Indian Penal Code, 1860

The parents of Bal Reddy were murdered in their Hyderabad home on 3 December 1997. The prosecution charged the daughter‑in‑law (Swarnalatha) and five others under sections 120‑B, 302, 392 and 201 IPC, relying mainly on circumstantial evidence, an extra‑judicial confession recorded by the son‑in‑law of the deceased, the…

The appellant, a Member of the Legislative Assembly, was accused of obtaining large sums of public money through fabricated medical reimbursement claims. The matter was referred to the Legislature's Ethics Committee, which, after the appellant's apology and partial refund, recommended withdrawal of the criminal case. T…

The accused, Pappu@Ajay, was convicted by the trial court for offences under Sections 376(1) read with 511, 324 and 452 of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced to four years of rigorous imprisonment along with fines. The High Court, noting that the accused had already served about five months and 25 days, reduced the se…

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 …

The appellant State of Rajasthan convicted Gajendra Singh under Sections 376, 323 and 341 of the Indian Penal Code, sentencing him to ten years rigorous imprisonment for rape and six months for the other offences. The High Court reduced the rape sentence to five years, invoking the proviso to Section 376 that permits a…

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…

Dinesh Kumar and four others were charged with murder, attempted murder and related offences under Sections 302, 307, 324, 148, 452, 323 read with 149 of the IPC. The trial court convicted all five, but the Rajasthan High Court acquitted four co‑accused while upholding Dinesh Kumar's conviction. The appellant argued th…

The case involved the murder of a man (the deceased) who was last seen with accused A‑1 and A‑2. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence: the victims' last sighting with the accused, purchase of knives by the accused, discovery of a skeleton and burnt items, and identification of the accused by a key witness …

Pastor P. Raju was arrested and remanded to judicial custody after an FIR was lodged under Section 153B IPC for allegedly urging Hindus to convert to Christianity. He filed a petition under Section 482 of the CrPC seeking to quash the criminal proceedings, contending that a prior sanction under Section 196(1A) CrPC was…

Dr. Suresh Gupta, a plastic surgeon, was charged under Section 304A of the IPC for the death of a patient during a minor nasal surgery. He sought quashing of the criminal proceedings under Section 482 of the CrPC, which the High Court refused. The Supreme Court examined whether the complaint and accompanying medical re…

On 17 November 1974, Baijnath Singh was killed after the appellant thrust a spear into his abdomen during an altercation. The Sessions Court convicted the appellant and a co‑accused under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC for murder; the High Court later acquitted the co‑accused and reduced the appellant's conviction to S…

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 Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act against Raj Kumar Jain, a junior engineer, but after investigation found no prima facie case and submitted a report under Section 173(2) of the CrPC seeking closure. The Special Judge refused to accept the report, directi…

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…

In 1970 Harbansh Narain Lal Das was attacked, tied with a rope and dragged by three accused who also seized his pistol. The trial court convicted them of murder under Section 302/34 IPC and sentenced each to life imprisonment. The Patna High Court altered the conviction to culpable homicide not amounting to murder unde…

The appellant, a property owner, was accused in a cheating case for allegedly receiving Rs.17 lakh from complainants who had paid for a floor that was never delivered. Fearing arrest, he applied for anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the CrPC; the trial court dismissed the application, but the Delhi High Court gran…

Ramachandraiah was charged under IPC sections 409, 468 and 471 for misappropriating Rs. 6,57,355.90. He died in 1991 while the trial was pending; the trial court nevertheless recorded a finding that he alone had committed the offence, though he could not be convicted. The State then invoked Clause 3 of the Criminal Law…

The State (through CBI) appealed against a High Court order that released three accused—Sanjiv Bhalla, Major Purshotam Singh and R.P. Chopra—on probation of good conduct under the Probation of Offenders Act, 1958, after they were convicted of conspiracy to cheat under IPC sections 120‑B and 420. Only the fourth accused…

The appellant Richhpal Singh Meena sought to have the High Court's alteration of a murder conviction (Sec. 302 IPC) to a lesser offence of voluntarily causing grievous hurt (Sec. 325 IPC) set aside. The deceased Sunderlal Meena died after receiving two blows from the accused, which fractured ribs and pierced lungs. Med…

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 case arose from a violent clash over disputed agricultural land in Patiala, where a mob allegedly armed with firearms and sharp‑edged weapons fired on the complainant party, killing Amrik Singh and his son Vikramjit Singh. The trial court convicted eight accused under Sections 302 and 307 IPC and the Arms Act, and …

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 husband filed a divorce petition under Section 13(1)(ia) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 alleging mental cruelty by his wife, who had publicly defamed him, hidden his clothes and keys, and made false criminal allegations. The trial court and appellate courts dismissed the petition, deeming the evidence unreliable a…

The appellants, Abhay Singh Chautala and Ajay Singh Chautala, were tried for offences under Sections 13(1)(e) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, alleging accumulation of disproportionate assets while serving as Members of Legislative Assembly. No prior sanction under Section 19 of the Act was obtained, and …

Six accused, armed with deadly weapons, entered the complainant's house and killed two of his sons while seriously injuring his grandson. The trial court convicted three of them under Sections 302/34 and 307/34 IPC and acquitted the other three, but the High Court convicted all six under Sections 302/149 and 307/149 IP…

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 …

During the 1993 Mumbai communal riots, miscreants fired from the rooftop of Suleman Bakery at a police picket. The Joint Commissioner of Police, R.D. Tyagi, led a Special Operations Squad (SOS) that broke open the bakery’s door after the occupants refused to open it, resulting in 12 injuries and eight deaths. An FIR wa…

The parents of a 19‑year‑old mechanical fitter who died in a motor accident claimed compensation for loss of dependency. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded Rs 1,72,000 using a multiplier of 9 based on the average age of the parents (55‑56 years). The High Court enhanced the multiplier to 18, relying on the dece…

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, Joseph Salvaraj A., was charged under IPC sections 406, 420 and 506(1) for allegedly failing to pay Rs 10 lacs to a cable operator after promising to broadcast his channel "God TV" in Ahmedabad. The complainant, a mediator, lodged an FIR claiming the appellant had breached a contract, but no written agre…

The case arose from a 1992 murder where the charge sheet omitted two alleged participants, Popular Muthiah and Murugan, although eye‑witnesses identified them. Only Nallakannu (Muthu) was tried, convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. On appeal, the Madras High Court, exercising its appellate jurisdiction, direct…

