Pankaj Tripathi's Madhav Mishra is one of the most entertaining characters created for an Indian Web series, and the actor plays him with relish, observes Deepa Gahlot.
'What Daayra tries to do is explore the greys because everything is not black and white.'
Supreme Court Justice V Mohana recused herself from a 2016 Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking directions for the speedy disposal of criminal cases against lawmakers. This development follows a report by amicus curiae Vijay Hansaria, which revealed over 4,000 pending criminal cases against Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs), including chief ministers from 14 states. The Supreme Court has previously issued directives to high courts to establish special benches to monitor and fast-track these trials.
The Supreme Court of India has quashed criminal proceedings against comedian Samay Raina and four others who faced charges for remarks about people with disabilities. The court lauded their subsequent efforts in organising events and raising awareness for specially-abled persons and those with rare diseases like Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA).
Pankaj Tripathi plays lawyer Madhav Mishra, assigned to defend a 17-year-old boy, accused of killing his 14-year-old stepsister in Criminal Justice: Adhura Sach.
The Supreme Court has formally acquitted former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in a high-profile coal block allocation case, setting aside a summoning order against him and accepting the CBI's closure report.
Earlier, the girl issued an apology video on social media on Saturday saying she had been "influenced."
Legal experts are divided on whether an FIR can be lodged against former Allahabad High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma, who resigned after a Lok Sabha-appointed panel found him guilty of charges related to unexplained cash found at his residence.
A US federal judge has permanently dismissed the criminal securities-fraud case against Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar, closing nearly two years of prosecution without a trial. Gautam Adani stated, "Truth has prevailed," in response to the ruling.
The US Department of Justice has permanently dropped all criminal charges against Indian tycoon Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar, concluding a high-profile securities and wire fraud case in New York after prosecutors determined they could not sustain the allegations.
The Rajya Sabha has passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, making insult to the national song 'Vande Mataram' a criminal offence. The bill, which also covers other national symbols, was passed amidst protests from opposition parties regarding the NEET paper leak. Union Minister Nityanand Rai criticised the opposition's stance, emphasising the song's historical significance and its role in national unity.
The Allahabad High Court has ruled that the SC/ST Act cannot be invoked merely because a complainant belongs to a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe. Justice Santosh Rai observed that specific ingredients of the offence must be present, quashing proceedings under the Act in a property dispute where no caste-based abuse occurred.
The Allahabad High Court has strongly criticised the Uttar Pradesh government for the alleged misuse of the Goonda Act, stating it appears to be used as a tool of harassment. The court emphasised that the stringent law must be invoked with caution and only in clear cases to maintain public order, while quashing an order that declared a person a "goonda" based on acquitted cases and beat information reports.
The Supreme Court has taken a serious view of allegations of harassment against a minor girl who participated in the July Cockroach Janta Party protests. The court emphasised that nobody should be allowed to intimidate a victim or her family from pursuing criminal proceedings and directed the Solicitor General to ensure action on the girl's FIR, seeking reports from Delhi and Uttar Pradesh governments.
The Supreme Court has ruled that an appellate court cannot unilaterally enhance a convict's sentence unless an appeal for enhancement is filed by the State, victim, or complainant. This significant observation came in a triple-murder case where the Madras High Court had enhanced a co-convict's life sentence to imprisonment for the remainder of his life without such an appeal.
The Supreme Court has expressed shock over numerous deaths, including unnatural ones, in relief camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Manipur. It directed the state's chief secretary to explain steps taken for investigation, criminal proceedings, and ensuring safety, questioning low compensation and incomplete post-mortems. The court also sought a report from MSLSA and urged expeditious trials in violence-related cases.
The US District Court for the Eastern District of New York has revoked the naturalisation of Gurmeet Singh, an Indian-origin man, after he was convicted of rape and kidnapping. Singh had concealed these serious criminal acts during his naturalisation process, leading to the federal court's decision to strip him of his US citizenship.
Meghna Gulzar's Daayra delves into the uncomfortable territory between public anger, police power, and the rule of law, drawing inspiration from the 2019 Hyderabad rape-murder case and the subsequent police encounter.
The Allahabad High Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to pay compensation to a man after incorrect police information about his criminal record delayed his release on bail.
Former BJP MP Pratap Simha has been booked by police in T Narasipura, Mysuru, for allegedly delivering a provocative speech during a Ganesha idol procession. The FIR was registered following a complaint by a PSI, accusing Simha of making derogatory remarks against an inspector. Simha claims the FIR is politically motivated and vows to challenge it in court.
Additional District and Sessions Judge Ravi Kumar Diwakar of Muzaffarnagar has declared he would prefer death over being a "coward judge," delivering his 23rd capital punishment in four months, this time in a dowry death case. He asserted he would not succumb to pressure from mafias and criminals, despite receiving threats and having numerous cases transferred from his court.
Conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar has been sentenced to eight years of rigorous imprisonment by a Delhi court for impersonating a Supreme Court judge and attempting to influence a bail proceeding. The court emphasised the need for a deterrent message against manipulating the justice system, especially given the rise of sophisticated impersonation techniques.
Additional District and Sessions Judge Ravi Kumar Diwakar of Muzaffarnagar has publicly questioned the administrative recall of 97 serious criminal cases from his court. His remarks, made in an acquittal order, highlight concerns about judicial independence and the legality of withdrawing "part-heard" cases without proper procedure, especially after he had delivered 23 death sentences.
The father of a Nithari case victim has questioned the death of Surendra Koli, alleging he was murdered and did not die by suicide. Koli, who was acquitted in all Nithari cases, was found hanging in Haridwar. Police are investigating, while the victim's father claims Koli was about to reveal important information and points to Moninder Singh Pandher as the main culprit.
An 81-year-old man, Asgarali Vohra, who claims to be a schoolmate of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has found relief in a long-standing land dispute. After Vohra met PM Modi to appeal for a CBI probe, a firm linked to a BJP MLA, Seven Eleven Construction, backed down, surrendering its construction permit and withdrawing a police complaint against Vohra. The dispute involved a prime plot in Palghar district that Vohra bought in 1989, which he alleged was encroached upon by two firms.
Looking at the OTT releases coming up this summer.
JioHotstar has officially launched its streaming services in the UK, Canada, and Singapore, offering over 160,000 hours of Indian entertainment in more than 12 languages, targeting both the South Asian diaspora and a wider global audience.
'While men are brought up to be more vocal, women are taught to be more silent, resilient and self sacrificing. We have tried to explore this.'
Former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal has surrendered before a Goa court to begin serving his 10-year rigorous imprisonment sentence in a 2013 sexual assault case. This follows a Supreme Court directive and his conviction by the Bombay High Court, which overturned his earlier acquittal. Tejpal's appeal against his conviction is slated for a Supreme Court hearing in September 2026.
Supreme Court Justice Ujjal Bhuyan critically examined police conduct in India, raising serious concerns about alleged assaults on protesters, custodial torture, and the urgent need for comprehensive police reforms to uphold human rights and the rule of law.
Hindutva influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj has been sent to 14-day judicial custody in connection with the alleged assault on a student activist's father during a protest at Jantar Mantar. Bhardwaj was detained after claiming he "cracked the skull" of the victim and escaped arrest due to political connections. Additional charges under the SC/ST Act, criminal intimidation, POCSO Act, and IT Act have also been added.
The Calcutta High Court has extended interim protection for TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee until November 30, directing police not to take coercive steps in three criminal cases, stating that custodial interrogation is not necessary.
The National Legal Services Authority has launched a digital module to automate and expedite the process of remission and premature release of eligible prisoners across India.
The Supreme Court has scheduled a final hearing for a batch of petitions challenging the marital rape exception in Indian law. The court will examine the constitutional validity of the provision that grants immunity to husbands from prosecution for sexual acts with their wives, even under the newly enacted Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. This significant legal challenge follows split verdicts from High Courts and seeks to address whether such an exception aligns with fundamental rights.
The Supreme Court of India strongly criticised a Greater Noida executive magistrate for issuing a notice to a student who participated in a protest, despite the court's earlier order against penal action on student protesters. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant expressed surprise at the magistrate's action and stated that an explanation would be sought. The court had previously quashed FIRs against student protesters and directed compensation for families affected by the NEET paper leak.
Surendra Koli, who was at the centre of the sensational Nithari killings and subsequently acquitted in all 13 cases, was found hanging at his tea stall in Haridwar, police confirmed, with investigations ongoing into the suspected suicide.
Gag orders have a "chilling effect" on the freedom of speech, the apex court said while refusing to accept the submission of the counsel representing Uttar Pradesh that Zubair be barred from tweeting when he is on bail.
The Supreme Court has quashed all FIRs against students who participated in the Cockroach Janta Party-led protests, stating the cases should not affect their future, while the government affirmed its commitment to youth welfare.
The Supreme Court will hear a plea from the Centre to quash FIRs against students involved in NEET examination paper leak protests. This development comes amidst planned fresh protests by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and follows previous court directives regarding the nature of charges against student protesters.
The Supreme Court has stated it will wait for the central government's response on petitions concerning the criminalisation of marital rape before scheduling a hearing. This comes as the Centre has yet to file a substantive reply on the matter, which challenges the constitutional validity of exceptions in criminal law that protect husbands from prosecution for sexual acts with their wives. The issue involves the interpretation of Section 375 of the IPC (now replaced by Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita) and has seen split verdicts in high courts.
