'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...

Modified Buses Causing Fatal Accidents, Authorities Must Strictly Enforce MV Act Norms Irrespective Of State Of Registration: Rajasthan High Court

The Rajasthan High Court has directed transport authorities to strictly enforce compliance with the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and the rules framed thereunder for all passenger buses plying in the State, irrespective of whether they are registered in Rajasthan or any other State. Observing that unauthorized modifications in buses have led to several fire incidents resulting in fatal accidents,...

Compliance With S.50 NDPS Act Mandatory Even If Accused Himself Produces Contraband From Pocket During Body Search: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has recently held that the compliance with Section 50 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act is mandatory even when the accused himself produces contraband from his pocket, during body search.For context, Section 50 of the NDPS Act deals with Conditions under which search of persons shall be conducted.According to the Section, when a duly...

Karnataka High Court Rejects ED's Bail Cancellation Plea Against Aishwarya Gowda Accused In Gold Investment Scam

The Karnataka High Court has last week dismissed a petition filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seeking cancellation of regular bail granted to Aishwarya Gowda, accused under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 for an alleged ₹15 crores Gold Investment Scam. [ 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 230]The single judge bench of Justice S. Vishwajith Shetty noted that the proviso to Section...

2016 Yogesh Goudar Murder Case: CBI Tells Karnataka High Court Dharwad Trial Was 'Hogwash', Witnesses Were Tutored By Ex-MLA Vinay Kulkarni

The CBI told the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday that former Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni, while challenging his conviction and life sentence in 2016 murder of BJP Zilla Panchayat member Yogesh Goudar, cannot rely on evidence placed before the Dharwad trial court as that trial was 'hogwash' in which witnesses were tutored by Kulkarni.The court was hearing application seeking suspension of...

Vehicle Cannot Be Confiscated Under Excise Act Before Authority Verifies Excess Quantity Of Seized Liquor Bottles: Chhattisgarh High Court

The Chhattisgarh High Court has held that confiscation of a vehicle under Section 47-A of the Chhattisgarh Excise Act cannot be sustained on the basis of a presumption that all seized bottles contained liquor exceeding the statutory limit. The Court observed that before invoking the power of confiscation, the competent authority must satisfy itself on the basis of reliable evidence that...

'Sparing His Life Would Be Misplaced Mercy': Madras High Court Confirms Death Penalty Of Man For Sexual Assault On Three Minor Girls

The Madras High Court has confirmed the death sentence imposed on a man for sexually assaulting three minor girls aged 6, 7, and 8 years. [2026 LiveLaw (Mad) 286] Confirming the death sentence imposed by the Tirunelveli POCSO Court, the bench of Justice Anand Venkatesh and Justice KK Ramakrishnan observed that the crime committed by the man was so heinous and devoid of human...

'Voice Recording Of Bribe Demand Inadmissible Without S.65B Evidence Act Certificate & Voice Sample Authentication': Chhattisgarh High Court

The Chhattisgarh High Court has acquitted two public servants convicted under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, holding that the prosecution failed to prove the demand of illegal gratification beyond a reasonable doubt. The Court observed that in the absence of a certificate under Section 65-B of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, coupled with the absence of voice samples or any FSL report,...

'Mere Eye-Wash': Chhattisgarh High Court Slams ₹500 Fine On Cop For Submitting False Report, Seeks Explanation From SSP

The Chhattisgarh High Court has termed as a "mere eye-wash" the imposition of a fine of Rs. 500 on an Investigating Officer for furnishing incorrect information before the Court that a bail applicant had 19 criminal antecedents. Observing that portraying a person as having multiple criminal antecedents when no such antecedents existed was a very serious matter, the Court directed the...

Karnataka High Court Refuses To Quash IT Act Case Against Rape Accused's Wife Over Alleged Circulation Of Survivor's Explicit Videos

The Karnataka High Court has refused to quash FIR against a wife accused of transmitting obscene videos of her husband allegedly sexually assaulting an employee at his establishment, holding that the act of transmission itself constitutes an offence under Section 67A of the Information Technology Act. [2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 221]It had been alleged that during the course of her employment,...

'Child's Dignity Was Shattered': Odisha Court Sentences Tutor To 20-Years Imprisonment For Sexually Abusing Minor Boy

A POCSO Court in Odisha held a home tutor guilty of repeatedly sexually assaulting his student–a minor boy, and sentenced the former to 20 years rigorous imprisonment remarking that the child who should have spent his time in cheerfulness was dealt with animal passion and his dignity was shattered. In doing so the court remarked that the testimony of the boy, who had come forward at the risk...