The deceased Gokul Singh was brutally assaulted and later died; a dying declaration identifying several assailants was recorded by Dr. A.S. Khan after the victim regained consciousness following glucose and saline administration. The trial court convicted three accused under IPC sections 302 and 34 based on this declar…

The State of Tamil Nadu charged Ravi @ Nehru under Section 376 IPC for raping a five‑year‑old girl. The victim recounted being taken to the accused's bedroom, stripped, and having his penis pressed against her genitalia, after which she fled crying. Medical examination of the girl revealed a ruptured hymen, while exami…

The father of the appellants filed a criminal complaint in 2007 alleging that while on Haj pilgrimage the accused forged his signature and created bogus partition and sale deeds to insert their names into revenue records. Despite multiple orders, the investigation stalled, case papers were lost, and a re‑investigation …

The appellant, Ghanshyam Soni, was accused under sections 498A, 34 and 406 IPC for alleged cruelty and dowry demands by his wife, a police officer, with incidents said to have occurred in 1999. The complainant filed a complaint on 3 July 2002, leading to an FIR on 19 December 2002 and a charge‑sheet in 2004, after whic…

The appellant Vaibhav was convicted for murdering his friend Mangesh under Sections 302 and 201 IPC and for illegal possession of a firearm under the Arms Act, based solely on circumstantial evidence. He contended that Mangesh accidentally shot himself with his father's service pistol, citing the bullet trajectory, lac…

The appellant, Bapu/Gajraj Singh, was convicted of murder under s.302 IPC for beheading his wife with a blood‑stained sickle. He claimed exemption under s.84 IPC, asserting that he was of unsound mind at the time of the offence. The trial court and the Rajasthan High Court rejected the plea, and the appellant appealed …

The State of Madhya Pradesh prosecuted Nisar for the double murder of two graziers under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code. The prosecution’s case relied on Nisar’s alleged extra‑judicial confession, the recovery of the victims' bodies, and an axe found stained with human blood, although the blood group was not dete…

Nagarathinam, who was in a troubled relationship, attempted a joint suicide with her twin sons by ingesting pesticide, but survived while the children died. She was convicted under Sections 302 and 309 of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced to life imprisonment; the High Court later upheld the murder conviction and acq…

Mukeshbhai Vallabhbhai Abhangi was charged under the Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime Act, 2015 and the Indian Penal Code for alleged extortion, land grabbing and other offences as part of an organised crime syndicate. The High Court dismissed his bail application, but on appeal the Supreme Court examin…

The appellant Dinesh Kumar was convicted for murder, kidnapping and related offences based largely on circumstantial evidence, namely a "last seen" testimony and discoveries made after his police custody. The Supreme Court examined whether the "last seen" evidence, given a long interval before the estimated time of dea…

The appellant, Atulbhai Vithalbhai Bhanderi, was charged under the Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime Act, 2015 and several IPC provisions for intimidating a victim, extorting money and facilitating land‑grabbing as part of an organised crime syndicate. He applied for bail during the pendency of trial, bu…

The Tamil Nadu Government issued two Government Orders (G.O. No. 423 dated 28‑07‑2011 and G.O. No. 451 dated 11‑08‑2011) to set up 36 Anti‑Land‑Grabbing Special Cells and to transfer land‑grabbing cases to specially constituted courts. The orders did not define “land grabbing” or lay down any criteria for selecting cas…

The victim‑complainant alleged that she was raped by three accused on 29 November 2018 and filed an application under Section 156(3) of the CrPC seeking a direction to the police to register an FIR. The Chief Judicial Magistrate dismissed the application, citing a two‑year delay and inconsistencies in the complainant's…

The case involved the kidnapping and murder of two minor children, for which three persons – Anita (A-1), Ravinder Singh alias Kaku (A-2) and Ranjit Kumar Gupta (A-3) – were charged. The trial court convicted all three, sentencing A-2 to death; the High Court later acquitted A-1 and A-3 and reduced A-2's sentence to 20…

The deceased, Tamkinat Ara, was allegedly burned to death by her husband and several in‑laws. The trial court convicted the husband, father‑in‑law, sister‑in‑law (Bibi Parwana Khatoon) and her husband (Md. Hasan) under IPC s.304B read with s.34, sentencing them to imprisonment. On appeal, the High Court upheld the conv…

The Supreme Court examined a criminal complaint filed by members of the All Kerala Chemists and Druggists Association alleging that the Association's former President, Secretary and Treasurer misappropriated its funds. After investigation, a charge‑sheet was filed under Sections 406, 408, 409, 477A and 120B IPC. The ac…

The Supreme Court examined whether the Copyright Board, under Section 31(1)(b) of the Copyright Act, 1957, could grant an interim compulsory licence while a complaint was pending. The Board had earlier held it lacked such power, but the Delhi High Court reversed that view and directed the Board to grant an interim lice…

The State of Rajasthan appealed the acquittal of Parmendra Singh, who had been convicted of murder, dowry death and related offences under the IPC based largely on the victim's dying declarations. The Rajasthan High Court set aside the conviction, holding that the dying declarations were unreliable because the procedur…

The State of Andhra Pradesh prosecuted V.V. Panduranga Rao for the murder of his wife under IPC s.302, alleging he also attempted suicide. The trial court convicted him, but the High Court acquitted, finding the mother’s testimony unreliable, the telephonic report to police not recorded in writing, no forensic blood‑gr…

Shaikh Maqsood was convicted under Section 302 IPC for allegedly pouring kerosene on his wife and setting her on fire, with the trial and High Courts relying on circumstantial evidence. The appellant appealed, contending that during his examination under Section 313 of the CrPC no question was put to him to explain the…

Vasanthi was arrested under the Andhra Pradesh Control of Organized Crime Act, 2001 and several IPC provisions for allegedly lending her car for a kidnapping. The High Court denied her bail, applying Section 21(4) of the Act and holding that there were reasonable grounds to believe she was guilty and might commit furth…

The appellant, Rajeev Chaudhary, was arrested for offences under IPC sections 386, 506 and 120B and was released on bail by a Metropolitan Magistrate under Section 167(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code because the charge‑sheet was not filed within 60 days. The Additional Sessions Judge set aside the bail, holding that …

The appellant, Shobha Suresh Jumani, wife of a detenu whose properties were ordered forfeited under the Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Act, 1976, filed an appeal claiming to be a "person aggrieved" under Section 12(4) of the Act and also sought maintenance under the Hindu Adoption …

The appellant, a bus driver for Haryana Roadways, knocked down and killed a cyclist and was convicted under IPC Sections 279 (rash driving) and 304-A (causing death by negligence). He appealed, seeking the benevolent provision of Section 4 of the Probation of Offenders Act, 1958, arguing that he could be released on pr…

