302, 406 IPC and Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act. Multiple bail applications under Section 438 of the CrPC were filed by the accused, initially rejected by the Sessions Judge and the High Court, but later…

An FIR was lodged alleging offences under Sections 341, 323 and 435 IPC. Police investigation found that two women, Minu Kumari and Runjhun Kumari, were not involved and submitted a charge sheet only against two men. The Chief Judicial Magistrate, however, took cognizance and issued summons against all accused, includi…

The appellant Narendra Singh was accused of murdering his wife Bimlabai by throttling her and then setting her body on fire, allegedly to conceal a dowry dispute. The trial court acquitted all accused, but the Madhya Pradesh High Court reversed the acquittal, convicting the husband under Sections 302/34 IPC and both th…

The appellant, N.K. Prasada, was respondent No.8 in two writ petitions filed as public interest litigations (PIL) in the Andhra Pradesh High Court alleging malfunctioning of the Commissioner of Central Excise and Customs. The High Court held that the petitions were engineered by the appellant to avoid a transfer order,…

The Supreme Court examined the 1993 Bombay bomb blasts case, where 145 persons were charged under the IPC and the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987 (TADA). The Court clarified the law on criminal conspiracy, holding that knowledge of an illegal use can be inferred when the goods (e.g., RDX) hav…

The appellant was convicted of raping and murdering a five‑year‑old girl based solely on circumstantial evidence, including the alleged last sighting of the girl with the accused, his purported false explanation, the claim that he pointed out the body’s location, and alleged blood‑stains and genital abrasions. The tria…

The appellant Kansa Behera was charged with the murder of Bhatal Majhi, who was found dead with his throat cut after a land dispute with another accused, Jitrai Majhi. The prosecution relied on three pieces of circumstantial evidence: the appellant was seen with the deceased on the evening before the murder, blood‑stai…

Vijay Narain Singh, who had been granted bail in a criminal trial for murder and related offences, was detained under Section 12(2) of the Bihar Control of Crimes Act, 1981 on the ground that he was an "anti‑social element". The State relied on three incidents (1975, 1982 and the pending murder case) to justify detenti…

The appellants, senior officials of a bicycle manufacturing company, were charged under Sections 406, 420 and 506 IPC for alleged cheating and criminal breach of trust arising from a payment dispute with a contractor. The contractor claimed underpayment for assembling 83,267 bicycles, leading to an FIR and subsequent c…

The case involved Bhima Razu Prasad, who was charged with offences under the IPC, PC Act and alleged to have concealed disproportionate assets. During investigation, accused No.2 and No.3 claimed the seized money was held in escrow, producing a fabricated sale deed to shield Prasad. The trial and High Courts convicted …

The State Trading Corporation of India (STC) and Global Steel Holding Ltd (GSHIL) entered into settlement agreements in 2010 and 2012 under which GSHIL was to pay interest of Rs 600 crore at 8% p.a. by 28 February 2019. The amount was paid, and STC declared that all liabilities under the settlements were fully satisfie…

The deceased, Brij Bhushan Tiwari, was found dead and his brother alleged that he was murdered by his wife and in‑laws. The accused, Dev Kanya Tiwari (mother‑in‑law), claimed the death was a suicide by ingestion of sulfas tablets, a version also supported by a prior complaint filed by the deceased's wife and corroborat…

The appellant was accused of strangling his grandmother and stealing her money bag, leading to a conviction under Section 302 IPC by the trial court and affirmation by the High Court. The prosecution's case hinged primarily on the testimony of two interested witnesses, the deceased's son‑in‑law (PW1) and his wife (PW5)…

The appellants, Bannareddy and others, were convicted by the Karnataka High Court for offences under Sections 148, 341, 504 and 326 read with 149 of the IPC arising from an alleged assault on three victims during a village fair. The trial court had acquitted them, finding that the prosecution’s case was riddled with co…

The case involved six in‑laws accused of murdering Asha Devi, who died from extensive burns. The prosecution's case rested solely on Asha Devi's dying declaration implicating all six accused. Two of the accused, Prem Nath and Raj Bala, raised an alibi, presenting multiple witnesses showing they were at work and elsewhe…

