Criminal Law – Circumstantial Evidence – Chain of Circumstances – Standard of Proof – Conviction recorded by Trial Court under Sections 364 and 302/34 IPC based entirely on circumstantial evidence – No direct eye-witness to kidnapping or murder – High Court reiterated settled principle that each incriminating circumstance must be fully proved and circumstances c...
Medical Termination of Pregnancy – Minor Rape Victim – Constitutional Jurisdiction – Applicant aged 14 years and 6 months, victim of rape, sought permission for termination of pregnancy – FIR registered under Sections 137(2), 87 BNS – Medical Board opined pregnancy of about 15 weeks and found termination permissible under MTP Act – Held: In cases of rape of a mi...
NDPS Act – Bail – Intermediate Quantity – Applicability of Section 37 NDPS Act – Accused No.2 found in possession of 10.188 kg ganja while co-accused possessed commercial quantity – Held, rigour of Section 37 NDPS Act not attracted when quantity recovered from the applicant alone is intermediate and no material to establish conspiracy – Bail granted [Paras 6&nda...
Criminal Law – Murder and Robbery – Conviction based on Circumstantial Evidence – Accused Nos.1 to 3 convicted under Sections 302, 397 and 201 read with Section 34 IPC – Deceased murdered to avoid repayment of loan of Rs.2 lakh – Prosecution case resting entirely on circumstantial evidence including motive, last seen together, recovery of stolen articles, extra-judici...
Sexual Offences – Stalking and Sexual Harassment – Ingredients of Offence – Proof Required – Accused convicted under Sections 354A and 354D IPC and Section 12 PoCSO Act – High Court examined whether alleged acts constituted statutory ingredients of sexual harassment and stalking – Held: Mere abusive language, quarrel or threat without sexually coloured remarks, ...
Criminal Law – Anticipatory Bail – Compromise-Based Bail – Breach of Settlement – Recall and Cancellation of Bail – Anticipatory bail earlier granted solely on the basis of a compromise arrived at before the Mediation and Conciliation Centre – Bail order expressly recorded that parties shall abide by settlement terms – Accused failed to comply with agreed ...
Criminal Law – Murder – Conviction under Section 302/149 IPC – Unlawful Assembly – Appellant Sanwarey convicted for murder along with other co-accused – Role attributed to appellant was assault with lathi – Knife blows attributed to co-accused – Held: Once common object to commit murder is established, individual role or nature of weapon used by each accus...
Criminal Law – Kidnapping and Aggravated Penetrative Sexual Assault – Conviction under Section 366 IPC and Section 6(1) POCSO Act – Victim allegedly aged 17 years and 10 months – Trial Court convicted A1 while acquitting A2 – On appeal, High Court found serious infirmities in prosecution case – Held: Conviction unsustainable [Paras 1–2, 13–14].
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Criminal Law – Dacoity with Murder – Circumstantial Evidence – Confirmation of Conviction – Appellants convicted under Sections 448/396/302/412/34 IPC for committing dacoity and murdering landlady Rekha Rani Roy and tenant Gouri Majhi – No eyewitness to occurrence – Case resting on chain of circumstantial evidence – Held: Prosecution established complete c...
Companies Act – Financial Statements – Non-disclosure of Specified Bank Notes – Criminal Prosecution – Quashing – Complaint under Sections 129/448 Companies Act filed against Director alone without impleading company – Held: Company is principal offender – Proceedings against director alone not maintainable [Paras 48–56].
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