'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...

PMLA | Assets From Unknown Sources Can't Be Presumed To Be Derived From Scheduled Offence Constituting 'Proceeds Of Crime': Allahabad High Court

The Allahabad High Court has held that assets derived from unknown sources of income cannot presumed to be from scheduled offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.“A person may have assets derived from unknown source of income, however, that by itself cannot be presumed that the aforesaid assets are derived from schedule offence,” held Justice Vikram D. Chauhan...

Cyber Fraud | Rajasthan High Court Directs Recovery Of Investigation Cost From Complainant, Says His 'Greed' Led To The Crime

While rejecting bail in an alleged cyber crime case, the Rajasthan High Court observed that the crime was a result of complainant's greed and directed the Superintendent of Police to recover the cost of the investigation in the case from the complainant. The bench of Justice Ravi Chirania opined that the reason behind successful commission of most of the cyber crimes was people's greed to...

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...

S.313 CrPC | Viscera Report Not Put To Accused Cannot Be Relied Upon: Allahabad High Court Sets Aside 1989 Murder Conviction

The Allahabad High Court has categorically ruled that a viscera report cannot be relied upon to secure a conviction if the report was never specifically put before the accused during their examination under Section 313 CrPC. A Bench of Justice Siddhartha Varma and Justice Jai Krishna Upadhyay clarified that merely questioning an accused with regard to poison being administered to...

S.163A MV Act | Legal Heirs Can Claim Compensation Even If Deceased Driver Was Negligent: AP High Court

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has held that the negligence of a deceased driver does not bar his legal heirs from claiming compensation under Section 163-A of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 observing that the provision is a beneficial legislation under which proof of negligence is not relevant. [2026 LiveLaw (AP) 111]Justice Venkateswarlu Nimmagadda allowed an appeal filed by the deceased...

Bhang Doesn't Fall Within Definition Of 'Cannabis (Hemp)' Under NDPS Act: Jharkhand High Court

The Jharkhand High Court has held that possession of bhang does not constitute an offence under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, as it is excluded from the statutory definition of “cannabis (hemp)” under Section 2(iii) of the Act. Setting aside the conviction of the appellant under the NDPS Act, the Court held that once the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL)...

Homestay Owner Where US National Was Allegedly Raped Moves Karnataka High Court To Quash Chargesheet Filed Under Repealed Foreigners Act

The owner of a Kodagu Homestay, where a 33-year-old US national was allegedly drugged and raped, moved the Karnataka High Court on Friday (July 3) seeking quashing of a new chargesheet against him which includes offences under the repealed Foreigner's Act, 1946. For context, the petitioner had moved the high court in a separate plea seeking quashing of a rape FIR; after hearing the matter...

S. 362 CrPC No Bar To Altering Bail Conditions: Allahabad High Court Revokes 'Onerous' ₹64 Lakh Deposit Condition After 12 Yrs

The Allahabad High Court has ruled that the statutory bar under Section 362 CrPC (Court not to alter judgment) does not apply to the modification or relaxation of conditions imposed in a bail order. "…an order granting bail is a merely an interlocutory order and it would not fall withing the scope and ambit of the phrase 'a judgment or final order disposing of a case' used in...

'Prima Facie Key Conspirator Of Money Laundering': Gujarat High Court Denies Bail To IAS Officer In Alleged Land Conversion Bribery Case

The Gujarat High Court refused bail to an IAS officer accused of illegal gratification in lieu of approving land conversion applications when he was Surendranagar's Collector, remarking that today government officials and highly placed persons are also indulging in corruption leading to economic unrest adversely affecting the progress of the country. [2026 LiveLaw (Guj) 185]The court...

POCSO Act Prevails Over Personal Law: Allahabad High Court Refuses To Quash FIR Over 'Repeated Rape' Under Guise Of Nikah Halala

The Allahabad High Court on Thursday refused to quash an FIR lodged against 9 persons accused of raping the informant when she was a minor during a 2016 'nikah halala', and later subjecting her to gang rape as an adult during a second, 'double' halala in 2025.In its 19-page judgment, a bench of Justice JJ Munir and Justice Tarun Saxena categorically stated that "when it comes to criminal...