Cannot Ignore Steps By Accused To Save Himself From False Allegations Before Lodging Of FIR: Chhattisgarh High Court Quashes Rape Conviction

The Chhattisgarh High Court has set aside the conviction of a man for offences under Sections 376(1) and 506 Part II IPC, holding that the trial court failed to appreciate material evidence produced by the defence, including a complaint and legal notice issued by the accused prior to the lodging of the rape FIR. The Court observed that such legal steps taken by the accused to protect himself...

US Tourist Rape Case: Karnataka High Court Stays Proceedings Against Kodagu Homestay Owner Booked Under Repealed Foreigners Act

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday (July 7) granted an interim stay on all proceedings against the owner of a Kodagu homestay, charge sheeted for offences under the now-repealed Foreigners Act 1946, in connection with the alleged rape of US national at his premises. The single judge bench of Justice M. Nagaprasanna passed the interim order and directed that the complainant-victim who is now...

Gujarat High Court Grants Bail To Man Booked For Extorting Complainant With AI-Generated 'Defamatory Videos'

The Gujarat High Court has granted bail to a man booked for extorting the complainant by threatening of creating defamatory videos against him using Artificial Intelligence. [2026 LiveLaw (Guj) 189]It was alleged that the applicant and the co-accused persons entered into a criminal conspiracy, collected confidential information relating to the complainant and the witness, and by using...

2008 Ahmedabad Serial Blasts: Gujarat High Court Upholds Death Sentence For 38, Life Imprisonment For 11 Convicts

The Gujarat High Court on Tuesday (July 7) upheld a 2022 Special Court order awarding death sentence to 38 and life imprisonment to 11 convicts in the 2008 Ahmedabad Serial Blast Case, which claimed 56 lives, PTI reported.A detailed copy of the order is awaited. The high court had in 2022 issued notice on the State's plea to confirm their death sentence. The special court had in 2022 sentenced...

S. 323 IPC | Merely Because Parties Were Enemies, Injured Witness's Testimony Can't Be Discarded: Patna High Court

The Patna High Court has held that prior enmity between parties, by itself, cannot be a ground to discard the prosecution case, particularly where the same also furnishes a plausible motive for the occurrence. Observing that the prosecution had proved the offence of voluntarily causing hurt despite failing to establish charges of attempt to murder and robbery, the Court upheld the conviction...

Addressing Panchayat Secy As 'Tum-Tam' Or 'Mere-Tere' Is Not Instigation To Commit Suicide: Jharkhand High Court Quashes FIR Against BDO

The Jharkhand High Court has quashed criminal proceedings against a Block Development Officer accused of abetting the suicide of a Panchayat Secretary, holding that merely addressing the deceased as “tum-tam” or “mere-tere” does not constitute instigation to commit suicide. The Court observed that even if the allegations in the FIR were accepted in their entirety, they failed to...

Adultery No Longer A Crime: Jharkhand High Court Quashes Constable's Dismissal Over Alleged Adulterous Relationship

The Jharkhand High Court has quashed the dismissal of a Jharkhand Armed Police constable over an alleged adulterous relationship, observing that adultery is no longer a criminal offence in view of the Supreme Court's decision in Joseph Shine v. Union of India. The Court further held that the disciplinary authority had dismissed the constable on a ground that was never part of the...

Telangana High Court Quashes FIRs Against CM Revanth Reddy For Obstructing Traffic For Road Shows During 2019 By-Polls

The Telangana High Court has quashed FIRs lodged against Chief Minister Revanth Reddy for obstructing traffic and causing inconvenience while conducting road-shows at different locations as part of his campaign for the 2019 Huzurnagar by-elections. [2026 LiveLaw (Tel) 97]The CM was booked under IPC Sections 341(wrongful restraint) and 188(Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public...

Sessions Court 'Prima Facie' Exceeded Bail Jurisdiction By Directing Executive Action On Alleged Land Grabbing, Mob Violence: Gujarat High Court

The Gujarat High Court has summoned the Law Officers branch, observing that the sessions court had "prima facie exceeded its jurisdiction" under S.483 BNSS which relates to bail, by referring its order to various state authorities for implementation of Supreme Court's directions in mob lynching cases. [2026 LiveLaw (Guj) 186]Notably the sessions court had denied bail to three accused...

'Classic Example Of Improper, Lackadaisical Investigation': Patna High Court Acquits Murder Convict, Orders Probe Against Investigating Officer

The Patna High Court has acquitted a man convicted of murder, describing the case as a “classic example of improper, lackadaisical, and indifferent investigation” and directing an inquiry against the Investigating Officer for serious lapses in the investigation. The Court observed that the investigation suffered from glaring deficiencies, including failure to establish ownership of...

Jharkhand High Court Quashes Criminal Proceedings Against Hemant Soren Over 2014 Poll Speech

The Jharkhand High Court has quashed criminal proceedings against Chief Minister Hemant Soren arising out of his 2014 election campaign speech, holding that his remarks regarding the proposed amendment of the Chotanagpur Tenancy (CNT) Act, Santhal Parganas Tenancy (SPT) Act and labour laws did not constitute an offence under Section 125 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. A...

S.498A IPC | Scolding Daughter-In-Law For Placing Food Pot On Ground Is Not Cruelty: Jharkhand High Court

The Jharkhand High Court has set aside the conviction of a mother-in-law under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code, holding that the prosecution failed to establish the statutory ingredients of cruelty where the allegation against her was limited to abusing her daughter-in-law after she placed a pot of treacle on the ground. Allowing the appeal, the Court held that the trial court had erred...