A contractual government teacher in Odisha was sexually harassed by a Sub‑Inspector of Schools, lodged multiple complaints, and was later set ablaze, dying from her injuries. The petitioner, a law student, filed a writ under Article 32 seeking transfer of the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) a…

The Supreme Court heard a public‑interest writ petition filed by Pravasi Bhalai Sangathan seeking pre‑emptive orders against hate speeches by elected representatives, arguing that such speeches violate Articles 14, 15, 19, 21 and fundamental duties. The Court examined whether existing statutes—IPC, SC/ST (Prevention of…

The deceased's cows damaged the plaintiffs' crops, leading to a heated altercation during which the accused formed an unlawful assembly, entered the victim's house and assaulted him with lathis and a lethal weapon, causing fatal injuries. The victim's mother, an injured eyewitness, identified the appellants as the pers…

Madhuri married appellant No.1 and later committed suicide while staying at her parents' house. The prosecution charged the husband and his relatives, including appellant Nos.2 and 4, under IPC Sections 3048 (dowry death) and 498A (cruelty) alleging dowry demands and cruelty. The trial court and High Court convicted th…

The case concerned the alleged dowry death of Surinder Kaur, who was burnt to death allegedly by her husband Bakshish Ram and his parents. The prosecution relied primarily on the testimony of the deceased's mother, who recounted hearsay statements made by the deceased's father about dowry harassment. The trial court an…

The husband, Ajay Kumar, filed a habeas corpus petition before the Allahabad High Court alleging that his wife, Rashmi, was illegally detaining their minor son. In reality, the child had been living with the mother in Maharashtra since birth. The husband had earlier filed a criminal application in the Bombay High Court…

The appellant, father of a murder victim, challenged a High Court order that the accused (Respondent No.1) be tried as a juvenile under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000. The accused had filed an application under Section 49 of the Act claiming he was under 18 on the date of the alleged o…

Geejaganda Somaiah was convicted for the murder of his relative Chengappa, who had been seeking an equitable partition of family land. After Chengappa disappeared while meeting a revenue inspector, his body was found the next day. The appellant surrendered, made a voluntary statement to police, and gold ornaments and t…

The appellants were convicted for the murder of two villagers after a violent mob attacked them with bombs and sharp weapons, subsequently burning the bodies. The prosecution alleged that the accused formed an unlawful assembly of five or more persons with a common object to kill the victims, and that each participant …

Rajesh Bajaj, a garment exporter, filed a complaint alleging that a German buyer promised payment on receipt of invoices but paid only a part of the amount and later reneged on a further promise. The complaint invoked Sections 415 and 420 of the IPC, and the FIR was subsequently quashed by the Delhi High Court on the g…

The State of Haryana appealed the Punjab & Haryana High Court's acquittal of five accused who had been convicted of rioting, murder and attempted murder. The High Court had set aside the trial court's convictions on the basis that the accused acted in private defence of person and property. The Supreme Court examined w…

Five persons, including Jagdish Narain and his two sons, were tried for rioting and the murder of Jitendra Nath after allegedly ambushing him and firing shots. The trial court acquitted them, citing contradictions between eye‑witness statements and their earlier statements under Section 161 CrPC and alleging a faulty i…

Pratibha Rani, an estranged wife, filed a criminal complaint under s.406 IPC alleging that her husband Suraj Kumar, his father, brothers and brother‑in‑law had misappropriated her stridhan (dowry) worth Rs.60,000 that was entrusted to them at the time of marriage. The Punjab & Haryana High Court quashed the complaint u…

The Union of India, represented by the Enforcement Directorate, appealed against a Patna High Court order that granted regular bail to Kanhaiya Prasad in a PMLA case involving alleged money laundering of proceeds from illegal sand mining by his father. The High Court had released the respondent without satisfying the t…

