Indian Penal Code, 1860

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The case involved the abduction and murder of Mani alias Parai Mani, a quarry leaseholder, by accused Paramasivam and two others. The prosecution proved motive, the victim's last sighting with the accused, DNA identification of the exhumed body, and recovered incriminating items obtained through confessional statements…

The appellant Duryodhan Rout was convicted of rape, murder and concealment of evidence of a ten‑year‑old girl based solely on circumstantial evidence and his own confession recorded under Section 27 of the Evidence Act. The trial court sentenced him to death for murder, rigorous imprisonment for the rape and concealmen…

The case concerned the murder of Manikandan, who was allegedly abducted, beaten, and strangulated by accused persons 1 to 3, with the body later recovered from a borewell. The trial court convicted accused 1, 2 and 3 under IPC sections 364, 302 and 201 read with section 34, relying mainly on circumstantial evidence, th…

Harivadan Babubhai Patel (A‑1) and three others were tried for kidnapping, murder and conspiracy under Sections 342, 346, 302, 1208 and 201 IPC read with Section 34. The trial court convicted A‑1 and A‑2, acquitting A‑3 and A‑4; the High Court later acquitted A‑2 but upheld A‑1's conviction. On appeal, the Supreme Cour…

The appellant, a helmsman on the cargo ship "Lok Prem", was convicted under Section 302 IPC for allegedly murdering a fellow helmsman, L. Shivaraman, based primarily on circumstantial evidence and an alleged extra‑judicial confession to an engine officer. The prosecution relied on the appellant's fingerprints on a bloo…

Retired police inspector N. Sengodan issued a press statement urging the formation of a police association. The State of Tamil Nadu declared him a "goonda" and detained him under Section 3(2) of the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Dangerous Activities Act, 1982, also filing criminal charges under the Police (Incitement to Dis…

The case involved a Rs 65 crore investment in CANCIGO units of Canbank Mutual Fund (CMF) by four subscribers, where B. Raghuvir Acharya (Trustee/General Manager) and Hiten P. Dalal (approved broker) were alleged to have obtained a false brokerage of Rs 32.5 lakhs. The Special Court convicted Acharya and Dalal, but acqu…

The appellants, Birendra Das and another, were convicted under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code for the murder of Matilal Das. The prosecution proved that the deceased was hacked to death, that the appellants were present armed with deadly weapons, and that they dragged the dead body to Birendr…

The appellant Karthick was convicted for rape and cheating after he forced sexual intercourse on the prosecutrix Poomari by gagging her and promising to marry her, thereby obtaining her consent through deceit. The first assault occurred when she was alone at home; subsequent intercourse continued for six months under t…

The appellant Jarnail Singh was convicted under IPC sections 366, 376(g) and 120‑B for kidnapping and raping a girl who was later found to be a minor. The Supreme Court examined the prosecution's evidence, including the victim's statements under Section 164 CrPC, forensic reports, and corroboration by her father, and r…

The appellants were charged under Section 420 IPC for allegedly cheating a complainant of Rs 30 lakhs and sought anticipatory bail, arguing that the offence fell within the jurisdiction of a Gram Panchayat under the Punjab Panchayati Raj Act, 1994. The High Court dismissed their bail applications and a subsequent writ …

Sarabjit Singh purchased land from Salamat Masih and later claimed that an agreement to sell additional land existed, for which he alleged he paid Rs.3,00,000. He filed an FIR under Sections 420, 379, 427, 506, 148 and 149 IPC alleging fraud by the vendor Ittefaq Singh and his brother, but the FIR contained no details …

Doliben Kantilal Patel, an American citizen of Indian origin, was arrested in connection with a land dispute and alleged that she was repeatedly raped during a five‑day police remand. She filed a complaint under Sections 376 and 1208 IPC, but no FIR was registered. She approached the High Court under Article 226 seekin…

The State of Madhya Pradesh prosecuted Najab Khan and three others for grievous hurt with common intention under IPC s.326 read with s.34. The trial court sentenced them to three years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine. The High Court, noting a compromise between the accused and the victim, reduced the sentence to th…

The appellant, a proclaimed offender, was apprehended in a house where he allegedly assaulted a police constable, was grappled with, and then fired a country‑made pistol, killing the constable. The trial court convicted him under Sections 302, 332, 186 of the IPC and Sections 25, 27 of the Arms Act. On appeal, the accu…

