Gujarat High Court Quashes Abetment Of Suicide FIR, Says Accused Lodging Land Grab Case Against Deceased Not Enough To Invoke Offence

The Gujarat High Court quashed an FIR against a man accused of abetting complainant's suicide against whom the former had lodged a land grab case, observing merely lodging of land grabbing complaint does not mean that it was intended to compel the deceased to commit suicide as the petitioner was only invoking legal right. [2026 LiveLaw (Guj) 175]The petitioner had sought quashing of an FIR...

17-Yr-Old Victim Had 'Worldly Knowledge Of Consequences': Karnataka High Court Grants Bail In POCSO Case, Notes She Married Accused

The Karnataka High Court has granted bail to a 28-year-old man accused of marrying a 17-year-old girl and indulging in sexual relations with her on the ground that the girl had worldly knowledge about the consequences of her actions. [2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 217]The single judge bench of Justice S. Vishwajith Shetty noted in the order that the accused and the survivor were in love and got married at...

'Medical Evidence Alone Can't Prove Authorship Of Crime': Orissa High Court Acquits Man In 2002 Witchcraft Murder

The Orissa High Court on Tuesday (June 23) acquitted a man who was convicted by a Sessions Court in 2003 for committing murder of a person suspecting him to be practising witchcraft.Finding lack of evidence against the appellant/convict and significant gaps in the prosecution case, the Bench of Justice Manash Ranjan Pathak and Justice Sashikanta Mishra held–“Defence has not disputed...

Rajasthan High Court Grants Bail To Cyber Fraud Accused Subject To Disclosure Of Crypto Holdings, Digital Wallets

While granting bail in a cyber-fraud case, Rajasthan High Court prohibited the applicants from obtaining/using any new SIM, phone; opening new bank account; or creating any social medial account, domain name or website without prior intimation to the Investigating Officer. The bench of Justice Ravi Chirania further directed the accused persons against using any VPN, TOR Browser, Proxy Server...

Absconding Accused Declared As 'Proclaimed Offender' Cannot Maintain Quashing Petition Through Power Of Attorney: Uttarakhand High Court

The Uttarakhand High Court has held that an accused who has been declared a proclaimed offender and against whom a lookout circular has been issued cannot maintain a petition under Section 482 CrPC through a power of attorney holder. The Court observed that it would not exercise its extraordinary or inherent jurisdiction in favour of an individual who is intentionally evading the process of...

Preventive Detention Under PITNDPS Act Cannot Be Invoked Without Explaining Why S.129 BNSS Proceedings Are Insufficient: J&K&L High Court

The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has held that where a person is already facing preventive proceedings under Section 129 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), the detaining authority must specifically record compelling reasons demonstrating why those proceedings are inadequate to prevent the individual from engaging in activities prejudicial to public order...

Absence Of Sperm On Seized Pants Does Not Make Rape Victim's Statement Unreliable: J&K&L High Court Cancels Bail

The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has held that merely because no sperm was detected on the seized trousers of the victim in a rape case, her statement would not be rendered unreliable if it is otherwise of sterling quality.The Court further observed that at the stage of considering a bail application, a trial court cannot undertake a meticulous analysis of evidence or discard...

AP High Court Transfers Cheque Bounce Case For 'Convenience' Of Female Accused

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has transferred a cheque bounce case instituted against a woman from Sullurpet to Nellore, observing that convenience of parties specially of woman litigants is a relevant factor which must be taken into account while considering transfer petitions. [2026 LiveLaw (AP) 106]Justice Venkata Jyothirmai Pratapa allowed a criminal revision petition filed by a woman...

AP High Court Quashes Cruelty FIR Against Husband, Says Same Evidence That Led To In-Laws' Acquittal Can't Subject Him To Ordeal Of Trial

The Andhra Pradesh High Court quashed a cruelty and dowry demand case against husband, observing that the prosecution evidence had already been disbelieved during the trial of his parents who were acquitted of the same allegations and thus compelling the husband to undergo a separate trial would amount to waste of Court's time. [2026 LiveLaw (AP) 105]Justice K. Sreenivasa Reddy allowed...

Attachment Of Accused's Property U/S 107 BNSS Requires Strict Judicial Scrutiny, Cannot Be Recovery Mechanism: Calcutta High Court

The Calcutta High Court has set aside an order attaching properties belonging to a woman who was not even named as an accused in a criminal case, while issuing significant guidelines on the exercise of powers under Section 107 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS).Justice Ajoy Kumar Mukherjee observed that indiscriminate use of the power to attach property under Section 107...

Renukaswamy Murder Case: Karnataka High Court To Decide Whether Prosecution Can Cross-Examine Own Witness Without Declaring Her Hostile

The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday (June 24) orally remarked that it will consider whether clarificatory questions which are leading in nature can be asked to a prosecution witness in Renuka Swamy murder case, without declaring the witness hostile. The court was hearing State's petition challenging a trial court order that rejected its request to cross-examine a prosecution witness [mother...

Long Lapse Of Time Without Similar Criminal Conduct Relevant While Moulding Sentence: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Tuesday (June 23) reduced the sentence of a convict, who had been awarded five years' rigorous imprisonment for each of four offences, noting that there was no material on record to indicate his involvement in any similar criminal activity during the long intervening period. “The long lapse of time without any material indicating repetition of similar criminal conduct...