The trial court acquitted three accused of murder after finding the eyewitnesses' testimonies implausible and noting contradictions in medical evidence. The High Court reversed the acquittal, relying on the same eyewitness accounts and post‑mortem report to convict the accused under section 302 IPC. On appeal, the Supr…

The State of Odisha filed a Special Leave Petition challenging the acquittal of Banabihari Mohapatra and his son for the alleged murder of Bijay Kumar Tadu, whose body was found with electric shock injuries in the accused's shop. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, including the deceased’s presence at th…

The accused Chandru @ Chandrasekaran and Siva were convicted of murder (s.302 r/w s.120B) based solely on circumstantial evidence and a private complaint filed four years after the death. The Supreme Court examined the reliability of the complainants' statements, the delay in filing the private complaint, the lack of a…

Eleven accused were tried for murder under Sections 148, 302/149, 323/149 and 506/149 IPC, and the trial court convicted all of them. The High Court acquitted eight of the accused, but upheld the conviction of three appellants by altering the charge from Section 149 to Section 34 IPC, convicting them under Section 302/…

The appellant, Parkash Chand, was convicted under Sections 376 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code for raping and intimidating the prosecutrix, PW2, based primarily on her testimony and alleged extra‑judicial confessions to witnesses PW4 and PW5. The FIR was lodged seven months after the alleged incident, and no contempor…

Mohd. Suleman Siddiqui was appointed as a registration clerk on a daily‑wage basis in 1991 by the District Registrar, Uttar Pradesh. He later claimed that his appointment was regular and sought regularisation, alleging that the termination of his services was illegal and that Rule 22 of the Subordinate Offices Minister…

The appellant, Dinesh Kumar Kalidas Patel, was convicted by the Sessions Court for offences under Sections 498A and 201 of the Indian Penal Code after his wife allegedly committed suicide by hanging. The High Court acquitted him of the 498A charge but upheld the conviction under Section 201, relying on the fact that th…

The case concerned the murder of Rajendra Rajaram Gupta during a Ganesh festival, where the prosecution alleged that two accused opened fire on the victim and an injured eyewitness. The trial court convicted five accused based on the testimonies of five eye‑witnesses and test identification parades (TIPs). On appeal, t…

The case concerned the murder of two persons in a road‑accident‑turned‑firing incident, for which twelve accused were charged under various IPC sections including s.149 for conspiracy. The trial court convicted them based on six eye‑witness testimonies, alleged recovery of weapons, and a purported conspiracy. On appeal…

The State of Uttar Pradesh prosecuted Sukhpal Singh and others for offences under section 396 of the Indian Penal Code, alleging that on 1 September 1979 a group of armed men entered a house, fired indiscriminately, killed two persons and injured two others. Dying declarations of the deceased and statements of injured …

The deceased was stabbed to death during a land dispute and, before dying, gave a statement identifying the accused. The trial court acquitted the accused, but the Karnataka High Court convicted him under Section 304 Part II of the IPC, relying on the dying declaration and the recovery of the weapon. The accused appeal…

The State of Uttar Pradesh appealed against the Allahabad High Court's acquittal of Sheo Lal and others, who had been convicted by a trial court for murder (Sec. 302 r/w Sec. 34 IPC), voluntarily causing hurt (Sec. 323 r/w Sec. 34 IPC) and assault on a woman (Sec. 354 IPC). The prosecution alleged that the accused, who…

The accused were convicted under Sections 302 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code for the murder of Gurusamy Naicker. The Madras High Court reversed the conviction and acquitted the accused, but did so without analysing the trial court's evidence or providing reasons for rejecting the conviction. The Supreme Court held tha…

The case arose from an FIR reporting theft of five idols, leading to the investigation and conviction of four accused, including the appellant Ram Naresh Prasad. The prosecution’s application under Section 319 CrPC to summon the appellant was dismissed, but a final report against him was later accepted. Two years later…

The accused Kannika was convicted by the trial court under IPC sections 306 (abetting suicide) and 294(8) (obscene acts). The appellate court acquitted him, but the Madras High Court, on revision, restored the conviction. The Supreme Court was approached to examine whether the High Court erred by not considering the su…