The State of Karnataka prosecuted Manjan for raping a girl who was 15 years old at the time of the offence. The trial court convicted him based on the victim’s testimony, corroborative eyewitness accounts, medical findings of injuries and seminal stains on the victim’s clothing, and the victim’s stated date of birth. T…

Surindra Nath Mohanty and another were convicted under Sections 307, 326, 325, 324 and 323 read with Section 34 of the IPC. The Orissa High Court set aside the conviction under Section 307 but upheld the others, rejecting the appellants' request to compound the offences on the ground that the dispute had been settled. …

In Village Sakhni, Uttar Pradesh, a factional clash erupted during a funeral procession, resulting in the death of ten members of the prosecution party. The accused, led by Shamshul Kanwar, were found to have entered the scene armed and fired indiscriminately, constituting an unlawful assembly under Sections 302 and 14…

Gokul Parashram Patil stabbed Anita with a single blow above the left clavicle, causing a muscle‑deep wound that inadvertently cut the superior vena cava, an injury sufficient in the ordinary course of nature to cause death. The trial court and the Bombay High Court convicted him of murder under section 302 of the Indi…

The appellants, who are relatives of the complainant, filed a petition under Section 482 of the CrPC seeking to quash FIR No. 21 of 2019 alleging offences under IPC sections 420, 342, 294(b) and 506(1). The complainant claimed he had invested Rs. 1.5 crore in a Nissan car dealership run by the appellants, was denied pa…

The appellants, Som Dutt and others, were convicted by three successive courts for theft under Section 379 read with Section 34 of the IPC and sentenced to three months' simple imprisonment and a fine. They challenged the High Court's dismissal of their revision petition, seeking release on probation under Section 361 …

The appellant, Mallada K Sri Ram, was detained under Section 3(2) of the Telangana Prevention of Dangerous Activities Act, 1986 on the ground that he, as a "white‑collar offender", had cheated job aspirants and was likely to disturb public order. The detention order was issued in May 2021, more than seven months after …

Vinod Kumar, already married, entered into a relationship with a 20‑year‑old college student (PW2) and they signed a "marriage agreement" on 19 April 2000, which was not a legal marriage. The prosecution alleged that Kumar deceived PW2 about his marital status and thereby committed rape under Section 376 IPC. The trial…

The appellant, a husband, was charged with murdering his wife by smothering her in their rented house. Medical evidence established death by asphyxia, not suicide or rape. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence: the wife was found dead in a locked room, the husband was present in the house the previous night…

The appellant, Khachar Dipu, was accused of dashing his motor vehicle into the deceased's bicycle, throwing him off, tying him to the vehicle and dragging the body for several kilometres, resulting in fatal injuries. The trial court convicted him under Section 304 Part I IPC, sentencing him to five years' rigorous impr…

The appellants were summoned by a Metropolitan Magistrate under Section 204 of the CrPC after a FIR under Section 420 IPC was lodged by Respondent No.2 in a property dispute concerning the assets of the late Gulshan Kumar. The appellants challenged the summoning order, arguing that the magistrate had not provided reaso…

The appellant, K.P. Thimmappa Gowda, was charged under Section 376 IPC for having sexual intercourse with Rathnamma, an 18‑year‑old woman, on a false promise of marriage, resulting in the birth of a child. The FIR was lodged on 4 January 1996, nearly eight months after the alleged acts, and the trial court acquitted th…

The case involved the murder of Rasheed Sait and his wife, for which eight persons were tried under Sections 302, 201 read with Section 34 and Section 120‑B of the IPC. The trial court acquitted Rukia Begum and Nasreen, finding that motive, a bucket and a plastic pot did not sufficiently link them to the crime, while c…

The case involved a massive spurious liquor tragedy in Kerala where 31 people died and many were injured after consuming liquor adulterated with methyl alcohol. The accused, a group of brothers and their associates, were charged under the Abkari Act, particularly Section 57A, for mixing or permitting the mixing of a no…

The deceased, Kalpana, was married to Rajendra Dhundale, who demanded money and ornaments from her for house construction. After a dispute over the payment, Kalpana died, allegedly after falling into a well. Post‑mortem evidence indicated homicide, not suicide. Rajendra and his parents were convicted under Sections 302…

Four persons were accused of murdering Sushila, a widow, and her two daughters by throwing acid on them in Gaayghat village, Basti district, on the night of 28-29 March 1980. The trial court acquitted all four, but the Allahabad High Court convicted Ram Charittar and Kishori Lal under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC, se…

The appellant, Narsingh Prasad Singh, filed a criminal appeal after his daughter was brutally beaten with a burning wooden stick by the respondents, Raj Kumar and others, for alleged dowry demand. The trial court convicted the respondents under Section 498-A of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced each to one year of ri…

The case involved the murder of Kulwant Singh and Bidhi Shankar by a group of nine accused who formed an armed unlawful assembly to avenge a prior killing. The trial court convicted all accused under Sections 302 and related provisions, but the High Court acquitted several of them, holding that their participation was …

A dispute over land allotment between the Vankar community and Harijans in Gujarat escalated into a riot involving a mob of 100‑150 persons, during which four Vankars were killed and thirteen injured. The mob also ransacked and set fire to several houses. The accused A‑34, A‑35 and A‑36 were convicted under Sections 30…

The appellant was convicted by a Sessions Judge for murder (Sec. 302/34 IPC) and for tampering with evidence (Sec. 201 IPC). On appeal, the Calcutta High Court dismissed the appeal without re‑examining the trial evidence, relying on the trial judge’s observation of witness demeanor. The Supreme Court held that an appel…

The appellants, a gang led by A‑1 (Shankar @ Gauri Shankar) and his associates A‑2 to A‑6, were convicted of six murders committed in a brutal, organised manner involving a brothel and illicit arrack business. The prosecution's case rested on the testimony of an approver (P.W.1) and the retracted judicial confessions o…

The appellant, a lawful owner of a field, discovered the deceased Bhikari Pradhan and his companions illegally ploughing the land. He demanded they unyoke their bullocks; when they refused, he struck the unarmed, seated deceased on the head with a stick, causing fatal injuries. The trial court acquitted him on the basi…

The appellant was convicted of kidnapping, rape, and murder of a minor based entirely on circumstantial evidence, a confession narrated by a police officer, and DNA/FSL reports. The Supreme Court examined the reliability of the 'last seen' testimony, the admissibility of the confession under Sections 24, 25 and 26 of t…