The State of Rajasthan prosecuted Shiv Charan and others for the murder of Prahlad, alleging that five armed men, including the accused, formed an unlawful assembly and assaulted the victim, leading to his death. The trial court convicted them under Sections 302, 149 and 148 of the IPC and sentenced them to life impris…

The case involved a murder under Section 302 IPC where the prosecution relied on the dying declaration of the deceased, Atul Prakash Shukla, and the testimony of the sole eyewitness, Anil Prakash Shukla. The deceased gave his statement to the investigating officer twenty days after the incident, claiming he had been tu…

The case involved four accused who, during a robbery on a train in 1994, stabbed one passenger to death and shot another. Eye‑witnesses, who were the victim’s siblings, identified the accused in court, leading to conviction by the trial court. The High Court acquitted them on the ground that no test identification para…

The Supreme Court examined a criminal contempt case where three appellants were accused of forging and using bogus interim orders of the Madras High Court to obstruct the execution of a decree. The High Court had convicted them of contempt and sentenced each to six months’ imprisonment, based on investigations by the C…

The appellant, a licensed stamp vendor, was caught in a sting operation after demanding Rs 12 for a Rs 10 stamp paper and was convicted under Sections 7, 13(1)(d) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The key issue was whether a licensed stamp vendor qualifies as a “public servant” under Section 2(c)(i) …

The Supreme Court examined three criminal appeals arising from chargesheets filed in Uttar Pradesh that were alleged to lack sufficient factual detail and evidence under Section 173(2) of the CrPC. It considered whether a chargesheet must contain detailed facts and material evidence to enable a magistrate to take cogni…

The Constitution Bench examined the scope of Article 142(1) of the Constitution, holding that the Supreme Court may depart from statutory procedure and even substantive law to achieve "complete justice" provided the exercise is guided by fundamental public policy. It ruled that, in cases of settlement between parties, …

The appellant and respondent were married in 1998 and later lived separately, leading the husband to file a suit for dissolution of marriage which was dismissed by the trial, district and high courts. While the appeal was pending before the Supreme Court, the parties reached an amicable settlement through mediation, ag…

The appellants were among ten persons named in an FIR for a violent incident but were not listed in the charge‑sheet after the investigating officer concluded they were not present at the scene. The investigating officer and the SHO later applied to a magistrate for their release from judicial custody, which the magist…

The case involved the murder of Satyawati, who was allegedly killed by her in‑laws for refusing to pay dowry. Four family members were tried; Jwala Singh was acquitted while Tribhuwan Singh, Makoi Devi and Chandra Bhawan Singh were convicted by the trial court. The High Court upheld the convictions of Tribhuwan Singh a…

The appellant, son of the deceased, challenged the acquittal of four accused persons charged with murder, attempt to murder and rioting under Sections 302, 34, 201 and 307 IPC. The trial court had acquitted all accused despite the prosecution's evidence from 13 witnesses. The High Court dismissed the appeal without a d…

The appellant Savitri Pandey and Raju Pandey were named in an FIR filed in 2014 by their sister‑in‑law alleging fraudulent sale deeds executed in 1994 concerning joint family land. The High Court dismissed their writ petition under Article 226 seeking quashing of the FIR. The Supreme Court examined whether such a writ …

Mahendra Nath Das was convicted of two murders, one of which attracted a death sentence that was confirmed by the High Court and the Supreme Court. He filed a mercy petition under Article 72 of the Constitution seeking commutation to life imprisonment, but the petition was rejected after a twelve‑year delay. The appell…

The accused Habib and Manuwa were acquitted by the trial court for murder under IPC s.302, but the Allahabad High Court set aside the acquittal of Habby and Manuwa, convicting them based on eyewitness and medical evidence. The Supreme Court examined whether an appellate court may re‑appreciate evidence in an appeal aga…

The case involved eight accused who were charged with the murder of three members of the Kolhe family in two related incidents. The prosecution relied on the testimony of two child eyewitnesses (aged 11 and 13), a dying declaration, medical reports, and blood‑group matches of recovered weapons. The trial court acquitte…

Sudhir Kumar Bhalla, a partner of a trading firm, issued six cheques to Jagdish Chand and his wife Ramesh Rani for payment of goods. Five of the cheques were dishonoured, leading the respondents to file complaints under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act and various provisions of the IPC. The trial court acq…

The deceased Sukhdeo Chikane was attacked and fatally injured with a iron instrument called a "sattur" by three accused brothers amid a long‑standing boundary dispute. The FIR named all three assailants and eyewitnesses (Vikram and Avinash Chikane) identified them as the perpetrators. Medical post‑mortem showed multipl…