Milind Bhagwanrao Goose was convicted under Sections 498A (dowry harassment) and 306 (abetment of suicide) of the IPC for subjecting his wife Lata to extreme mental cruelty that led her to commit suicide by self-immolation on 9 October 1989. The deceased had repeatedly complained to her parents about the husband's dema…

The State of Punjab appealed against the Punjab and Haryana High Court's order quashing an FIR under Section 36 of the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulations, 1995, on the ground that the individual share of the joint family property was less than 1000 sq.m. The Supreme Court examined the scope of the High Court's i…

Santokh Singh and his wife were tried for murder after a land dispute in which Santokh fired a pistol at Gurdip Singh, causing his death, and was also injured when his arm was twisted during the altercation. He claimed the right of private defence, arguing he possessed the disputed land, but the trial court and High Co…

The State of U.P. appealed the Allahabad High Court's acquittal of four accused who had been convicted by the trial court for murder (IPC s.302) and voluntarily causing hurt (IPC s.324) read with common intention (IPC s.34). The High Court had set aside the convictions, citing discrepancies in witness statements and th…

The appellant, Balu (Bakthavatchalu), was convicted of murder under IPC 302 for an incident that occurred on 20 April 1998. The trial court recorded his age as 18 and rejected his application to be sent to a Borstal School. On appeal, the Supreme Court was asked to determine whether he was a juvenile at the time of the…

The appellants Badshah and others were accused of kidnapping Suraj Pal Singh on 23 May 1980, armed and stating they would kill him. The victim was never seen again, and the prosecution relied on eyewitness testimony that the accused had expressed intent to murder. The trial court convicted them under Section 364 of the…

Hazarilal, a peon in a Madhya Pradesh middle school, was convicted under IPC sections 323 and 34 for a simple assault and was fined Rs.500 after his one‑month imprisonment was reduced on appeal. The State terminated his service under the Madhya Pradesh Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1966, in…

The wife, N. Suriyakalan, filed a criminal case under Sections 498A and 406 IPC and Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act against her husband A. Mohandoss and his relatives, which the Madras High Court later quashed. She also filed a maintenance petition. An SLP under Article 136 of the Constitution was filed 978 days…

The Supreme Court examined whether a Metropolitan Magistrate could, at a very advanced stage of trial, implead two bank officials as additional accused under Section 319 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The trial had already examined 49 witnesses, and only the statements of three subsequent witnesses suggested possible …

Pammi (Brijendra Singh) and accomplices, armed, went to the house of PW‑5 to settle a business dispute. The three deceased arrived to pacify the situation, leading to a heated altercation during which Pammi and the others opened fire, killing all three. Pammi pleaded private defence, claiming the deceased attacked with…

The husband, Lakhmi, was alleged to have killed his young wife by striking her head with a spade (phali) and a blunt instrument (kunda). Several eyewitnesses saw the assault, and the accused, when examined under Section 313 of the CrPC, admitted killing his wife with a kunda, denying the use of the phali. The trial cou…

The appellants were convicted for kidnapping, murder and illegal possession of a firearm under the Arms Act and TADA. The prosecution’s case relied on the victim’s father’s testimony about a witness’s statement, statements recorded by police before investigation, the accused’s own statements about the location of the b…

Satbir filed a criminal appeal after the Punjab & Haryana High Court acquitted twelve accused of rioting and murder under Sections 148, 149 and 302 IPC, relying on alleged identification failures, the status of witnesses as "chance" witnesses, the relationship of a witness to the deceased, contradictions about weapons …

The appellants, eight brothers and relatives, disputed a strip of land owned by the deceased and, on 17 August 1982, armed themselves with axes and sticks, attacked the deceased and others, causing the deaths of two victims. The trial court convicted them under Sections 302, 324, 325 read with Section 149 IPC, but the …

The State of Rajasthan sued Mis. Kalyan Sundaram Cement Industries Ltd. for recovery of sums due under an agreement after three post‑dated cheques issued in 1989 bounced. Alongside civil suits for recovery, criminal complaints were filed under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act and Section 420 of the Indian …