The appellants were convicted under Sections 306 and 114 of the IPC for allegedly abetting the suicide of Dashrathbhai Karsanbhai Parmar by blackmailing him with compromising photographs. The prosecution's case hinged on a suicide note, alleged blackmail, and the recovery of money and ornaments, none of which were subs…

The case concerned the custody of a 14‑year‑old twin daughter who had been raised since infancy by her paternal aunt (appellant No.2) and the aunt's husband (respondent No.10). The biological father (respondent No.2) sought to have the child returned to his care, prompting the High Court to order her recovery and hando…

The wife (informant) filed an FIR under Sections 498A, 323 and 34 IPC against her husband and mother‑in‑law. The charge‑sheet, however, named only the husband for offences under 498A and 323. While the trial was pending, she filed an application under Section 216 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) seeking to add …

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sought to add charges of murder and other offences against Karimullah Osan Khan, an accused in the 1993 Bombay bomb blasts, under Section 216 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). The Designated Court under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) rej…

In 1997 a group of 30‑35 extremists set fire to houses in Jarulbachai village, Tripura, killing 15 people and injuring several others. Ashok (Achak) Debbarma was charged under IPC sections 326, 436 and 302 read with section 34 and under section 27(3) of the Arms Act; the latter charge was later set aside as unconstitut…

The appellant Chetram was convicted along with Ganga Ram for the murder of Udairaj under IPC sections 302 and 34. The sole eye‑witness, the victim's brother (PW‑1), initially reported in the FIR and to the investigating officer that only Ganga Ram stabbed the victim, attributing no role to Chetram. At trial, PW‑1 alter…

The State of Rajasthan appealed against the Rajasthan High Court’s order acquitting Ashfaq Ahmed, who had been convicted by a trial court for murder under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced to life imprisonment. The trial court’s conviction was based solely on an alleged dying declaration (Exhibit P‑1) …

On 22 September 1992, during an altercation, Pandit (A.4) stabbed the deceased while three co‑accused (A.1 Sripathi, A.2 Mallikarjun, A.3 Sanjaya) allegedly held the victim as instructed. The trial court acquitted all, but the Karnataka High Court convicted them under Section 304 Part II read with Section 34 of the IPC…

The appellant was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC and assault under Section 324 IPC for striking the deceased with an axe during a verbal altercation, which also injured the deceased's wife. The appellant argued that the killing occurred in a sudden fight without pre‑meditation, undue advantage, or cruelty, i…

The appellant, Shankar Ragho Bhagane, was convicted by the Sessions Court and the Bombay High Court for the murder of his mother, Girja Ragho Bhagane, under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code. The prosecution's case rested on the eyewitness testimonies of PW2 (the appellant's sister) and PW3 (the appellant's daughter…

The appellant Jyoti Prakash Rai was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC for killing a schoolmate on 12 May 2000. At the time of the offence the trial magistrate estimated his age to be about 17 years, but the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 came into force on 1 April 2001, raising the…

Ravi Kumar was accused of killing Hans Raj with a dhangu during a quarrel that escalated into a physical fight. The trial court convicted him under Section 302 IPC for murder and the High Court affirmed the conviction. On appeal, the appellant contended that there was unreasonable delay in lodging the FIR and sending t…

The appellants, editors of a newspaper, were prosecuted for contempt after publishing material alleged to scandalise the administration of justice. The contempt petition was filed by the Assistant Charity Commissioner, who was a serving civil judge appointed under Section 5 of the Bombay Public Trust Act, 1950. The app…

The State of Karnataka appealed against the High Court's order setting aside the conviction of M.V. Mahesh and his father for the murder of Mahesh's wife, Beena. The trial court had relied on the recovery of Beena's bones, DNA identification, and the fact that she was last seen with the accused, along with the husband'…

Balwant Singh, a driver for Haryana Roadways, caused a fatal bus accident. Following a claim award of Rs.1,12,950 against the department, he was punished under Rule 7 of the Haryana Civil Services (Punishment and Appeal) Rules, 1987 with a four‑year pay reduction. He was later convicted in a criminal trial for offences…

The appellants, Shiv Prakash Pandey (A‑1) and Shobhit Chamar (A‑2), were convicted under IPC Sections 302, 149, 380 and 460 and under Section 27 of the Arms Act for the murder of six male members of a family, including two children, during a dacoity in Rohtas district, Bihar. They challenged the convictions on the grou…

Ram Karan and his sons were involved in a violent altercation arising from a land encroachment dispute. During a sudden quarrel, knives were used, resulting in the deaths of Prakash Chandra, his son Umesh Chandra, and Ram Karan's son Chhotey Lal, and injuries to Dinesh Chandra. The trial court convicted all accused of …

The petition arose from a criminal trial under which the petitioner sought, under Section 311 of the CrPC, the summons of two individuals, Vinay Kumar Pathak and Kanak Lata Singh, as independent witnesses. The trial court partially granted the application, summoning only Pathak and later closed the opportunity to exami…

Sovaran Singh Prajapati was convicted of murdering his wife and daughter under Sections 302 and 201 IPC and sentenced to death by the Trial Court, a judgment affirmed by the Allahabad High Court. The appellant challenged the conviction on the ground that the trial was not a fair trial, citing numerous procedural irregu…

The deceased and the accused had an initial altercation at a mehendi ceremony which was broken up by villagers. Later, around midnight, the accused pursued the deceased to his house and repeatedly struck him on the head and other parts with a wooden stick (phakadiyat), causing severe skull fractures and brain injuries …

The appellants Rajesh Yadav and others were convicted for murder and for violating the Arms Act, with the High Court acquitting them of the attempt to murder charge under Section 307 IPC but confirming life imprisonment under Section 25 of the Arms Act. The Supreme Court examined whether the testimonies of related eye‑…

The State of Madhya Pradesh appealed against the High Court's conversion of the trial court's conviction of Kanha @ OmpraKash from Section 307 (attempt to murder) to Section 324 (voluntarily causing hurt) of the Indian Penal Code. The facts revealed that on 8 October 2003 the accused shot Dashrath Singh with a firearm,…

Sh. Narendra Kumar Srivastava, an engineering assistant at Doordarshan, sought relief regarding his pay scale and obtained a High Court order directing the Doordarshan officials to pass an appropriate order. After the officials filed a show‑cause affidavit indicating compliance, the contempt petition against them was d…

The petitioners, convicted under IPC 498‑A and the Dowry Prohibition Act, had their appeal dismissed and filed a revision petition under CrPC ss. 397 and 401 before the Jharkhand High Court. The High Court refused to register the revision because the petitioners had not surrendered to custody as mandated by Rule 159 of…

