Are ED's 'Reasons To Believe' To Pass Provisional Attachment Order Confidential In Nature? Gauhati High Court Refers Issue To Larger Bench

The Gauhati High Court has referred to the larger bench to decide whether "reasons to believe" to be recorded in writing by Enforcement Directorate's Authorized Officer on the basis of material in his possession to pass a Provisional Attachment Order is confidential in character and whether it must be to be furnished to the affected person. [2026 LiveLaw (Gau) 85]Justice Manish Choudhury in...

Kerala High Court Rejects Expelled Palakkad Councillor's Appeal Seeking Bail In Sexual Assault Case

The Kerala High Court on Monday (June 29) dismissed the appeal filed by Prasobh M., former Congress councillor of the Palakkad Municipality, challenging denial of regular bail by the Special Court for SC/ST cases (Mannarkkad) in a sexual assault case. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 347]Justice A. Badharudeen found that bail cannot be granted at the present stage, when the investigation is still primitive...

AP High Court Enhances Motor Accident Compensation To ₹10 Lakh Despite No Appeal By Claimants, Cites Future Prospects & Deceased's Age

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has enhanced the compensation payable to the family of a deceased motor accident victim from Rs. 7.28 lakh to Rs. 10.06 lakh, in view of the deceased's future prospects and age even though the claimants had not filed an appeal. [2026 LiveLaw (AP) 108]The Court observed that although the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal had notionally fixed the deceased's monthly...

Bihar Tender Scam | Media Cannot Portray Accused As 'Scamster', 'Mastermind' Before Trial: Patna High Court

The Patna High Court has restrained print, electronic, digital and social media platforms from portraying Bihar contractor Rishu Shree as guilty in connection with the alleged tender scam being investigated by the Special Vigilance Unit (SVU). The Court observed that while media is free to report factual developments relating to the case, imputing criminal liability upon an accused...

Belated POSH Complaints Can't Be Rejected At Threshold Without Considering Reasons For Delay: Allahabad High Court

The Allahabad High Court has reiterated that sexual harassment complaints under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 cannot be rejected at threshold due to delay, without specific consideration of reasons.While remitting the matter back to the internal complaints committee for fresh inquiry into the complaints against Associate...

Juvenile Justice Act Prioritises Reform Over Punishment; Seriousness Of Alleged Offence Not Ground To Refuse Bail: Patna High Court

The Patna High Court has observed that the seriousness of the alleged offence and the age of a juvenile are not relevant considerations for denial of bail under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. The Court reiterated that the Juvenile Justice Act is a reformative statute aimed at rehabilitation of children in conflict with law and not their punishment.A Single...

Possession Of Cough Syrup With Less Than 2.5% Codeine Attracts NDPS Act If Held Without Authorisation: Patna High Court

The Patna High Court has held that cough syrup containing codeine in a concentration of less than 2.5% of the total preparation does not fall outside the ambit of the NDPS Act merely on that ground. The Court further observed that such preparations are classified as essential narcotic drugs and their possession, sale, purchase, transport, import and export remain regulated under the NDPS Act...

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...

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...

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...

Odisha POCSO Court Sentences Youth To 30 Years' Rigorous Imprisonment For Rape Of 2-Year-Old Girl

A Special Court in Odisha, constituted under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (the 'POCSO Act'), has recently convicted a 24-year-old man for committing aggravated penetrative sexual assault and rape on a 2 and ½-year-old girl and sentenced him to undergo rigorous imprisonment for 30 years.While finding the accused guilty of the heinous offence, Saroj Kumar Sahoo,...

Delay In Investigation Not A Ground To Quash Corruption FIR Unless Accused Shows Prejudice To Fair Trial: HP High Court

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has held that an FIR registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act cannot be quashed merely on the ground of delay in investigation or filing of the charge-sheet, unless the accused demonstrates that such delay has caused prejudice affecting a fair trial. Dismissing a petition seeking quashing of corruption proceedings arising from alleged irregularities in...