The appellant, brother of the deceased's wife, was charged under Section 306 IPC for allegedly abetting the suicide of his brother‑in‑law, Chander Bhushan, by allegedly telling him to "go and die" during a quarrel on 25 July 1998. The deceased was found hanged on 27 July 1998 and left a suicide note indicating personal…

On 12 January 1981 a dispute over alleged uprooting of crops on the victim’s land led to a scuffle in which the victim Sotilal Yadav was assaulted by several accused and died on the spot. The trial court convicted all seven accused under various provisions including murder (Sec.302 read with Sec.149), theft (Sec.379), …

The State of Himachal Pradesh prosecuted Gian Chand for raping a 5‑year‑old girl, a distant relative, on 29 October 1991. The trial court convicted him under Section 376 IPC, sentencing him to ten years' imprisonment and a fine. The Himachal Pradesh High Court set aside the conviction, relying on alleged delay in filin…

The State of Maharashtra prosecuted four accused for abducting and murdering infant children as part of a superstitious ritual to uncover hidden treasure. The trial court relied on a voluntary confessional statement, corroborating circumstantial evidence, and the testimony of a child who escaped two abduction attempts,…

Krishan, already serving life imprisonment for a prior murder, was convicted of murdering his brother‑in‑law Ranbir inside District Jail, Sonepat, using a spade. The trial court sentenced him to death, a decision affirmed by the High Court. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined whether the death penalty was justified u…

Smt. Swarnalata Sarkar filed a criminal complaint alleging bigamy under S. 494 r/w S. 109 IPC against her husband, who had married another woman with the collusion of several respondents. The trial magistrate issued process based on preliminary evidence under S. 200 CrPC. The accused filed a frivolous application under…

Thirteen residents of Kusi village were prosecuted after three men from the neighbouring Malpura village cut open a bund, diverting water during a drought. The Kusi villagers attempted to restore the bund, were resisted, and four of them shot the three intruders, causing their deaths. The trial court convicted the four…

The Supreme Court entertained a public‑interest writ under Article 32 filed by the registered society "Common Cause" seeking relief for under‑trial prisoners and accused persons in pending criminal matters. The Court observed that prolonged pendency of criminal cases infringes the right to life and liberty guaranteed b…

The case concerned the suspension of IAS officer E.S. Reddi under the Andhra Pradesh Civil Services Rules, which he challenged on the ground of arbitrariness under Article 14 of the Constitution, alleging that similarly situated officers were merely transferred. The Division Bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court rever…

Sewakram Sobhani, a former detainee, sued the editor of the Blitz weekly for defamation after the newspaper published a story alleging he impregnated a female detainee, based on a confidential government enquiry report. The magistrate ordered the plea to be recorded under CrPC s.251 without producing the report, which …

The complainant, wife of a deceased, filed a criminal complaint against three police officials—Assistant Commissioner Sankaran Moitra and two subordinate officers, S.M. Kundu and Sudhir Sikdar—alleging that the latter two murdered her husband on the direction of Moitra. The trial court took cognizance and the accused w…

The appellants entered the deceased's house armed with an axe and a cutting weapon to dispute a place of worship on contested land, leading to a scuffle that resulted in the grandfather's death and injuries to three grandchildren. The trial court convicted the appellants under Sections 302, 323 and 324 read with Sectio…

The appellant, Vinay Aggarwal, was charged under several IPC offences for allegedly impersonating an IB officer and extorting money. The complainant filed a petition under Section 482 of the CrPC seeking transfer of the investigation from the Haryana police to the CBI, which the Punjab and Haryana High Court allowed, d…

The State of Uttar Pradesh appealed against the High Court's acquittal of Subhash @ Pappu for offences under Sections 302 and 148 of the IPC. The facts involved six to seven persons attacking a shop servant, Bengali, with a knife and a hockey stick, resulting in a stab wound; the victim died thirty days later of septic…

The case arose from a violent incident on 28 September 2005 near Rosy School, Chozhiyamkod, where the appellant Mani stabbed a victim, Soman, who later died, and eight persons were injured. The trial court convicted Mani under Section 302 IPC and the other three accused under Sections 324 and 341 read with Section 34, …

The case involved four accused (A‑1 to A‑4) charged with murder under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC, along with offences under Sections 201/34 and 506 IPC. The prosecution relied on a motive stemming from a land dispute, the testimony of two eye‑witnesses (PW‑1 and PW‑2) who were relatives of the deceased…

