Criminal Law – Bail Application – Prolonged Incarceration – Petitioner in custody since January 2021 – Trial progressing slowly with only 12 out of 30 prosecution witnesses examined over more than three years – Court held that right to a speedy trial is a fundamental right under the Constitution of India – Bail granted due to undue delay in trial [Paras 1-5].
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Criminal Law – Cheating and Criminal Conspiracy – Quashing of FIR – Financial Dispute – Abuse of Process – The FIR was registered on the complaint of Avtar Singh, alleging that petitioner Jagsir Singh Dhiman refused to return a sum of ₹9,50,000 arising from a business dispute in agricultural tool manufacturing – Petitioners contended that this was a civil disp...
Quashing of Criminal Proceedings – Jurisdiction of Indian Courts – Sections 188 Cr.P.C. and 494 IPC – Proceedings Quashed – The petitioner sought to quash a complaint filed by the respondent through his Power of Attorney alleging offences of bigamy, cheating, and other charges – The Court found that the marriage was solemnized in Maharashtra, and the alleged offences ...
Application of Section 319 CrPC – Addition of Accused Based on New Evidence – Contradictory Testimony – The petitioner, mother of the deceased, was added as an accused based on new evidence presented during trial under Section 319 CrPC – while earlier witnesses claimed the death was accidental, evidence emerged suggesting the death resulted from manual strangulation –...
Definition of Built-Up Area – Open-to-Sky Ramp – Inclusion in Built-Up Area Excluded – The appeal considered whether a ramp providing access to terrace parking falls within the definition of "built-up area" under the Kerala Municipality Building Rules, 2019 – Held: Open-to-sky ramps or driveways for vehicular access are not included in the built-up area, provided ...
Criminal Procedure – Anticipatory Bail – Factors to Consider – High Court granted anticipatory bail to respondents accused under Sections 302, 341, 323, 307, 504, and 34 of IPC – Appellant challenged the order, citing specific allegations in FIR and chargesheet indicating respondents’ involvement in setting the deceased ablaze with intent to kill – Supreme Court...
Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 – Discharge under Section 227 Cr.P.C. – Lack of Prima Facie Case – Appellant (Accused No.13) sought discharge under Section 227 Cr.P.C. from charges under Section 27(b) of the NDPS Act – Sole evidence against the appellant was the confession statement of a co-accused (Accused No.1) – Held: Confessional statement of a co-accused is inadmis...
Criminal Law – Allegations of Witchcraft – Public Humiliation and Assault – FIR lodged against 13 accused under Sections 341, 323, 354, 354B, 379, 504, 506, 149 IPC, and Sections 3 & 4 of the Witch (Daain) Practices Act for grave allegations including assault, disrobing, and public humiliation of the victims accused of witchcraft – Police filed chargesheet against only ...
Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 – Section 138 – Dishonour of Cheques – Essential Ingredients – Complaint filed under Section 138 of the NI Act lacked specific averments that the appellant, as the authorized signatory of the company, was in charge of and responsible for the conduct of its business – Held: Such averments are statutorily mandatory to maintain a complain...
Criminal Law – Rash and Negligent Driving – Conviction under Sections 279 and 304A IPC – Petitioner driving a Qualis vehicle at high speed collided with a motorcycle, causing the death of the rider and injuries to the pillion – Trial Court convicted the petitioner, sentencing him to 6 months S.I. under Section 304A IPC and a fine of ₹1,000 under Section 279 IPC – Co...