Karuvatta Murder Case: Kerala High Court Upholds JJB Order Allowing Escorted Movement Of Minors For Evidence Collection

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday (September 15) upheld the order of the Juvenile Justice Board, Alappuzha that allowed the escorted movement of the children in conflict with law (CCLs) for evidence collection in the Karuvatta murder case. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 505]The case refers to the murder of a 67-year-old man on August 17, 2026 allegedly by his 13-year-old granddaughter and three other...

MACT | Pay Protection No Bar To Compensation For Loss Of Future Income If Post Is Reduced Following Accident: Karnataka High Court

The Kalaburagi Bench of the Karnataka High Court has held that a Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) cannot deny compensation under the head of loss of future income merely because the claimant's salary has been protected pursuant to being assigned a lower position/reduction in post after a road accident. The court said that reliance on pay protection benefit without examining the loss...

Witness Protection In UAPA Cases Can't Be Prosecution's Sword To Curtail Right Of Cross-Examination: Madras High Court Issues Directions

The Madras High Court recently held that the provision of witness protection under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act is aimed at protecting the witness from any threat and should not be used as a sword in the prosecution's hand to curtail the accused's right to cross-examination. The bench of Justice Anita Sumanth and Justice Sunder Mohan added that whenever the prosecution files...

Bombay High Court Quashes Process Against TV9 Managing Directors For Allegedly Defaming Mumbai Police Officer

The Bombay High Court recently quashed the process issued against the Directors of TV9 News Channel named in a defamation case filed by a Mumbai Police Officer over a video aired on their channel, wherein the said officer was allegedly assaulted by another man and a woman in a public place. Single-judge Justice Ranjitsinha Bhonsale noted the case of the complainant - Rajesh Sawane that while...

NDPS Conviction Can't Be Recorded Mechanically On Guilty Plea: Manipur High Court Criticises 'One & Half Line' Conviction Order

The Manipur High Court has set aside an NDPS conviction after finding that the Special Court failed to properly exercise the discretion vested in it under Section 229 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 while convicting the accused on her plea of guilty. The Court observed that the conviction order was merely “one and half line”, indicating that the trial Judge had not undertaken...

High Rich Ponzi Case: Kerala High Court Directs Special Court To Reconsider Prime Accused's Bail After ED Challenge

The Kerala High Court in a recent order, directed the Special Court for PMLA cases, Ernakulam to consider afresh the bail application of K.D. Prathapan, the prime accused in the High Rich Pozhi Scheme case, while considering a plea preferred by the Directorate of Enforcement to cancel the bail granted. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 500]Justice C.S. Dias directed the Special Court to reconsider...

'Substratum Of Dispute No Longer Exists': Rajasthan High Court Quashes Rape, POCSO FIR After Marriage Between Parties

The Rajasthan High Court has allowed quashing of an FIR for the offence of rape and under POCSO Act, on the ground of compromise reached between parties, taking into account the past cordial relationship between them as well as their marriage and consequentially bleak chances of successful prosecution. The bench of Justice Anil Kumar Upman opined that it was highly unlikely that the victim...

Madras High Court Quashes Cruelty Case Against Man Accused Of Pelting Stone At Dog That Bit Him, Finds No Evidence Indicating Dog Was Injured

The Madras High Court recently quashed a criminal case lodged against a man who was accused of pelting stones at a dog that bit him. [2026 LiveLaw (Mad) 443] Justice GK Ilanthiraiyan noted that though the man was accused of pelting stones, there was "no evidence" to show that the dog had suffered injury. On the other hand, the man had lodged a complaint to substantiate that he was...

Part-Heard Criminal Trial Can Be Transferred; Accused Cannot Insist On Same Judge Continuing Case: Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court has held that a part-heard criminal trial which has not crossed stage of examination of accused, final arguments nor has been reserved for judgment can be transferred to another court and in such circumstances accused cannot insist upon the same presiding officer to continue hearing his case. Referring to judgments, Justice M. Nagaprasanna said that in the...

Karnataka High Court Quashes Cheating FIR Against Accused In Ambidant Investment 'Scam', Refuses To Quash ED Summons In PMLA Case

The Karnataka High Court has recently quashed a cheating FIR against realtor-businessman Vijay Tata, booked in the Ambidant Marketing investment "scam"–a company accused of cheating its customers of their money, holding that there was no incriminating material against him except inadmissible confession statements of co-accused. [2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 347]For context, in 2018, a case was...

Know The Law | When Can Court Convict A Person For A Charge Not Framed? Supreme Court Explains

The Supreme Court has held that an accused charged with one category of offences can be convicted for uncharged offence by the Appellate or Revisional Courts', provided such offences are cognate or minor, and no failure of justice has been occasioned to the accused. “…in view of Section 464 of the Cr.PC, it is possible for the Appellate Court or Revisional Court to convict an accused...

Single Grave Act Can Constitute 'Cruelty' Under S. 498A IPC, Series Of Acts Not Necessary: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court recently held that a single grave act of cruelty can constitute the offence under Section 498A IPC and that a series of acts are not necessary. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 497]Justice Jobin Sebastian observed:“not every instance of harassment, disagreement, or ill-treatment between spouses would, by itself, constitute “cruelty” within the meaning of Section 498A of...