Dr. Vinod Bhandari, Managing Director of a medical institute, was alleged to have conspired with Vyapam officials and middlemen to secure illegal admissions for undeserving candidates into MBBS courses, involving large sums of money and fraud. He was arrested in January 2014 and his bail applications were rejected by t…

The appellant, Kanaklata, challenged a discharge order of the Additional Sessions Judge, Rohini, which dismissed the accused under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. The High Court set aside that order and directed a fresh consideration, expressly stating that the trial court should not be influenced by it…

The appellant, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, was convicted for the murder of Praveen (the deceased) and for criminal conspiracy under IPC s.302 r.w. s.1208. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, including DNA identification of the dismembered body parts, recovery of the weapon (a chopper) and a van at…

The appellants, members of the Bharatiya Janata Party, were alleged to have formed an unlawful assembly and attacked a Congress worker (PW‑1) and his brother on a bus, resulting in the brother's death. The trial court acquitted all seven accused, but the Kerala High Court reversed the acquittal of four appellants, conv…

Jagatamba Devi, a Gram Panchayat Pradhan, filed a private complaint under IPC sections 332, 353 and 504/506 against Hem Ram and others for assaulting her while she was performing official duties. After the magistrate issued summons, an Executive Magistrate consigned the case file, deeming it time‑barred, and the accuse…

The Supreme Court considered the appeals of Narayan Ghosh and Sankar Adeya, accused of murder, criminal conspiracy and offences under the Arms Act in the killing of councilor Tapas Mitra at Puri. After being released on interim bail by the Calcutta High Court, they surrendered and applied for regular bail, which was re…

Mohannan filed a criminal complaint before a Judicial Magistrate alleging that Dr. Prabha G. Nair, a gynaecologist, was medically negligent, leading to the death of Mohannan's pregnant wife after delivery of a dead child. The magistrate took cognizance of an offence under Section 304-A of the Indian Penal Code. The doc…

The appellant, Giri Ja Shankar, was convicted along with three others for murder (Sec. 302), assault (Sec. 307) and snatching (Sec. 394) IPC, each conviction read with Sec. 34. The trial court and the High Court held that the accused shared a common intention, despite the fact that the fatal shot was fired by another a…

Eight persons, including Narain Singh, were tried for offences under various sections of the IPC for the death of Makhan and injuries to others. The prosecution's case relied on inconsistent statements from an informant, a disputed dying declaration, and eye‑witnesses who gave varying accounts of the incident's locatio…

The appellants, Sheikh Abdul Hamid and Ashiq Ali, were convicted under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC for the murder of a woman, her daughter and infant son whose bodies were exhumed from a locked inner room of a dhaba where the accused lived. The prosecution relied solely on circumstantial evidence, including the lock…

Bheru Singh was convicted of murdering his wife and five children. He lodged a first information report (FIR) admitting motive and describing the killings, and later gave a judicial confession under Section 164 Cr.P.C., which he later retracted. The Supreme Court examined whether the FIR could be used as evidence despi…

The appellant, Darshan Singh, was convicted of murdering his wife, Amrik Kaur, under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC, based on the prosecution's claim that he and his paramour Rani Kaur administered aluminium phosphide poison. The trial and High Courts relied primarily on circumstantial evidence, especially the testimon…

The case concerned the murder of Badan Pal, a student, at a tube‑well shed where the deceased was shot. The prosecution proved that four accused, including Mahendra Singh and Vijendra Singh, were present in the shed; two were armed with pistols while Mahendra carried a lathi and Vijendra a ballam. The trial court convi…

Vandana Tayade, a married woman, was allegedly burnt to death by her mother‑in‑law and two sisters‑in‑law after being harassed for being childless. The prosecution relied on four dying declarations made by the deceased, all implicating the mother‑in‑law and sisters‑in‑law, and on oral testimony of relatives and medical…

The petitioners, representing families of alleged victims of extra‑judicial killings in Manipur, claimed that between 1979 and 2012 over 1,500 people were unlawfully killed by police or security forces, violating the right to life under Article 21. The State of Manipur and the Union of India contended that the killings…

The appellants, A-1 and A-2, were charged with murder of Ramaiah under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC, alleged to have acted with a common intention motivated by personal enmity. The trial court acquitted them, but the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court reversed the acquittal, relying on eye‑witness testimony, medi…

The appellant challenged the detention of his father under the Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Slumlords, Bootleggers, Drug Offenders and Dangerous Persons Act, 1981. The detenu had been arrested for an offence on 14 August 2010 and was released on bail on 15 August 2010, with a bail condition later r…

The case concerns the murder of Murari, for which Himanshu @ Chintu (A‑2) and Shesh Bahadur Pandey (A‑3) were convicted under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC. The appellants challenged the conviction on three grounds: (i) the FIR was lodged two hours after the incident, allegedly to falsely implicate them; …

The appellants were convicted of murder under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC for assaulting the deceased with lathis, causing fatal head injuries. On appeal, the High Court, assisted by a Government Advocate, re‑examined the record ex parte and altered the conviction to culpable homicide not amounting to m…

The State of Uttar Pradesh alleged that a gang of six persons assembled in a grove to commit dacoity and were arrested after a police operation that recovered unlicensed firearms. The trial court convicted them under IPC sections 399 and 402 and Section 27 of the Arms Act, relying on the testimony of two police witness…

The father of a deceased woman appealed against the High Court's acquittal of her husband, who was charged with murder under Section 302 IPC. The trial court had convicted the husband based on circumstantial evidence, a threatening letter (Exhibit 7) establishing motive, the recovery of a revolver with smoke, and the f…

Gulzar was convicted of stealing an attache containing about Rs 55,000 from Vinod Kumar Aggarwal on a bus; the attache was later recovered from Gulzar’s possession but he could not explain the source of the money. The trial court sentenced him to three years’ rigorous imprisonment under Section 379 of the Indian Penal …

The appellant, T. Subramaniam, an executive officer of a temple, was accused of accepting a bribe of Rs.200 while allegedly facilitating the grant of a patta for temple land. He explained that the money was received on behalf of a third party, PW‑6, as payment of lease‑rent arrears due to the temple, and that the compl…

Rashid Babubhai Mulani, a talathi, demanded Rs 1,000 to delete a mortgagee's name from revenue records; the complainant paid Rs 300 after a trap was laid. Mulani accepted the marked notes and later claimed the payment was repayment of a government loan, supported by a purported notice sent by registered post. The High …

