Anticipatory Bail – Cryptic High Court Order – Supreme Court Intervention – The petitioner sought anticipatory bail in relation to a 2021 FIR for offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act – The High Court instead of deciding the bail application on merits, adjourned the matter directing the DGP to file an affidavit explaining non-arrest of the petitioner for four year...
Criminal Law - Rape of Minor – Conviction under Section 376(2) IPC & Sections 4, 6 POCSO – Trial Court’s Conviction Restored – High Court erred in acquitting accused on grounds of procedural irregularities and alleged inconsistencies – Held: Evidence of victim consistent and corroborated by medical records (pregnancy, abortion); procedural lapses (Section 223/defe...
Bail Cancellation – Distinction Between Witness Protection and Judicial Power – High Court Order Set Aside – The appellant, original complainant, sought cancellation of bail granted to the accused on grounds of threats to witnesses – The High Court dismissed the application, directing the complainant to instead pursue remedy under the Witness Protection Scheme, 2018 –...
Bail under UAPA – Section 43D(5) – Complete embargo unless accusation prima facie untrue – Court examined whether material showed appellant’s role in conspiracy – Only recovery of one pistol, cartridges and Rs.50,000/- cash – No direct evidence of conspiracy – Held: Material insufficient to sustain continued custody [Paras 9-12].
Criminal Conspiracy &nd...
Regular Bail – Honey-Trap and Extortion Allegations – Sections 127, 308, 352, 351, 318, 115 & 61 BNS – Bail Granted – Petitioner, a police constable, arraigned as accused No.6, alleged to have accompanied prime accused and threatened complainant in extortion plot – No recovery from petitioner; no direct demand of money attributed – Investigation comple...
Criminal Law – Conviction Based Solely on Ballistic Report – Identification Not Established – Conviction Set Aside – The appellant was convicted under Sections 393, 394, 397, 398, 34 of IPC and Arms Act based on an incident where a minor was injured during a robbery attempt – The trial court relied primarily on ballistic evidence linking the bullet to a pistol r...
Criminal Law - Murder – Circumstantial Evidence – Sections 302, 498-A, 201 IPC – Acquittal – Appellant convicted for murdering wife by throttling and hanging her body to simulate suicide – High Court found prosecution failed to prove motive, failed to complete chain of circumstances, and relied on weak extra-judicial confession – Medical evidence ruled out manua...
Criminal Law - Attempt to Murder – Section 307 IPC – Intention vs. Nature of Injuries – Conviction Upheld – Multiple injured sustained firearm and incised wounds on vital parts; even if injuries not “sufficient in ordinary course of nature” to cause death, intention of assailants decisive – Courts relied on SC precedents clarifying that minor or non-fatal ...
Criminal Law – Section 326 IPC – Stabbing with Knife – Conviction Upheld – Appellant convicted for causing grievous hurt by stabbing neighbour in drunken state – Defence argued that witnesses were related and contradictory, no independent witnesses or recovery of weapon – Held: Evidence of injured witness (PW2) and his son (PW1), corroborated by medical officer ...
Criminal Law - Section 21(c), 29, and 52A of the NDPS Act – Clubbing of Contraband Quantity – No Presumption of Conspiracy – Conviction Set Aside – The appellant and co-accused were apprehended together and found with 125g and 130g of heroin respectively – Held: Mere physical proximity does not justify presumption of common intent or conspiracy – No evidence led...