The wife, Santosh Kumari, alleged that her husband Satish Kumar Batra and his relatives subjected her to dowry demands and cruelty, leading to physical assaults and attempts to force her to commit suicide. An FIR was filed under Sections 498A and 406 IPC, and the trial court convicted all accused, sentencing them to tw…

The appellant State of Rajasthan prosecuted Champar Lal for murder under Section 302 IPC, relying primarily on the victim's dying declaration recorded by a police officer in the presence of a doctor. The trial court convicted based on that declaration, but the Rajasthan High Court acquitted, holding that the declaratio…

The State of Kerala appealed the acquittal of five accused who were charged under Sections 143, 147, 148, 109, 449 and 302 read with Section 149 of the Indian Penal Code. The trial court and the Kerala High Court had acquitted them on the basis that the FIR reached the magistrate after an unexplained delay and that the…

Fourteen persons were alleged to have formed an unlawful assembly and assaulted a victim with deadly weapons, causing grievous injuries that led to his death. The trial court acquitted eleven accused and convicted three under Section 326 of the Indian Penal Code. The High Court upheld the conviction, reasoning that the…

The State of Maharashtra filed a criminal complaint under IPC sections 338, 109 and 114 alleging medical negligence by Dr. Praful B. Desai and Dr. A.K. Mukherjee, leading to the death of the complainant's wife. The trial court permitted the testimony of a US doctor, Dr. Greenberg, via video‑conferencing; the High Court…

Hyderabad Vanaspathi Ltd. entered into two high‑tension electricity supply agreements with the Andhra Pradesh State Electricity Board (APSEB). After the Board discovered alleged pilferage, it disconnected supply and made a provisional and then a final assessment of loss under Clause 39 of the Board's Terms and Conditio…

Four men were tried for murder and attempt to cause hurt under Sections 302, 34 and 323, 34 of the IPC. The Sessions Court acquitted them, finding the delay in reporting, lack of motive, and the unreliability of two eyewitnesses (PW2 and PW6) sufficient to raise doubt. The Punjab and Haryana High Court set aside the ac…

The petitioner was convicted under Section 376 IPC for raping a girl under 16 years who was sleeping outside her house. He appealed, arguing that the victim's testimony lacked substantial corroboration. The Supreme Court held that in rape cases involving minors, the victim's testimony, when supported by circumstantial …

The appellant was convicted under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly abetting the suicide of his former tenant, X, who died after consuming organophosphate poison. The prosecution's case relied on testimonies of family members and neighbours, alleging that the appellant had threatened X to marry him and…

The appellant lodged an FIR in 1999 alleging assault, abduction and other offences under Sections 147, 148, 149, 323 and 364 IPC against three accused. During trial, the accused entered into a settlement agreement with one victim (Respondent No.5) but the original complainant (the appellant) was neither a party to nor …

The State of Chhattisgarh filed criminal appeals against the Chhattisgarh High Court’s order quashing FIR No. 9/2020, which alleged that Aman Kumar Singh (AS) and his wife Yasmin Singh (YS) had amassed assets disproportionate to their known sources of income under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The High Court …

The appellants kidnapped a 14-year-old boy for ransom. The trial court and High Court convicted them under Section 364A IPC (kidnapping for ransom) with life imprisonment. The Supreme Court examined the ingredients of Section 364A, particularly the requirement of a threat to cause death or hurt. The Court found that th…

The appellant, Sonu, was charged under Section 376 IPC after the second respondent lodged an FIR alleging that he had promised to marry her, maintained a consensual sexual relationship for one and a half years, and later refused to marry, leading to the complaint. The appellant sought to quash the charge‑sheet under Se…

The dispute arose from a terminated distributorship agreement between Varun Beverages Ltd. and the complainant, who alleged non‑payment of commissions and issued a cheque that later bounced. The complainant filed a criminal complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act and later a Section 156(3) Cr.P.C.…

The State of Madhya Pradesh prosecuted three accused—Rajaram, Udaibhan and Hakim Singh—for assaulting a complainant and his brother with weapons, resulting in multiple grievous injuries. The trial court convicted them under Section 307 IPC (attempt to murder) and Section 307/34, imposing ten years’ rigorous imprisonmen…

The deceased Kamatchi committed suicide by hanging herself four days after being denied the use of a family car, an incident for which her husband and sister‑in‑law were initially charged under Sections 304‑B, 498‑A and 306 IPC. The appellants – the husband’s brothers and mother‑in‑law – were also charged under the sam…

