Criminal Law – Circumstantial Evidence – Conviction for murder under Section 302 IPC – Absence of direct evidence – Conviction based on consistent circumstantial evidence proving beyond reasonable doubt – Demands for dowry and ill-treatment established – Accused's unnatural behavior post-incident – Principles of circumstantial evidence reviewed and applied [Paras 10-15].

Dowry Death – Section 302 IPC – Conviction upheld – Consistent and reliable witness testimony regarding dowry demands and harassment – Recovery of weapon and blood-stained shirt at the instance of the accused – Absence of the accused post-incident not satisfactorily explained [Paras 14-15].

Decision: Appeal dismissed – Conviction under Section 302 IPC and sentence of life imprisonment affirmed [Para 15].

Specific Relief – Agreement for Sale – Discretionary relief under Specific Relief Act – Appellant's agreement for sale of flat and possession letter – Trial Court's orders in favor of appellant set aside by High Court – High Court's adverse comments on appellant's conduct deemed unwarranted – Case remanded for decision on merits without influence of prior observations [Paras 6-8].

Procedure – Pending Suits – Main suits pending and transferred to City Civil Court – Directions issued for expeditious disposal of suits – Protection of deposited amount until final decision – Observations on appellant's conduct by High Court expunged [Paras 8(i)-8(v)].

Decision: Appeals disposed of – Suits to be decided within one year – Deposited amount to be maintained – Trial Court to decide issues on merits uninfluenced by prior comments – Status quo maintained until final decision [Paras 8(i)-8(v)].

Representing Advocates:

For the appellant: Ravi Shankar Prasad, Praveen Samdhani, S.K. Katriar, Abhay P. Sahay, Niraj Kumar, Suchita Pokharna, Himansu Shekhar, Anirudha Joshi, Viraj Maniar, Pramod B. Agarwala, Prashant Mehra, Ajay Amritraj, Ashish Prakash, Prabhat Kumar, Md. Shahid Anwar

Criminal Law – Corruption – Conviction under Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 – Conviction under Section 7 of the Act set aside – High Court maintained conviction under Section 13(2) – Section 13(2) provides punishment for criminal misconduct – Conviction under Section 13(1)(a) required for Section 13(2) – In the absence of conviction under Section 7 or Section 13(1)(a), conviction under Section 13(2) cannot be sustained [Paras 7-9].

Evidence – Demand and Acceptance of Bribe – Requirement for conviction under corruption charges – No call records to support the demand for bribe – Witness testimony inconsistent and unreliable – Conviction based on circumstantial evidence without corroboration not sustainable [Paras 10-11].

Decision: Appeal allowed – Conviction under Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, set aside – Appellant acquitted of charges – Bail bonds discharged [Paras 13].

Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act – Section 50 – Search and Seizure – Appellants not apprised of their right to be searched before a Gazetted officer or Magistrate – Only consent for search was sought – Violation of mandatory requirement under Section 50 – Conviction and sentence based on such search vitiated [Paras 5-11].

Evidence – Right to Inform – Requirement to inform accused of right under Section 50 – Mere asking for consent insufficient – Mandatory strict compliance needed – Recovery of contraband suspect and conviction unsustainable if Section 50 not complied with [Paras 6, 9-10].

Decision: Appeal allowed – Conviction and sentence set aside – Appellants ordered to be released forthwith if not required in any other case [Paras 13-14].

Negotiable Instruments – Dishonour of Cheque – Complaint without Signature – Maintainability of complaint under Section 138 of the NI Act without the complainant's signature – Complaint verified by complainant and process issued by Magistrate – Requirements of Section 142(a) met as long as complaint is in writing – Signature not a necessary condition – Verified complaint safeguards accused’s interests – Complaint valid if verified by complainant and process issued [Paras 9-15].

Limitation – Period of Limitation – Relevant date for computing limitation is the date of filing of complaint, not the date of cognizance by Magistrate – Complaint filed within limitation period despite verification and signature obtained later [Paras 16-18].

Decision: Appeals dismissed – Complaint under Section 138 of the NI Act without signature is maintainable when verified by the complainant and process issued by Magistrate – Prosecution valid [Paras 19].

Criminal Procedure – Quashing of Charges – Section 482 CrPC – Power to quash proceedings after framing of charges is somewhat wider as materials revealed by investigation come on record – Such materials can be looked into not for determining guilt or innocence but for satisfaction that they do not disclose the commission of an offense alleged [Paras 15-16].

Forgery and Fraud – Prima Facie Case – Allegations of forgery and fraud in renewal and encashment of fixed deposits – No positive role of accused bank officials disclosed in materials – Criminal trial not to assume character of fishing and roving enquiry – Charges against bank officials not maintainable [Paras 19].

Evidence – Criminal Jurisprudence – Prosecution cannot continue based on mere hope and expectation – Criminal trial contemplated only on definite allegations prima facie establishing commission of an offense [Paras 18-19].

Decision: Appeals by bank officials allowed – Criminal proceeding not maintainable against accused bank officials – Partial relief granted to another accused challenged and set aside – Criminal appeal arising out of SLP (Crl) No. 569 of 2012 allowed in part [Paras 23].

Contempt of Court – Advocate's Conduct – Appellant guilty of suborning a court witness in a criminal trial – No remorse shown – Action struck at roots of criminal justice administration – Normally warrants imprisonment – Consideration of contemnor's age, health of his wife, and prolonged proceedings – Undertaking by contemnor to perform pro bono services and monetary donation accepted as punishment [Paras 7-14].

Judicial Objective – Balanced Approach – Importance of objectivity in judicial proceedings – Mitigating factors considered – Punishment aimed at serving social purpose rather than imprisonment [Paras 8-10].

Decision: Appeal disposed of with directions – Contemnor barred from professional work for one year, to provide pro bono services, and to donate Rs. 21 lakhs to Bar Council of India for law college development – Delhi Legal Services Authority to monitor and report on contemnor's pro bono work [Paras 11-15].

Criminal Law – Unlawful Assembly – Section 149 IPC – Conviction of appellants for offenses under Section 302 IPC read with Section 149 IPC – High Court upheld the conviction, reversing the Trial Court's view on the applicability of Section 149 – Assembly of accused with a common object to commit murder established – Motive and antecedent circumstances considered [Paras 52-71].

Motive and Evidence – Land dispute and prior murder – Evidence of enmity between parties and previous incidents leading to motive – Convictions based on consistent and reliable witness testimony and medical evidence – High Court's judgment supported by comprehensive analysis of facts [Paras 41-47, 58-66].

Delay in FIR and Presence of Complainant – Reasonable explanation for delay in lodging FIR and special report – Presence of complainant at crime scene corroborated by circumstances – Absence of injuries on complainant not conclusive of non-presence [Paras 36-40, 44-48].

Decision: Appeals dismissed – Conviction under Section 302 read with Section 149 IPC upheld – High Court's decision affirmed in entirety [Paras 72].

Criminal Law – Dying Declaration – Conviction under Section 304B and 498A IPC – Deceased made a dying declaration blaming the appellant for dowry demands and driving her to suicide – Statement recorded by police in presence of doctors – Deceased conscious and fit to make statement despite 90% burns – Dying declaration detailed and consistent with surrounding facts – Accepted as voluntary and truthful [Paras 6-27].

Evidence – Burns and Consciousness – Precedent cases where victims with severe burns made reliable dying declarations – Presence of medical officers and absence of undue influence or pressure at time of statement [Paras 16-20].

Decision: Appeal dismissed – Conviction and sentence under Sections 304B and 498A IPC upheld – Dying declaration accepted as voluntary and truthful [Paras 28-29].