On 5 July 1993, an unlawful assembly of twenty‑seven persons, armed with swords, spears and other weapons, attacked Sadruddin and four female members of his family at his house. The victim and several injured witnesses positively identified the four appellants as the assailants. The trial court acquitted all twenty‑sev…

The appellants were served a notice under Section 340 of the Criminal Procedure Code for prosecution under Sections 194 and 195 of the Indian Penal Code, alleging that they had fabricated a false case against two elderly women. The Sessions Judge relied on statements recorded under Section 161 CrPC and on the physical …

Eleven accused were tried before the Special Court, Ferozepur for murder and related offences under the IPC and Arms Act. The trial court convicted some and acquitted others but its judgment contained only conclusions without any discussion of evidence or reasons. Appeals were filed under Section 14 of the Terrorist Af…

The Supreme Court examined a petition by Kiran Bedi and Jinder Singh challenging orders of a Committee of Inquiry that compelled them to appear for cross‑examination at the outset of the inquiry and led to complaints against them under Section 178 of the IPC. The Committee had treated them differently from three other …

The State of Maharashtra charged Pankaj Jagshi Gangar with offences under Sections 384, 386, 387 read with Section 34 of the IPC and under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) for running a matka business, funding an international gangster and being an active member of an organised crime syndicate. Th…

The private appellants were caught in a surprise inspection for illegal mining and were offered compounding of the offences under the Madhya Pradesh Minor Mineral Rules, which they accepted by paying a penalty. Subsequently, a magistrate, suo motu, exercised powers under Section 156(3) of the CrPC to direct registratio…

The appellant was charged with rape and criminal intimidation after a mentally retarded girl (IQ 62) became pregnant; DNA evidence established him as the child's biological father. The trial court acquitted him, citing the four‑month delay in filing the FIR and questioning the victim's mental capacity to understand con…

The appellant, a retired Director General of Police, sought anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the CrPC after an FIR was lodged in 2020 by the brother of a deceased victim, alleging offences dating back to 1991, including murder under Section 302 IPC which was added later based on approvers' statements. The Session…

The appellant Bhawna Bai complained that her husband was found dead in the field of the first respondent, Ghanshyam, who allegedly prevented her from reaching the body. An FIR was eventually registered under Section 302 IPC read with Section 34 IPC and the trial court framed charges against the accused respondents. The…

The appellant filed a complaint alleging that the respondent sold a property without title, inducing the appellant to pay Rs.10 lakh, leading to an FIR under sections 406, 420, 467, 468, 471 and 506 IPC. The High Court quashed the FIR under Section 482 of the CrPC, holding that the FIR did not show criminal intent. The…

Kanubhai Bhagvanbhai Nayak was convicted of murder under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code by a Sessions Court, and the Gujarat High Court affirmed the conviction. The appellant challenged the High Court's order, contending that it neither referenced nor evaluated the trial evidence nor recorded any findings on the …

Omveer Singh appealed to the Supreme Court after a Single Judge of the Allahabad High Court dismissed his application under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure seeking to quash a criminal complaint (Sections 498A, 323, 376 IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act). The High Court judge relied sol…

The appellants, Dr. Jagdish Prasad and others, filed a criminal complaint under IPC sections 498A and 323 and the Dowry Prohibition Act. They sought to quash the complaint and the proceedings by invoking Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The Single Judge of the Allahabad High Court dismissed their applicat…

The appellants filed an application under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure seeking to quash a charge sheet and criminal proceedings arising under IPC sections 498A, 304B and the Dowry Prohibition Act. The Single Judge of the Allahabad High Court dismissed the application without setting out the factual mat…

Geeta and others filed an application under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code seeking to quash the FIR and proceedings under Section 498A of the IPC. The Single Judge of the Allahabad High Court dismissed the application, relying only on legal principles and without detailing the factual matrix of the case. Th…

The appellants (A‑1 to A‑3) were convicted under IPC sections 143, 147, 148, 448, 302 and 149 for participating in an unlawful assembly that allegedly murdered Lingaraju. The trial court found that the key eye‑witnesses, including the star witness PW‑11 and several others, were unreliable and unbelievable, leading to t…

Krishan Lal was convicted of murder and originally sentenced to death, which was later commuted to life imprisonment. The Supreme Court, in Subash Chander v. Krishan Lal (2001), held that his life sentence meant imprisonment for the rest of his life, precluding any commutation or premature release under Section 401 of …

The National Bank of Oman filed a private complaint in the Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Ahmednagar, alleging that Barakara Abdul Aziz cheated the bank of AED 43,15,000. The CJM issued process under IPC sections 418 and 420 without first conducting an enquiry or ordering an investigation as required by …

The case involved a bank manager (A‑1) and a private firm proprietor (A‑2) who were accused of conspiring to defraud the Central Bank of India by sanctioning loans without obtaining mandatory undertaking letters, bypassing pre‑inspection requirements, and crediting the proceeds to A‑2’s account. The prosecution present…

The case concerns the murder of Vivekanandan in Coimbatore, allegedly orchestrated by Venkatraman (A‑1) out of a love rivalry and carried out by hired assassins Kumar (A‑9), Pavunraj (A‑10) and Prince Kumar (A‑11). The trial court convicted all accused under sections 302, 34, 109 and 120B IPC; the High Court affirmed m…

The incident occurred on 18 February 1984 when the appellant Bhagwati Prasad and other accused, armed with a spear and lathis, obstructed the complainants from opening an irrigation canal. When the deceased Ramgopal intervened, the appellant allegedly struck him on the back with a spear, causing injuries that led to hi…

The Supreme Court examined the case of seven police constables and one additional constable (appellants) accused of beating five suspects in police custody, resulting in two deaths and injuries to three others. The prosecution presented ocular testimony, extensive medical evidence, and the testimony of a hostile witnes…

The Supreme Court examined the conviction of thirteen accused for gang rape under IPC s.376(2)(g) based largely on the victim's testimony, her mother's statements, and semen‑stained underwear. The Court found that the victim showed no physical injuries, her statements were inconsistent, and her character was questionab…

The accused Prabhu, Jagdish and Nanhe Lal attacked Shankar; Nanhe wielded a sharp katana while Prabhu and Jagdish used lathis. Shankar sustained fourteen injuries, including incised wounds, and died from extensive hemorrhage. The trial court convicted all under s.302 r.w. s.34 IPC, but the Madhya Pradesh High Court alt…

The Supreme Court examined appeals against a Patna High Court order that had confirmed a death sentence awarded to Krishna Singh for murder under Sections 302 and 149 of the IPC. The appellants contended that the High Court’s findings were based on conjecture, particularly questioning the credibility of two eye‑witness…