Rizwanur Rahman married Priyanka Todi under the Special Marriage Act. After the marriage, police officials repeatedly interfered, threatened the couple and later the deceased was found dead on railway tracks. The mother and brother of the deceased filed a writ petition seeking transfer of the investigation from the Sta…

Harbans Kaur and Mitta Singh assaulted Sham Singh, inflicting grievous injuries that later caused his death. The victim’s father Piara Singh and wife Sito, who were relatives of the accused, testified as eyewitnesses; the FIR was lodged after a short delay. The trial court convicted the appellants under Sections 323, 3…

Balwant Singh and Bhupinder Singh, two government employees, were arrested in Chandigarh on 31 October 1984 for shouting slogans such as "Khalistan Zindabad" and "Raj Karega Khalsa" on the day Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated. They were convicted under Sections 124A (sedition) and 153A (promoting enmity) o…

The case concerned a dacoity‑cummurder on a highway in July 1984 for which eight persons were convicted, largely on the testimony of an approver, Ramcharan, who had been arrested under suspicious circumstances and later granted pardon. The Supreme Court examined the legality of his arrest, the timing of his pardon, and…

The Supreme Court examined a series of cases where the State of Punjab alleged that arrests, searches and seizures under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act) were illegal because police officers failed to comply with certain statutory provisions. The Court held that the NDPS Act is not a …

The appellant was acquitted by the trial court of murder (Sec. 302 IPC) but was convicted on appeal by the Gujarat High Court. The conviction rested on the statement of the deceased's brother (PW6) recorded by the investigating officer after a telephonic message about the incident was received. The appellant challenged…

The appellant, an arrack shop in‑charge, complained to senior police officials that the Additional Superintendent of Police, K. Shanmuganan, was colluding with illicit distillers. The respondent summoned the appellant, beat him and later tortured him. The appellant filed a criminal complaint under several IPC sections.…

The appellant, Dattatraya, was convicted for the death of his nine‑month‑pregnant wife after he allegedly poured kerosene on her during a drunken quarrel, causing severe burns, a still‑born child and her eventual death. The prosecution relied on the dying declaration of the deceased, testimony of the maternal grandmoth…

The State of Uttar Pradesh appealed the acquittal of Veerpal and another accused who were charged under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC for allegedly burning the deceased after a money dispute. The deceased had given two dying declarations: one to a police officer on 20‑12‑2011 and another to a Sub‑Division…

The police, acting on information that an absconding accused Rajesh Shukla was hiding in a village house, confronted him and his associate Vasudev Shukla. After Rajesh opened fire, the police retaliated and both accused eventually surrendered, surrendering a rifle and a 12‑bore double‑barrel gun. The trial court convic…

The case concerned a murder under IPC sections 302, 149 and 148, where six accused were convicted based largely on the testimonies of two eyewitnesses, PW‑1 Vedram and PW‑2 Jagdish. The post‑mortem report showed only one firearm injury and a single neck injury, contradicting the prosecution’s claim that all pistol‑arme…

The State of Sikkim appealed against a High Court order that directed the accused army personnel, Jasbir Singh and another, to be tried by a court‑martial for a murder under IPC sections 302 and 308. The Supreme Court examined whether the offence fell within the exclusive jurisdiction of a court‑martial or within the c…

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) appealed against the Kerala High Court’s order granting bail to K. A. NajeeB, who was charged under multiple IPC offences, the Explosive Substances Act and several provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The High Court had released the undertrial on bail, c…

The incident occurred on 24 March 1998 when fourteen accused, armed with axes, iron pipes and spears, attacked the complainant Najabhai Desurbhai Wagh near his house after he rebuked them for damaging an electric pole. The assault resulted in the death of the complainant's brother, Unadbhai Desurbhai. The trial court c…

The appellants were convicted for publicly exhibiting obscene blue films to a young audience under Section 292 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 7 of the Cinematograph Act. The trial court sentenced them to six months' simple imprisonment and a fine; the appellate court reduced the imprisonment …

The appellant’s Eicher truck was seized by police for transporting 28 buffalo calves, and the appellant sought its release under Section 451 of the CrPC. The lower courts rejected the application, invoking Section 68(3) of the Gujarat Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act, 2011, which bars release of a seized vehicle for…

The case arose from a dispute over the erection of a fence around a chapel in Goa, during which the appellant Roy Fernandes and four others intervened, assaulting the deceased and his companions. One of the accused stabbed the deceased, causing his death. The trial court convicted all five under Sections 143, 148, 323,…

