Shuhaib Murder Case: Kerala High Court Refuses To Transfer Trial, Directs Court To Ensure Accused Get Full Opportunity To Cross-Examine Witnesses

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday (September 29) dismissed the transfer petition filed by the accused persons in the Shuhaib murder case seeking to transfer the trial from Additional Sessions Judge-III, Thalassery to another competent court. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 534]Youth Congress activist Shuhaib was hacked to death allegedly by CPI(M) workers in Mattanur in Kannur district on February 12,...

Potency Test Can't Be Ordered Routinely In Rape Case Alleging Digital Penetration: Telangana High Court

The Telangana High Court has set aside an order directing an accused to undergo a potency test in a rape investigation, holding that the prosecution had not explained how the test would assist its case when the allegation concerned digital penetration. [2026 LiveLaw (Tel) 158]Justice J. Sreenivas Rao held that the seriousness of an allegation and the investigating agency's power to...

'Afterthought': Karnataka High Court Quashes POCSO FIR Against Father, Notes Complaint Filed Days After Wife's Custody Plea Rejected

The Karnataka High Court has quashed criminal proceedings against a man accused by his estranged wife of sexually assaulting their minor daughter, holding that the complaint was a “classic example of afterthought and for personal vengeance against the husband.” Justice H.P. Sandesh noted that the criminal complaint under the POCSO Act was filed only after the wife's application...

Mother-In-Law Not Liable To Maintain Widowed Daughter-In-Law, Her Children Under Section 125 CrPC: Telangana High Court

The Telangana High Court has quashed maintenance proceedings against a mother-in-law, holding that Section 125 CrPC does not make her liable to maintain either her widowed daughter-in-law or her deceased son's children. [2026 LiveLaw (Tel) 157]Her financial means or alleged possession of the deceased's assets could not create a liability absent from the provision, the Court said.Justice...

Bombay High Court Denies Bail To Man Accused Of Assaulting 6-Year-Old Neighbour, Says Trust Reposed In Him Was 'Completely Eroded'

The Bombay High Court recently while denying bail to a man booked for sexually assaulting a minor girl from his neighbourhood, observed that granting him bail would send a wrong message to the society at large as he has decimated the sanctity of the pure relationship between neighbourhood uncle and a minor girl, who are like a father and daughter. Single-judge Justice Milind Jadhav expressed...

Kerala High Court Grants Anticipatory Bail To YouTuber Thoppi, Says No Obscene Or Sexually Coloured Remarks Directly Made By Him

The Kerala High Court on Monday (September 28) granted anticipatory bail to controversial Malayalam gamer/Youtuber Toppi, officially known as Muhammed Nihad, who is booked for allegedly live-streaming obscene remarks about a young woman on streaming platforms. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 533]Dr. Justice Kauser Edappagath observed that there were no obscene words or sexually coloured remarks spoken...

Suo Motu Case On Delhi Rapes | Supreme Court Issues Directions To Make Public Spaces Safer; Orders Safety Audit Within 4 Weeks

The Court sought the data on Fast Track Courts from the Delhi High Court Registrar General

Internal Committee's Closure Report Not Enough To Close Sexual Harassment FIR: Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court has held that an Internal Committee's report following an inquiry into a sexual harassment complaint cannot, by itself, result in the closure of a criminal case involving a cognizable offence.Justice V Srishananda observed that since the offence under Section 354A of the Indian Penal Code is cognizable, the Internal Committee's proceedings and report would not...

Mere Knowledge Of Where Stolen Articles Were Kept Can't Sustain Prosecution Without Material Linking Accused To Theft: Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court has held that mere knowledge of where valuable articles are kept, coupled with general suspicion, cannot form the basis of a criminal prosecution for theft, while quashing an FIR registered against a man under Section 305 BNS.Justice Suraj Govindaraj observed that when different complaints made by family members disclose materially contradictory versions...

Filing Numerous Proceedings Against Someone As Per Law Can't Invite Prosecution For Suicide Abetment: Bombay High Court

A complainant filing number of proceedings as per law against someone cannot be booked under section 306 of the Indian Penal Code which penalises abetment to suicide only because the proposed accused, later on commits suicide, held the Bombay High Court recently while observing that if such a complaint in such circumstances is prosecuted, people involved in criminal activities will never...

Preventive Detention | Not Informing Detenu Of Right To Represent To Central Govt Violates Article 22(5) Safeguard: Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court has held that the failure to inform a detenu of their right to make a representation to the Central Government under Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act 1988 seeking revocation of detention order, violates safeguard under Article 22(5) of the Constitution of India. A Division Bench of Justice M. Nagaprasanna and Justice...

Karnataka High Court Quashes FIR Against YouTuber Drone Prathap Over 'Pond Explosion' Experiment, Says No 'Malicious Intent'

The Karnataka High Court has quashed an FIR registered against a science educator and YouTuber, Pratap N M, who runs the channel 'Drone Prathap', over a video demonstrating the reaction of sodium with water. [2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 382]The single judge bench of Justice Suraj Govindaraj opined that though it does not endorse the manner in which the experiment was conducted, the act was 'educative'...