Dowry Death – IPC Section 304B – The trial court convicted the appellant based on the second dying declaration implicating him, despite acquitting his parents on the same evidence – High Court reduced the sentence but upheld the conviction – Supreme Court found the first dying declaration more reliable as it was made voluntarily without any external influence, unlike the se...
Criminal Law – Conviction Reversal – High Court convicted the appellant under Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC after reversing the trial court's acquittal – Appellant's appeal to Supreme Court dismissed in limine without recording reasons – Supreme Court emphasized the need for notice and recording reasons when disposing of appeals under Article 134(1)(a) or (b)...
Criminal Law – Charge Framing – High Court set aside the trial court's order framing charges of rape and POCSO Act offenses against the accused – Supreme Court found the High Court's reasoning, particularly on delay in lodging FIR, incomprehensible and erroneous – Reiterated that charges should be framed based on prima facie evidence and strong suspicion, not proof ...
Criminal Law – Quashing of Proceedings – Section 482 CrPC – High Court dismissed the appellant's application to quash criminal proceedings related to an offense under Section 376 IPC – Supreme Court allowed the appeal, holding that the allegations did not prima facie constitute the offense of rape – Consensual relationship between the parties negated the essential...
Criminal Law – Conviction based on suspicion – An accused cannot be convicted on the basis of suspicion, no matter how strong – The prosecution must prove the guilt beyond a reasonable doubt – Conviction and sentence set aside due to lack of conclusive evidence and inconsistencies in the prosecution's case [Paras 1-21].
Extra-Judicial Confession – Cau...
Quashing of FIR – Section 482 CrPC – Appeal against High Court's dismissal of petition to quash FIR – FIR registered based on private complaint alleging offenses under IPC including cheating and breach of trust – Supreme Court finds no ingredients of alleged offenses made out in the complaint – FIR and charge-sheet quashed [Paras 1-19].
Commercial Dis...
Criminal Law – Murder Conviction – Benefit of Doubt – Appellants convicted under Section 302 read with 149 IPC – Prosecution evidence found with vital discrepancies and inconsistencies – Independent witnesses not examined – Recoveries of weapons used in the crime not corroborated – Appellants granted benefit of doubt – Appeals allowed, convictions se...
Contempt of Court – Summary Proceedings – Denial of Trial – Appeal against CAT’s conviction for contempt under Section 14 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 – Appellant denied charges and sought trial – CAT proceeded without trial, relying on behavior observed in court – Supreme Court finds denial of trial improper under Section 14 and Rule 15 of the CAT ...
Criminal Law – Murder – Life Imprisonment – Appeal against High Court’s reversal of acquittal under Section 302 IPC – Prosecution charged 22 accused with forming an unlawful assembly and committing murder – High Court acquitted 20 accused but convicted appellants (A1 and A2) under Section 302 – Supreme Court finds inconsistencies in prosecution's evide...
Criminal Procedure – Summoning Witnesses – Section 311 CrPC – Appeal against High Court’s rejection of application to summon cellular nodal officers – Power under Section 311 CrPC to summon, examine, recall, or re-examine any material witness at any stage – Closing of prosecution evidence not an absolute bar – Essentiality of evidence for just decision of ...