Sakharam, a 16‑year‑old boy, was living alone with his grandfather when his aunt, Awadhrani, stayed with him for about eight to ten days. On 29 October 1968 a gun‑shot was heard; neighbours found Awadhrani dead with a 12‑bore gun nearby and Sakharam standing nearby, crying. The trial court, relying on circumstantial ev…

Harbans Singh, along with Kashmira Singh and Jeeta Singh, was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of four persons. While Jeeta Singh was executed and Kashmira Singh's death sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment by the Supreme Court, Harbans Singh's special leave and review petitions were dismisse…

Four persons were tried for the killing of Akbar on 9 January 1999. The trial court convicted A1, A2 and A3 under sections 302 and 323 read with section 34 of the IPC, while acquitting them of section 325, and later the High Court altered the convictions, acquitting A1 of 302/34 and A2 of 302/34 but upholding A2's conv…

The petitioner, the Director General of Police (DGP) of Himachal Pradesh, challenged an ex parte order of the Himachal High Court that transferred him and a Superintendent of Police to other posts to ensure a fair investigation into allegations of intimidation and misuse of power. The High Court had acted suo motu on a…

The case involved a murder where three accused were convicted based largely on circumstantial evidence, including a "last seen" theory and alleged recoveries of the victim's body, ornaments, and a spade. The prosecution relied on a disclosure statement allegedly made by accused No.3 (Boby) to claim the body was recover…

The appellant, Prakash Nayi, was convicted under Section 302 IPC for murdering a shop employee and appealed on the ground of insanity under Section 84 IPC. Medical evidence, including two doctors' reports, indicated that he suffered from chronic schizophrenia, a condition that rendered him incapable of understanding th…

The appellants were convicted for murder and related offences under Sections 148, 302/149, 324/149 and 304 Part‑II of the IPC based largely on a statement recorded by the investigating officer (PW‑20) from the deceased Hukum Singh, thumb‑impression evidence, and eye‑witness testimony. The Supreme Court examined the cre…

The appellant, Anversinh, was convicted under Sections 361 and 366 of the Indian Penal Code for kidnapping a 16‑year‑old girl and attempting to compel her marriage, after the girl was recovered from his custody. The appellant argued that the relationship was consensual and that the girl had voluntarily left her parents…

Vinayak Narayan Deosthali, an Assistant Manager in the securities department of UCO Bank, was convicted by a Special Court for conspiring with broker Harshad Mehta and a fellow bank officer to manipulate Subsidiary General Ledger (SGL) accounts, causing loss to the bank and illegal gain to Mehta. The appellant argued t…

Alister Anthony Pareira was convicted for causing the death of seven labourers and grievous injuries to eight others by driving a car rashly and negligently while under the influence of alcohol. The Supreme Court examined whether a person could be tried and convicted under both s.304(Part II) IPC (culpable homicide not…

The appellant was convicted for the rape and murder of a five‑year‑old girl and for causing disappearance of evidence, based primarily on circumstantial evidence. The prosecution proved that the appellant was seen fleeing the scene, that blood‑stained clothes of the victim were recovered from his sister's house followi…

On 8 July 1987 the prosecutrix alleged that the appellant entered her house, assaulted her with three tangi blows and raped her, after which she snatched the weapon and injured him. Both parties were said to have become unconscious; the husband, son and a relative arrived, and an FIR was lodged. The trial court convict…

The deceased Manohar Lal was assaulted by the accused Ram Krishan and co‑accused Harminder with a stone, which struck the left side of his head, causing fatal brain injury and leading him to fall down a hill. The trial court convicted the accused under Section 302 IPC. The Himachal Pradesh High Court acquitted them, sp…

Buddu Khan assaulted Dinesh Oli with a brick after Oli bit Khan's cheek in the presence of Khan's wife, causing Oli's death. The trial court convicted Khan under Section 302 IPC for murder, a decision upheld by the Uttarakhand High Court. On appeal, Khan argued that the killing occurred in a sudden fight without premed…

