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].

Succession and Settlement – Testamentary Disposition vs. Settlement – Interpretation of Exhibit A1 concerning item No. 1 of Schedule No. 8 – Distinction between settlement (gift) and testamentary disposition (Will) – Document composite in nature with characteristics of both – Test for determination based on transfer of interest in praesenti or upon executant's death – Exhibit A1 creating no vested rights in praesenti for item No. 1, thus considered testamentary [Paras 9-30].

Registration of Will – Composite Document – Mere registration does not alter testamentary nature – Document severable in parts, operating as a Will or settlement based on respective terms – Intention of executants determined by words used in the document – Ambulatory nature of Will with revocability during lifetime [Paras 16-24].

Intention and Language – Primary rule of construction based on clear intention found in document – Contemporary events and circumstances surrounding execution irrelevant if language unambiguous – Meaning and effect discerned from ordinary usage of words in original language of document [Paras 18-19].

Decision: Appeals allowed – High Court and lower appellate court judgments set aside – Judgment and decree of trial court restored – Item No. 1 of Schedule No. 8 under Exhibit A1 deemed testamentary in character, not available for partition during executants' lifetime [Paras 31].

Evidence Act – Test Identification Parade (TIP) – Failure to hold TIP not fatal to prosecution's case – Court must be cautious when accepting in-court identification if accused is a stranger to the witness – Substantive evidence of accused's involvement can suffice without TIP if other corroborative evidence exists – TIP should be conducted early to prevent memory fade [Paras 19-29].

Penal Code – Conviction for Murder and Dacoity – Conviction under Sections 302 and 397 IPC upheld based on credible witness testimony and corroborative evidence – Identification by child witness (victim) accepted due to absence of meaningful cross-examination – Recovery of stolen items further supported conviction [Paras 30-32].

House Trespass Intent – Section 449 IPC – House trespass was for the purpose of committing robbery, not for committing an offense punishable with death – Conviction under Section 449 IPC not sustainable – Conviction for Sections 302 and 397 IPC affirmed, conviction under Section 449 IPC set aside [Paras 32-33].

Decision: Appeal partly allowed – Conviction under Section 449 IPC set aside – Convictions under Sections 302 and 397 IPC upheld – Appellant's sentence for Sections 302 and 397 IPC affirmed [Paras 33].