The appellant companies, foreign nationals who were ultimate beneficiaries of a bill of exchange, were summoned by a Ghaziabad magistrate on a criminal complaint alleging cheating, criminal breach of trust and related offences under the IPC. The complaint arose from a commercial transaction in which goods were supplied…

The State of Punjab appealed the acquittal of CRPF constable Dalbir Singh, who had been charged under Sections 302, 307 IPC and Section 27 of the Arms Act for firing a self‑loading rifle that resulted in the death of a senior officer. The High Court acquitted him on the basis of irreconcilable inconsistencies in the pr…

The appellant, a retired Additional Sessions Judge, was criticised by a High Court Single Judge for not framing a charge under Section 302 IPC in a murder trial, instead framing only Section 304 and 323 IPC without recording any reasons. The Supreme Court examined the interplay between Sections 227 and 228 of the CrPC,…

The appellant, Kolla Veera Raghav Rao, had been convicted under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881. He was later prosecuted under Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code for the same set of facts. The central issue was whether Section 300(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, which bars a person from b…

The appellant B.A. Umesh was convicted of rape, murder and robbery (IPC ss.376, 302, 392) and sentenced to death. The Supreme Court examined the prosecution's case, which relied on a chain of circumstantial evidence, eyewitness testimony, a test identification parade, fingerprint evidence, forensic reports and an extra…

The appellants filed a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution seeking quashment of an FIR alleging offences under Sections 420 and 424 of the IPC and Sections 2 and 3 of the Uttar Pradesh Gangsters and Anti‑Social Activities (Prevention) Act. The Allahabad High Court dismissed the petition, relying on a ba…

The State of Rajasthan appealed the reduction of the sentence awarded to Madan Singh for raping a 10‑year‑old girl. The trial court imposed the statutory minimum of ten years imprisonment under Section 376(2)(f) of the IPC, but the Rajasthan High Court reduced it to seven years, relying on the accused’s custodial perio…

The appellant Kamesh Panjiyar was convicted under Section 304‑B IPC for the dowry death of his wife, Jaikali Devi, and sentenced to ten years' rigorous imprisonment, later reduced to seven years by the High Court. He appealed to the Supreme Court, contending that there was no live link between the alleged dowry demand …

The Supreme Court examined the murder of four family members allegedly committed by Ravi Virmani, who was convicted and sentenced to death by the Sessions Court and later to life imprisonment by the High Court. The prosecution's case relied mainly on the testimony of the two surviving brothers, without any independent …

The Supreme Court examined an appeal by Babu Ram and others against the Allahabad High Court, which had set aside a Sessions Court acquittal and convicted the accused of murder under sections 302 and 34 IPC. The Sessions Court had found the prosecution's evidence weak, the witnesses unreliable, and the motive unproven,…

The accused, S. R. Sadhanantham, was acquitted by the Madras High Court of murder (s.302 IPC) and assault (s.148 IPC). The victim's brother, Arunachalam, filed a special leave petition under Article 136 of the Constitution, obtained leave, and the Supreme Court set aside the acquittal, restoring conviction and life sen…

The appellant, a foreign national serving as Project Manager for Hyundai Engineering & Construction India LLP, was named in FIR No.64/2020 alleging conspiracy and cheating in a Rs 9‑crore payment default involving multiple subcontractors. The appellant sought quashing of the FIR on the ground that the allegations were …

The appellant, Daljit Singh, was declared a proclaimed offender under Section 82 of the Cr.P.C. for failing to appear after summons in a cheque‑related criminal case filed in 2010. He was later acquitted of the underlying offence under the Negotiable Instruments Act, and an FIR under Section 174A IPC was filed for his …

The appellant, B.N. John, owned a hostel for underprivileged children and alleged that officials raided it illegally on 3 June 2015, falsely accusing him of assaulting them. An FIR was lodged under IPC s.353, and a charge‑sheet later added s.186, leading the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) to take cognizance and issue …

M/s Naresh Potteries (appellant) filed a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act against M/s Aarti Industries (respondent No.1) for the dishonour of a cheque issued in the appellant's favour. The complaint was filed by the manager, Neeraj Kumar, who held a power of attorney from the sole proprieto…

The Range Forest Officer alleged that the directors and office bearers of a company illegally uprooted trees using a JCB, violating Section 4 of the Punjab Land Preservation Act, 1900, and sought prosecution under Section 19. The Special Environment Court took cognizance of the complaint and issued process against the …