The incident arose when a bull owned by the accused entered the complainant's field, damaging crops and leading to a heated exchange between the parties. The accused then entered his house and returned within a few minutes armed with lathis, knives and other weapons, assaulting the complainant's brother, father and ano…

The appellant Mathai was convicted by the trial court and the Kerala High Court for voluntarily causing grievous hurt by using a stone, under Section 326 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). He appealed to the Supreme Court, contending that the injury did not amount to "grievous hurt" and that the stone could not be classif…

The appellants, T. Shankar Prasad (Assistant Commercial Tax Officer) and Ghaiz Basha (Junior Assistant), were convicted under Sections 7, 13(1)(d) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 for demanding and receiving a bribe to issue way‑bills. The complainant paid the demanded amount to the junior assistant …

The Supreme Court examined the murder of Suresh Dube and the subsequent terrorist‑related conspiracy involving gangs of Bhai Thakur and Manik Patil. The trial court had excluded confessions recorded under Section 15 of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) on the ground of procedural irregular…

The deceased Sambhu Yadav was attacked by three accused and, while gravely injured but conscious, gave a statement to witnesses and a police Sub‑Inspector that identified Paras Yadav as the one who stabbed him. The Sub‑Inspector recorded this statement as a routine FIR, not expressly as a dying declaration. The Supreme…

The appellants, Jagannath and others, were originally convicted under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC for the murder of Shyam Narain, based primarily on the ocular testimony of PW1 who claimed the appellants chased and surrounded the victim. The High Court upheld this conviction. On appeal, the Supreme Cour…

The case concerned the death of Ram Dhiraj Tiwari while in police custody. The prosecution alleged that Sub‑Inspector Rafiuddin Khan (Accused No.1) beat the deceased with lathis and dandas after his arrest on 19 Oct 1971, causing 28 injuries that led to death, and also demanded a bribe. The defence claimed the arrest o…

The case involved the murder of Smt. Dhaka, a widow, for which five persons were tried. One accused, Mam Chand, turned approver, and the prosecution relied solely on his testimony and on the recovery of articles, with no direct evidence linking the accused to the crime. The trial court convicted all accused, and the Hi…

The State of Odisha filed a criminal appeal against the High Court’s order that quashed FIR proceedings under Sections 420 r/w 120B IPC and Sections 13(2) and 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act against public servants of the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) and the Housing & Urban Development Departmen…

The case arose from a firearm clash on 8 May 2020 in Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh, leading to two FIRs: FIR No.406 filed by Laxman Prasad Pandey alleging his brother was killed by the rival group, and FIR No.407 filed by the rival group alleging Pandey's party were the aggressors. The High Court granted regular bail to th…

The case concerned the murder of Sarman Singh, for which six accused were charged under sections 147, 148, 149, 302, 449 and 452 of the IPC. The trial court acquitted all accused, but the High Court convicted three of them (Ramji Singh, Laxman Singh and Lala Ram) based on the testimony of two eye‑witnesses (PW‑1 and PW…

The Supreme Court addressed the protection of identity of victims of sexual offences, both adult and child, under IPC s.228A, CrPC s.327 and the POCSO Act. It held that no person may publish the victim's name or any detail that could lead to identification, and FIRs relating to such offences must not be placed in the p…

The Supreme Court heard a criminal appeal filed by the CBI against Pratap Chandra Reddy challenging a High Court order that had held the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 1976 (FCRA) applicable to offences also punishable under the Indian Penal Code. The matter was pending before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate,…

The petition was filed by the father of a college girl who died after falling from a hostel roof, alleging that the death resulted from ragging and that the Rajasthan police investigation was biased, incomplete, and failed to record the victim's statement. The petitioner sought a transfer of the investigation to the Ce…

The Supreme Court examined the constitutional validity of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, which criminalises "carnal intercourse against the order of nature". The petitioners argued that the provision violated Articles 14, 15 and 21 of the Constitution by arbitrarily classifying "unnatural" acts, being vague, and…

