Discharge Application – Absence of Sanction – Cognizance Invalid – Prosecution Barred – Petitioner, a retired official, was prosecuted without obtaining sanction under Section 197 CrPC for IPC offences – Court held cognizance taken without required sanction is procedurally defective and unsustainable – Impugned order rejecting discharge application set aside [Pa...
NDPS Bail – Section 37 NDPS Act – Twin Conditions Not Satisfied – Bail Denied - The petitioners sought regular bail in FIR involving seizure of over 3 crore tablets and capsules of psychotropic substances, drug money, vehicles, and mobile phones – Petitioners included directors of pharmaceutical firms, chemists, and transporters – Charges framed, 54 out of 160 prosecu...
Criminal Procedure Code – Quashing of FIR – Exercise of Power under Section 482 Cr.P.C. – FIR challenged relating to contract between parties and alleged suppression of restrictive covenant – Held: Allegations, even taken at face value, disclose purely civil dispute regarding payment of money and not criminal offence – No dishonest intention at inception shown –...
Criminal Law - Section 319 CrPC – Scope and Threshold – Prima-facie Evidence – Invocation Justified – Appellant challenged High Court's quashing of Trial Court order summoning Respondent No. 2 based on direct eyewitness testimony during trial – Held: Once sworn evidence implicates an individual not initially arraigned, and such evidence is stronger than mere sus...
Criminal Law – Quashing of FIR – Commercial Dispute – FIR Quashed – Appellant, a Sri Lanka-based importer, was accused by an Indian seller of cheating and criminal breach of trust for non-payment of ₹34.71 lakhs for sarees exported through a third-party exporter (M/s Oswal Overseas) – Supreme Court held that the transaction was a commercial one with no direct entrus...
Dishonour of Cheque – Section 138 NI Act – Conviction Confirmed – Petitioner convicted for issuing a cheque of ₹5 lakhs which was dishonoured for "insufficient funds" – Trial Court convicted him to one year simple imprisonment and fine – Conviction upheld by Appellate Court – Held: Evidence of complainant and bank officials, along with cheque, return...
Criminal Law – Appeal Against Conviction - Forgery and Cheating – Real Estate Investment Fraud – Conviction Sustained – Petitioner, acting as Director of AVR Green Homes Pvt. Ltd., misrepresented land ownership and induced investment of over ₹3.88 crores – Evidence included undertakings, RTGS records, and depositions – Conviction under Sections 406, 420, 467, ...
Criminal Procedure – Multiple FIRs – Same Incident – Quashing of FIRs - Petitioners challenged registration of multiple FIRs (Cr.Nos.154 and 155 of 2024) arising from the same occurrence as Cr.No.153 of 2024 relating to an alleged attack on government officials – Court held that multiple FIRs for the same incident and cause of action are impermissible and amount to abuse of...
Criminal Law - Corruption Allegation – Demand and Acceptance – Sole Witness Not Wholly Reliable – Conviction Set Aside - Prosecution case hinged on solitary testimony of complainant (PW1), who had a chequered criminal history and inconsistencies in his account of bribe demands – Held: His evidence lacked corroboration, was not wholly reliable, and recovery of tainted money ...
Criminal Law - Murder – Appeal Against Acquittal - Appreciation of Evidence – Eye-Witness and Medical Testimony – Conviction Restored - The Trial Court acquitted all accused in a murder case citing contradictions and unreliable witness testimony – The High Court reversed the acquittal of Accused No.1, holding that minor contradictions did not discredit consistent and corrob...