Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (61 of 1985) - Sections 15, 42 - Non-compliance of Section 42 - Secret information not reduced into writing - Breach of mandatory provision - Acquittal of appellant - Ruqa sent for recording FIR not sufficient compliance with Section 42 - Non-compliance of statutory provisions - Prejudice irrelevant - Absolute duty with strict compliance ruling ...
Criminal Law - Conviction based on Circumstantial Evidence - Standard of Proof - The prosecution must establish the circumstances from which the conclusion of guilt is drawn beyond reasonable doubt. The circumstances must be consistent only with the hypothesis of the accused's guilt and should exclude every other possible hypothesis. There must be a complete chain of evidence leaving no reason...
Criminal Appeal – Quashing of Proceedings – Appellant challenges the impugned order of the High Court – Appellant granted leave – Merits of arguments not considered, given potential impact on trial rights [Para 2].
Scope of Quashing Proceedings – Distinction between quashing proceedings under Section 482 of Cr.P.C. and application for discharge – High Court c...
Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 - Section 167(2) - Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 - Section 19 - Applicability of Section 167(2) CrPC to proceedings under PMLA Act - Interpretation of statutes - Custody during investigation - The Supreme Court held that the provisions of Section 167(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC) are applicable to proceedings under the Prevention of M...
Bail - Anticipatory Bail - Grant of - Conditions - FIR registered against the petitioner under Section 306 IPC - Petitioner apprehending arrest - Petitioner being a first-time offender with no criminal antecedents - Custodial investigation and pre-trial incarceration causing irreparable injustice – Prima facie analysis of the nature of allegations does not justify custodial or pre-trial inca...
Penal Code, 1860 – Section 302 read with Section 34 – Murder – Common Intention – The appellants were convicted of murder based on the consistent, natural, and trustworthy testimony of key witnesses. The alleged omissions, such as not seizing the motorcycle or the gold chain of one of the victims, do not discredit the prosecution's evidence. The motive for the crime was...
Anticipatory Bail – Grant of – Seriousness of offence and need for custodial interrogation – Balance between individual rights and interests of justice – Land forgery and fraud – Prima facie evidence of fraudulent transactions – Suspicion regarding authenticity of documents – Elderly and vulnerable victims – Necessity of thorough investigation &ndash...
Bail Conditions - Modification - Furnishing of Local Surety - Jurisdiction - Violation of Article 14 of the Constitution - The petitioner, a resident of Uttar Pradesh, seeks modification of the bail condition requiring a local surety with immovable property within the jurisdiction of the trial court in Chandigarh. The petitioner argues that his relatives have immovable property in SAS Nagar, Mohal...
Section 143A of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 – Interim Compensation – Order of deposit of 10% of the amount of a dishonored cheque – Tenability – Whether the order can be made before the accused enters a plea of “not guilty” – Held, interim compensation under Section 143A(1)(a) can be granted only when the accused pleads not guilty to the accusatio...
Criminal Appeal – Conviction and sentencing under Section 302 IPC – Appellant challenged the High Court's affirmation of conviction and life sentence for murder – Primary contention involved delay in FIR and absence of direct evidence linking appellant to administration of poison. [Para 1-5]
Delayed FIR – Examination of whether a one-year delay in FIR registration im...