The appellants were convicted under IPC sections 395, 396 and 397 for a burglary‑murder that occurred in 1995. Both were arrested ten years later; an identification parade was held only for A1, who later died, while no parade was conducted for A2. The trial court sentenced both to death under section 396, which the Hig…

The appellant, KUKAPALLI MOHAN RAO, was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC for allegedly hacking the deceased with an axe, motivated by a suspicion of an illicit relationship between the deceased and the appellant's wife. The prosecution relied on the eyewitness testimony of the deceased's wife (PW2) and brother…

The appellant was convicted under Sections 279 and 304A of the IPC for causing the death of a seven‑year‑old girl by negligent driving of a tractor. He was sentenced to six months' simple imprisonment and a fine of Rs.2,000, with the conviction under Section 279 later set aside by the High Court. During the pendency of…

The appellant (A‑5) was tried with seven others for the murder of Venkatesan Seshastripuram. A‑4 entered the deceased's house and shot him, resulting in death. The trial court convicted A‑4 under s.302 IPC and A‑5 under s.398 and s.457(1) IPC, acquitting A‑5 of s.302 read with s.34 IPC. The Madras High Court reversed t…

The case arose from a dispute over litigation in which the accused Sewa Ram, Ram Prasad (deceased), Parmeshwari and Sunder Lal attacked Genda Devi with lathis and a kanthi, causing her death, and also assaulted the complainant Shaukat Ali. The trial court convicted them under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC…

The appellant, a driver of a Tata Spacio, was intercepted by police and, according to the prosecution, snatched a service revolver during a scuffle and fired at the complainant, a police sub‑inspector, causing a gunshot injury. He was convicted by the trial courts under IPC sections 307 (attempt to murder) and 353 (vol…

The State of Haryana prosecuted four accused for causing grievous injuries that led to the death of a police constable. The trial court convicted them under sections 325 and 326 read with 34 of the IPC, acquitting them of murder (302/34). The High Court reversed this, discarding the victim's dying declaration and an ey…

The brother of the deceased appealed against the Patna High Court’s order quashing criminal proceedings against the mother‑in‑law, Sita Devi, and others. Sita Devi had originally lodged FIR No. 135 alleging outsiders murdered her daughter‑in‑law, but police later discovered that the murder was a conspiracy involving he…

The case involved a riotous mob that surrounded the house of PW‑7 and chased the deceased RSS leader Vishwanathan to another house where he was killed. The five appellants, sympathisers of the CPM, were part of the mob but the prosecution could not prove that they pursued the deceased to the house where the murder occu…

The appellant, a former army man, was convicted of murdering Kanta Devi, who was shot in her courtyard at night. The deceased, moments before being shot, shouted that the appellant was standing with a gun. The gun was later found near the body. The appellant appealed, arguing that the omission in the FIR regarding the …

The 1987 Vile Parle Assembly election of Dr. Ramesh Yeshwant Prabhoo was challenged on the ground that his agent, Bal Thackeray, made speeches appealing to voters on the basis of Hindu religion and inciting communal feelings. The High Court held the speeches to be corrupt practices under Sections 123(3) and 123(3A) of …

Manohar Joshi, the BJP‑Shiv Sena candidate, was elected from Dadar in 1990. Bhaurao Patil filed an election petition alleging corrupt practices under sections 123(3) and 123(3A) of the Representation of the People Act, relying on Joshi's speeches, those of party leaders and audio‑video cassettes. The Bombay High Court …

The appellants were charged under IPC s.341 (wrongful restraint) and Banking Regulation Act s.36AD for allegedly obstructing bank officers at a Grindlays Bank branch. The Metropolitan Magistrate acquitted them in 1978. Grindlays Bank appealed; after a six‑year delay, the Calcutta High Court set aside the acquittal and …

Surendra Koli, a former domestic help at the Nithari residence, was convicted for the murder, rape and related offences of a minor based on a Section 164 confession and alleged discoveries under Section 27 of the Evidence Act. The Supreme Court had earlier affirmed his conviction and death sentence in 2011, and a revie…

