Madras High Court Directs Two Police Officers To Pay ₹1 Lakh Each For Failing To Register Dowry FIR

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed two police personnel— an Inspector and a Sub Inspector, of an All Women Police Station to pay Rs. 1,00,000 each as compensation to the father of woman, for closing a dowry complaint without registering an FIR despite disclosure of cognizable offence. [2026 LiveLaw (Mad) 338]“The lapse committed by respondents 2 and 3 [police...

Criminal Liability Can't Be Imposed On Directors Solely Due To Designation: Chhattisgarh High Court Grants Bail In CSMCL Corruption Case

The Chhattisgarh High Court has granted regular bail to two Directors of a manpower supply company arraigned in the Chhattisgarh State Marketing Corporation Limited (CSMCL) corruption case, holding that criminal liability cannot be fastened upon a person merely because of his designation as a Director. The Court observed that, unless a statute specifically creates vicarious criminal liability...

Continuous Stalking & Death Threats For Refusing Marriage Constitute Instigation For Suicide: Chhattisgarh High Court

The Chhattisgarh High Court has held that continuous stalking, harassment, pressure to marry, and repeated death threats for refusing marriage constitute a "positive act" of instigation capable of attracting the offence of abetment of suicide under Section 306 IPC. The Court observed that the conduct of the accused clearly demonstrated a continuous course of conduct constituting...

S.48 BNSS Doesn't Mandate Written Intimation Of Arrest To Relatives, Intimation Through Phone Call/ SMS Valid: Madras High Court

The Madras High Court recently held that section 48 of the BNSS does not mandate that the intimation of arrest be given in writing to the relatives of the arrested persons. The court held that an intimation through phone call or SMS is a valid intimation. [2026 LiveLaw (Mad) 337] Justice R Vijayakumar thus refused to interfere with the remand of four persons arrested in an NDPS case on...

Consent Of Minor Immaterial In Kidnapping Cases; Removal Without Guardians' Consent Attracts Offence: Calcutta High Court

The Calcutta High Court has held that the consent of a minor is legally irrelevant in offences of kidnapping and trafficking, observing that a 17-year-old girl remains under the lawful guardianship of her parents and her removal without their consent constitutes the offences of kidnapping and abduction. The Court further found that the accused exercised deceitful control over the victim...

'Best Left Ignored': Kerala High Court Refuses Contempt Action Against Lawyer Who Said Judge Made Unnecessary Comments For Popularity

The Kerala High Court recently refused to take contempt action against a lawyer, who participated in a channel discussion and said that a judge made unnecessary comments to attract media attention and to become popular. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 396]The Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and Justice K.V. Jayakumar observed:“On going through the objectionable statement, what we find...

Prosecution Can't Continue If Drug Inspector's Delay Defeats Accused's Right To Re-Test Sample: J&K&L High Court

The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has held that where the acts and omissions of a Drugs Inspector deprive an accused of the valuable statutory right to seek re-testing of a drug sample and adduce evidence in controversion of the Government Analyst's report under Section 25(3) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, continuation of the prosecution would amount to an abuse of...

Revision Court Cannot Direct Trial Court To Take Cognizance Against Accused: Rajasthan High Court

The Rajasthan High Court has held that a Court exercising revisional jurisdiction cannot direct the Trial Court to take cognizance under Section 398 CrPC, as it merely empowers courts to order further inquiry.The bench of Justice Anoop Kumar Dhand set aside the order directing the Trial Court to take cognizance for cruelty under Section 498A of IPC. The bench empahsized;"Revisional...

Gujarat High Court Quashes Defamation FIR Again Man Accused Of Forwarding 'Fake News' Clip On WhatsApp

The Gujarat High Court quashed a defamation FIR against a man who had allegedly forwarded a purportedly fake news cutting, noting that there was nothing on record to show that he had forged the news report in the first place with an intention to harm the reputation of the complainant. [2026 LiveLaw (Guj) 202]The court was hearing a plea seeking quashing of an FIR under various IPC...

Arrest Memo Can't Be Equated With Grounds Of Arrest: P&H High Court Grants Bail To Woman Booked In Heroin Smuggling Case

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has granted bail to a woman accused in an NDPS case involving the recovery of over 10 kilograms of heroin allegedly dropped by a drone from Pakistan, holding that her arrest appeared, prima facie, to have been effected without communicating the grounds of arrest to her or her nominated relative, as mandated under Article 22(1) of the Constitution and...

Police Must Strictly Comply With Arnesh Kumar Safeguards; Procedural Lapses Cannot Be Taken Lightly: Chhattisgarh High Court

The Chhattisgarh High Court has held that strict adherence to the safeguards governing arrest and remand, particularly the principles laid down by the Supreme Court in Arnesh Kumar v. State of Bihar, is of paramount importance and that procedural lapses by police officials cannot be treated casually. [2026 LiveLaw (Chh) 81]The Court observed that every police officer is under a...

Refusal Of Judicial Remand Doesn't Bar Further Investigation Or Taking Cognizance: Allahabad High Court

The Allahabad High Court has held that merely because judicial remand was earlier declined would not by itself preclude the Investigating Officer from conducting further investigation or prevent the court from independently considering the police report at the stage of taking cognizance.A bench of Justice Zafeer Ahmad made the observation while dismissing a criminal appeal challenging an order...