The State of Madhya Pradesh prosecuted Babulal for raping a married woman in broad daylight, threatening her with a knife. The trial court convicted him under Section 376(1) IPC and sentenced him to seven years' rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs.2,500. The High Court reduced the sentence to the two months already…

The respondent filed an application under Section 340 of the Criminal Procedure Code before a Designated Court, alleging that the appellant, the Chief Public Prosecutor, had made contradictory submissions in the Bombay blast case, potentially amounting to fabrication of evidence. The Designated Judge held that the resp…

The appellant was convicted by the Kerala High Court for murder, hurt and criminal conspiracy based primarily on the testimony of a single injured eye‑witness, PW I, despite inconsistencies with medical evidence and other witnesses. The trial court had acquitted the appellant, finding the sole witness's evidence unreli…

The respondent, S.C. Shah, an Assistant Food Controller (Class II) in Gujarat, was accused of issuing bogus cement permits and fabricating a government stamp, leading to his suspension and two FIRs under the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act. A Review Committee was convened under Rule 161 of the Bo…

The appellants, senior officers of Tata Tea Company, were alleged to have negotiated with ULFA militants and funded their activities, leading to an FIR under IPC sections 120‑B, 121, 121‑A, 122 and UAPA sections 10 and 13. Anticipatory bail applications were filed under CrPC section 438; the Bombay High Court granted b…

The case involved the murder of Girishbhai, a VHP secretary, for which 63 persons were charged under Section 302 IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of the TADA Act. Nine appellants were convicted by the designated court based largely on eye‑witness identification. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined the reliability of the iden…

MMTC Limited entered a Long Term Agreement with Anglo American Metallurgical Coal for the supply of coking coal, but a dispute arose over the price and unlifted quantities, leading to an arbitral award in favour of Anglo. MMTC challenged the award under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, which was reje…

The case arose from a violent clash in a Madhya Pradesh village where the accused, including Parshuram and Jalim Singh, formed an unlawful assembly after a buffalo damaged a shed built by the accused. The assembly allegedly assaulted members of the complainant party, resulting in the death of Madan. The trial court and…

The appellant, Markash Jajara, struck his son‑in‑law, an alcoholic who habitually abused his daughter, with a bamboo stick inside his house, resulting in the victim's death. The trial court convicted him under Section 302 IPC and sentenced him to life imprisonment, a decision affirmed by the High Court. On appeal, the …

The appellants were convicted for a conspiracy to commit dacoity, murder and related offences involving the theft and sale of a car, based largely on circumstantial evidence. The prosecution's case hinged on an alleged extra‑judicial confession, the "last seen together" testimony of two taxi drivers recorded six months…

The case concerns a review of the death sentence awarded to Mohd. Arif alias Ashfaq for the 2000 Lal Quila firing that killed three army jawans. The petitioner challenged the conviction on four grounds: the admissibility of call data records (CDRs) without a Section 65B certificate, the validity of his disclosure state…

The appellants Rajesh alias Sarkari and Ajay Hooda were convicted for murder under IPC s.302 r/w s.34 based on the testimony of the victim's father (PW‑4) and brother (PW‑5) who claimed to have witnessed the shooting and taken the victim to the hospital. The Supreme Court examined inconsistencies in their statements, n…

The appellant, a senior manager of RIICO Ltd., filed an FIR alleging that a letter dated 10‑04‑1992, addressed to Respondent No.2, was forged and that the forgery constituted offences under IPC sections 420, 467, 468 and 471. The police final report, relying on Section 195(1)(b)(ii) of the CrPC, held that investigation…

The appellants, employees of Citibank/CWA, were implicated in an FIR alleging fraud under Sections 406, 420 and 120B IPC. They sought quashing of the FIR and anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the Cr.P.C., arguing that the allegations were civil in nature and that they would cooperate with the investigation. The Hi…

On 3 June 1990, a group of accused, including Saravanan (A3) and Natarajan (A4), assaulted a cyclist group, during which the deceased Nadamuni fell and sustained a head injury that was medically held sufficient to cause death. The prosecution argued there was no motive to kill, so the death did not fall under Section 3…

The appellant, Deelp Singh, was convicted under Section 376 IPC for raping a girl, based on the prosecution's claim that she was under 16 and that the sexual intercourse was against her will or without consent, allegedly induced by a false promise to marry. The Supreme Court examined the age of the victim, finding the …

The respondent, a government servant, was convicted under IPC sections 302 and 34 and dismissed from service. He was later acquitted on appeal, after which the High Court ordered his reinstatement with full back wages. The Union appealed, arguing that the department should not be liable for wages for the period of dism…

The appellant, Ram Udgar Singh, was convicted under Section 302 IPC and Sections 25A and 27 of the Arms Act for the murder of a political rival. The conviction was based on the testimony of four eyewitnesses, while eight co‑accused were acquitted on the same evidence. The appellant challenged the conviction, arguing th…

Shri Bhopal Singh Panchal, a Grade‑II Coin/Note Examiner of the Reserve Bank of India, was arrested in 1974 and placed under suspension under RBI Staff Regulations. He was later convicted and dismissed in 1977, but the High Court acquitted him, after which the Bank refused reinstatement citing Regulation 46(4) which re…

The appellants, contractors for supplying ballast to the Public Works Department, were detained under Section 3(2) of the National Security Act, 1980 on grounds that they had attacked a rival contractor with firearms and grenades, allegedly to intimidate him and influence tendering. They challenged the detention, argui…

The case concerns the murder of MLA Brij Bihari Prasad and his bodyguard Lakshmeshwar Sahu at IGIMS Hospital in 1998. The trial court convicted several accused, but the Patna High Court acquitted all, prompting appeals by the State (through the CBI) and the victim's wife, Rama Devi. The Supreme Court examined the credi…

The deceased, Rajeev Jain, a 23‑year employee of Hindustan Lever Ltd., committed suicide on 3 November 2006 after a meeting where senior officers allegedly humiliated him and forced him to accept a lower‑grade posting under a Voluntary Retirement Scheme. The appellants, senior officers of the company, were charged unde…

The appellants, two women related to a co‑accused, were charged under Sections 120‑B, 420, 468 and 471 of the IPC and Sections 13(2) read with 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act for alleged loan fraud involving a bank. The borrowers later entered into a One‑Time Settlement with the bank, paid the full amount …

