Non-Disclosure Of Marital Status Without Deception Or Dishonest Inducement Not Cheating U/S 420 IPC: Chhattisgarh High Court

The Chhattisgarh High Court has held that mere allegations of non-disclosure of a material fact relating to matrimonial status, without the necessary ingredients of deception and dishonest inducement, do not constitute cheating under Section 420 IPC. The Court observed that where the essential ingredients of the offences alleged are not made out, continuation of criminal proceedings would...

Chhattisgarh High Court Quashes FIR Against Two Booked For Sharing Online Cartoon On Governor After Unconditional Apology

The Chhattisgarh High Court recently quashed an FIR against two men booked for sharing a Facebook cartoon-styled post on the Governor of the State, after noting that the petitioners had filed an unconditional apology and had undertaken to remove the post as well as never repeat such conduct. [2026 LiveLaw (Chh) 114]The petitioners had approached the high court seeking quashing of an FIR...

FIR Against Farmers Protesting Bidadi Land Acquisition 'Shrouded With Suspicion': Karnataka High Court Stays Probe

The Karnataka High Court on Monday (August 24) stayed all further investigation in a case registered against six farmers who allegedly protested against land acquisition survey operations in Bidadi, Ramanagara district, observing that the registration of the crime was “shrouded with suspicion.”Justice M. Nagaprasanna was hearing a petition filed by six farmers from Mandalahalli,...

'Disheartening': Allahabad High Court Laments Lapses In POCSO Case As 8 Y/O Victim Shuttled Between Hospitals, Evidence Mishandled

The Allahabad High Court (Lucknow Bench) last week expressed serious concern over multiple lapses in the medical examination and preservation of forensic evidence concerning an 8-year-old POCSO victim. The Court described the situation as "deeply disheartening" as it remarked that the lapses represented a “serious failure” in handling vital evidence involving a minor victim. The...

Presumption Of Innocence Not Lost Under POCSO Act: Patna High Court Acquits Man Sentenced To 20 Years

The Patna High Court has acquitted a man sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, holding that the presumptions under Sections 29 and 30 of the Act cannot sustain a conviction when the prosecution has failed to establish the basic foundational facts of the offence.A Division Bench of Justice Rajeev Ranjan Prasad and Justice Ramesh...

“Should Have Been Some Injuries If Five Accused Had Committed Rape”: Patna High Court Acquits Four, Sets Aside 22-Yr-Old's Conviction

The Patna High Court has acquitted four men convicted of gang rape, observing that if five accused had committed rape upon the victim one after another, there should have been some injuries on her body.A Single Judge Bench of Justice G. Anupama Chakravarthy set aside the 2004 conviction after finding that the medical evidence did not corroborate the oral testimony and that there were...

S.73(e) Of Bihar Excise Act Is Not Mandatory, Uses 'May' Instead Of 'Shall': Patna High Court Declines To Interfere In Liquour Seizure

The Patna High Court has held that Section 73(e) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016 is not mandatory, noting that the legislature has used the word “may” and not “shall” in the provision.A Single Judge Bench of Justice Praveen Kumar made the observation while refusing to interfere with an order taking cognizance against a man for offences under Section 273 of the Indian...

'Protectors Have Become Violators': HP High Court Upholds Dismissal Of Police Constables Convicted Under NDPS Act

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has upheld the dismissal of two police constables convicted of offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS Act), observing that the involvement of police personnel in NDPS offences was a serious matter. The Court held that, in the circumstances of the case, the dismissal of the constables was neither grossly excessive...

Accused On Interim Bail Cannot Be Arrested Merely Because New Offences Are Added: Allahabad High Court Orders Inquiry Against Cop

The Allahabad High Court has observed that an accused who is already on interim bail in a case cannot be arrested merely because additional offences have been added during the course of investigation, without the police first approaching the concerned court for appropriate orders. A Bench of Justice Samit Gopal termed the arrest of an accused, while on interim bail, booked under...

Rajasthan High Court Issues Guidelines To Combat Blanket Freezing Of Bank Accounts In Cyber Crime Cases

The Rajasthan High Court has recently issued comprehensive guidelines for investigative agencies, banks and other authorities to combat "indiscriminate" freezing of bank accounts in cyber crime cases with the object of not only ensuring effective investigation but also protect "innocent citizens". Justice Anand Sharma was dealing with a batch of 105 petitions wherein petitioners had...

'Child Witness Testimony Not Convincing' : Supreme Court Sets Aside Murder Conviction

The Supreme Court on Thursday (August 20) overturned the murder conviction of a man accused of killing his wife and child, after finding that the child witness testimony relied upon by the trial court was suspect to tutoring and unsupported by any corroborating material.A bench of Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Augustine George Masih set aside the Madhya Pradesh High Court's judgment which...

POCSO Misuse | Allahabad High Court Flags Use Of Forged School Certificates To Show Victims As Minors, Seeks UP Govt Guidelines

The Allahabad High Court recently flagged what it described as the "clear misuse of the POCSO Act" by the parents of the victims who submit forged school certificates to show the victims as below 18 years of age.The Court noted that this practice results in the false implication of several young boys who find it difficult to obtain bail and are easily convicted in view of the presumption...