The appellant, a 55‑year‑old mother‑in‑law, was granted regular bail by the First Additional Sessions Judge in a dowry‑related murder case, despite earlier allegations that she was absconding. The High Court, exercising suo motu powers under Section 439(2) of the CrPC, cancelled that bail, contending that the trial cou…

The appellants were convicted for rioting, destruction of public property and related offences based largely on the testimony of eyewitnesses identified through two Test Identification Parades (TIPs). The witnesses had earlier seen the accused while they were in police custody, and the TIPs were conducted after a signi…

Istkar, a daily‑wage worker, was required to furnish a personal bond of Rs 5,00,000 under Section 107 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) to keep the peace during Panchayat elections. After alleged obstruction of officials and illegal construction, the Sub‑Divisional Magistrate forfeited the bond ex parte, directi…

The appellant O.M. Cherian (Thankachan) was convicted under Sections 498A and 306 IPC for the suicide of his wife and was sentenced to two years and seven years of rigorous imprisonment respectively, with the sentences ordered to run consecutively by the trial court and the Kerala High Court. The appeal before the Supr…

Joginder Singh, selected for the post of Constable in Chandigarh Police, was denied appointment after a criminal case (FIR No. 200) was discovered during verification. He had been honourably acquitted by the Additional Sessions Judge, Bhiwani, on 4 October 1999. The appellant disclosed the existence of the case and its…

Nar Singh was convicted under Section 302 IPC and Section 25(1B) of the Arms Act for the murder of Rajbir, based largely on circumstantial evidence and a forensic science laboratory (FSL) report (Ex‑P12) linking a recovered bullet to a country‑made pistol. The trial court and the High Court failed to put the FSL report…

Bhupendra was married to Geeta Bai in 1993. After repeated dowry demands, Geeta consumed wheat tablets on 20 August 1996 and died of suspected poisoning. The trial court convicted Bhupendra and his father under sections 498‑A, 304‑B and 306 IPC; the High Court upheld Bhupendra's conviction but acquitted his father. On …

The appellant Bhola Ram was convicted under Sections 304‑B and 498‑A IPC for the alleged dowry death of his sister‑in‑law Janki Devi, who committed suicide by poison. The prosecution alleged that Bhola Ram, along with his brother Darshan Ram and mother Vidya Devi, demanded additional dowry and subjected the victim to c…

Suresh Kumar was convicted under Sections 304‑B (dowry death) and 498‑A IPC for the death of his wife Sulochana within seven years of marriage. The trial court acquitted him, deeming the death accidental, but the High Court reversed the acquittal, holding that the death occurred under non‑normal circumstances, that dow…

The deceased, Neeru Gupta, committed suicide in 1985 and her brother filed a complaint alleging dowry demand and ill‑treatment by her husband and in‑laws. The trial court acquitted the accused, finding no proof of dowry demand or cruelty and noting the deceased suffered from mental illness. The High Court reversed the …

Amalendu Pal, married to Dipika since 1977, began an extramarital relationship with Anita and, after being denied permission to marry her, subjected Dipika to physical and mental torture. He brought Anita to his home three months before Dipika's suicide by hanging on 27 September 1991. The trial court convicted Amalend…

The case involves the kidnapping of a four‑year‑old boy by five accused persons in the presence of his mother, who was overpowered, injured and later identified the perpetrators and the white Maruti van used. The prosecution proved the existence of a ransom note threatening the child's life, and multiple independent wi…

Mahmud Rajasa Saiyed was arrested in a POTA case for alleged offences under the IPC, Arms Act and POTA, and was found in possession of a country‑made revolver, a foreign‑made pistol and ten live cartridges recovered from a co‑accused. He applied for bail under Sections 49(6) and 49(7) of the Prevention of Terrorism Act…

Gulam Mohd (Gulal Shaikh) was charged under several IPC, POTA and Arms Act provisions for alleged terrorist activities. He claimed that a confession recorded under Section 32 of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2002 was obtained while he was in illegal custody and later retracted it. He applied for bail under Section 4…