The appellants, who were wives of borrowers, were charged by the CBI under sections of the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act for alleged fraud in a bank loan. The borrowers had settled the entire debt through a One Time Settlement and the bank closed the loan account, obtaining a No Dues Certificate. The appella…

The case involved the gruesome murder of a two‑year‑old boy, Chirag, whose body was discovered in two parts inside the house of the main accused, Ishwari Lal Yadav and Kiran Bai, who claimed to be tantriks. The accused confessed to killing the child as a human sacrifice, and the confession was corroborated by independe…

The appellants, self‑styled "tantriks", were accused of kidnapping and murdering two children – a six‑year‑old girl (Ku. Manisha) and a boy (Chirag Rajput) – for human‑sacrifice rituals. The prosecution relied on skeletal remains, DNA/FSL reports, identification of clothing by the parents, and confessional statements m…

The appellant was convicted of kidnapping, raping and murdering a 13‑year‑old girl and of destroying her body. The prosecution proved the case through a chain of circumstantial evidence corroborated by DNA, medical and forensic findings, including a slipper belonging to the victim recovered from the accused. The trial …

The appellant was found with a two‑year‑old girl under his bed after the child went missing; medical, eye‑witness, circumstantial and Y‑STR DNA evidence established that he kidnapped, raped (vaginal and unnatural intercourse) and murdered the child. The trial court and High Court convicted him under IPC sections 302, 3…

Ram Lal, a peon employed by United Commercial Bank, was assigned clerical duties of a cash clerk and allegedly misappropriated Rs.38,500 by pocketing deposits and forging entries to enable withdrawals. The prosecution relied heavily on two extra‑judicial confession statements made by the accused in the presence of seni…

The appellants, including Sadik @ Lalo Gulam Hussein Shaikh, were convicted for the murder of Rajubhai Ramubhai Vasava after an altercation over biryani payment escalated into a violent assault involving knives and sticks. The trial court and the Gujarat High Court held that the deceased suffered three stab wounds suff…

B.A. Umesh, an ex‑police constable, was convicted of murder, rape and robbery and sentenced to death by the Sessions Court, a decision affirmed by the Karnataka High Court and the Supreme Court. He filed review petitions contending that the trial court had not fixed a separate date for hearing on sentencing, alleging a…

The appellant, Jose @ Pappachan, was convicted under IPC s.302 for the death of his wife, Neena, alleged to be a homicide by strangulation and hanging, while also being acquitted of IPC s.498A. The prosecution relied on circumstantial testimony of three witnesses and a post‑mortem report that was inconclusive about hom…

The appellants Vikas Yadav, Vishal Yadav and Sukhdev Yadav were convicted of murder, kidnapping and related offences (IPC ss.302, 364, 34, 201) and sentenced to life imprisonment with additional fixed‑term sentences. The State appealed for enhancement of the life sentence to death; the High Court instead imposed a fixe…

The appellant, a director of a construction firm, had obtained a large loan from a bank that later went into liquidation. The bank filed a liquidation suit and criminal proceedings for default. The appellant was granted temporary bail with conditions, but the High Court later vacated the bail and re‑imprisoned him. The…

Rajesh Mahatha was arrested for offences under Sections 304B and 306 of the IPC and claimed to be a juvenile, seeking protection under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000. The Juvenile Justice Board, after obtaining a medical board opinion that his age was between 17‑18 years and noting a v…

The Union of India initiated customs proceedings against Padam Narain Agarwal and others for alleged export fraud, issuing summons under Section 108 of the Customs Act to record their statements. The respondents, refusing to cooperate, were later charged with offences under Sections 174 and 175 of the IPC, and they app…

Sanghi Brothers (Indore) Pvt Ltd filed a complaint alleging that the directors of Chetak Construction Ltd had taken vehicles on lease and later sold eight of them, constituting cheating and criminal breach of trust under IPC sections 420 and 406 read with section 34. The trial magistrate framed charges, but the Madhya …

The State of Uttar Pradesh charged Ram Balak and another with the rape and murder of a 14‑year‑old girl, invoking IPC sections 376, 302 and 201. The trial court convicted them on the basis of five circumstantial points, including a dog‑tracking lead and an alleged extra‑judicial confession, and sentenced them to death,…

The appellant Rajesh Kumar and his brother Surjit Singh attacked the deceased Ravinder Kumar; Surjit inflicted a fatal head wound with a drat while Rajesh struck non‑vital parts with a danda. After the assault, a witness seized the danda from Rajesh and threw it away, and Rajesh fled without picking it up. The trial co…

The appellant Rukmini Narvekar filed a criminal complaint alleging that advocate Ranjit Satardekar fraudulently obtained her signature on a Power of Attorney and used it to sell her property to his wife Vijaya Satardekar. The High Court quashed the criminal proceedings against both accused, relying on evidence from a r…

The case involved a violent dispute between neighbouring families that escalated into a gruesome attack where the appellants, Motilal and Santosh Kumar, assaulted and killed three persons, dragged a fourth, poured kerosene on her and set her on fire, and also assaulted others who tried to intervene. The trial court sen…

The State of Madhya Pradesh appealed a High Court order that reduced the conviction of Bala for rape (under IPC s.376(2)(g)) from the statutory minimum of ten years' rigorous imprisonment to the nine‑month period already served. The Supreme Court examined whether the High Court could lawfully depart from the minimum pu…

The appellant, Sekar, and others untied a sheep that the deceased, Palaniswamy, had impounded, leading to a heated exchange. Sekar struck the deceased, who fell, and then delivered a further blow to the neck that caused his death. Sekar pleaded that the blows were in exercise of his right of private defence. The trial …

The Supreme Court examined appeals by several accused convicted under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) for murder and related offences. Their convictions were based primarily on confessional statements recorded by a Superintendent of Police under Section 15 of TADA, but the officer failed…

The appellants were convicted under IPC sections 302 and 201 for the murder of Deosharan, a notorious villager, based primarily on the testimony of four eye‑witnesses who claimed to have heard a disturbance and seen the assault. During cross‑examination the witnesses admitted they did not actually see the assault, and …

The State of Andhra Pradesh prosecuted Bimal Krishna Kundu and his son for conspiring to leak Public Service Commission examination question papers, alleging they used dummy firms to obtain printing contracts and printed the papers at their own press. Despite being blacklisted in 1994, the alleged leakage continued, le…

Rattan Singh, a heavy‑vehicle driver, was convicted under Section 304A of the Indian Penal Code for causing the death of a scooterist through rash and negligent driving and was sentenced to two years' rigorous imprisonment. He filed a Special Leave Petition (Crl. No. 953 of 1979) before the Supreme Court, contending th…