Magistrate Cannot Revert To Pre-Cognizance Stage And Invoke S.156(3) Cr.P.C. Once Inquiry Is Taken Up U/ S 202: Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court has held that once a Magistrate takes cognizance of a complaint and proceeds under Chapter XV of the Cr.P.C., the Magistrate cannot revert to the pre-cognizance stage and invoke Section 156(3) to direct police investigation. The Court observed that the Magistrate's order directing investigation under Section 156(3) after calling for a report under Section 202 was contrary...

Vadakara MDMA Case: Kerala High Court Grants Bail To Two Teachers Booked Under NDPS Act

The Kerala High Court granted bail to two teachers, Kavya K. and Keerthana K.C., who were arrested in the Vadakara MDMA case. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 523]The case relates to the drug trafficking case, involving school teachers and special educators as financial intermediaries.Dr. Justice Kauser Edappagath today granted bail to third accused Kavya, who was arrested on July 25. The judge had,...

Delay In Re-Submitting Final Report After Curing Formal Defects Not Ground For Default Bail: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has held that default bail cannot be granted merely because there was delay in re-submitting the final report, which was submitted within the statutory period and returned only for curing formal defects. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 521]Dr. Justice Kauser Edappagath reasoned:“Where a final report is returned only for curing formal defects, the permission granted is to rectify...

Kerala High Court Grants Bail To Reporter TV MD Anto Augustine Arrested In Alcohol Possession Case

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday (September 22) granted regular bail to Reporter TV Managing Director Anto Augustine, who is booked in an excise case for illegal possession of large quantities of alcohol in his residence in Wayanad. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 519]Dr. Justice Kauser Edappagath noted that recovery was effected in the case already and that Augustine was also handed over to...

Karnataka High Court Mandates Admitting, Marking Of Undisputed Documents Under S.330(3) BNSS To Ensure Speedy Trial

The Karnataka High Court has mandated all the trial courts in the State to adhere to Section 330 BNSS, corresponding to Section 294(3) CrPC, to ensure the fundamental right to a speedy trial. Under Section 330(3) of the BNSS, if the genuineness of a document is undisputed, it can be admitted as evidence in any inquiry, trial or other proceeding under BNSS without formally proving the signature...

Police Statement That 'Sufficient Material Exists To File Chargesheet' Doesn't Mean Default Bail Can Be Granted : Supreme Court

A prosecution's statement in an extension application that sufficient material exists to file a charge sheet cannot be treated as an admission that the investigation is complete, the Court said.

S.144 BNSS | Disputed Marital Relationship Requires Evidence At Trial: Gauhati High Court Refuses To Quash Maintenance Proceedings

The Gauhati High Court has held that maintenance proceedings cannot be quashed where the nature of the alleged marital relationship between the parties requires determination through evidence at trial.Justice Sanjeev Kumar Sharma observed, "Although the contradictory statements of the respondent made in different proceedings as to the dates and places of marriage do create some doubt...

Cognizance Orders Cannot Be Passed Mechanically By Filling Blanks On Printed Proforma: Patna High Court Flags Lack Of Application Of Mind

The Patna High Court has held that judicial orders cannot be passed mechanically by filling in blanks on a printed proforma, observing that even an order taking cognizance must reflect application of judicial mind.A Single Judge Bench of Justice Chandra Shekhar Jha was hearing a petition challenging the order dated 12.06.2018 passed by the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Benipatti,...

Tripura High Court Upholds Interim Maintenance To Wife, Says Man Cannot Benefit From Suppressing Existing Marriage

The Tripura High Court has upheld an order granting ₹15,000 per month as interim maintenance to a woman who alleged that the man had represented himself as divorced and subsequently married her. The Court, while noting that the issue of marriage was yet to be finally determined by the Family Court, observed prima facie that the parties had maintained a marital relationship for a...

S.173 BNSS Mandates FIR Registration When Cognizable Offence Disclosed, Even If Allegations Are Against Police: Tripura High Court

The Tripura High Court has held that Section 173 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS) mandates registration of an FIR where a complaint discloses cognizable offences, even when the allegations are directed against police personnel. The court made the observation while directing registration of a complaint alleging misappropriation of gold ornaments and gold bars following...

Bombay High Court Quashes Food Safety Case Against Britannia Dairy Over Allegedly Unsafe Cheese Cubes

The Bombay High Court has quashed criminal proceedings against Britannia Dairy Private Limited over allegations concerning unsafe Britannia Cheese Cubes, holding that the company was denied statutory safeguards under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The Court observed that the delay in issuing notice, non-supply of the laboratory testing report and consequent deprivation of...

S. 180 BNSS | Allahabad High Court Asks DGP To Make Audio-Video Recording Of Witness Statements Mandatory For IOs

The Allahabad High Court has directed the Director General of Police (DGP), Uttar Pradesh, to consider making audio-video recording of statements recorded under Section 180 BNSS 'mandatory', observing that such a step would make criminal investigations more transparent and fair. A bench of Justice Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal passed the direction while dealing with a bail application filed by...