The Bombay High Court has convicted former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal for raping a colleague in 2013, overturning his earlier acquittal. He was found guilty under Sections 376(2)(f), 354(a), and 354(b) of the Indian Penal Code.
The Supreme Court of India has expanded the scope of Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code, ruling that the provision dealing with cruelty by a husband or his relatives also applies to partners in live-in relationships. This landmark decision clarifies that a man in a live-in relationship can be prosecuted for cruelty if the relationship is "in the nature of marriage," aiming to prevent domestic violence and ensure legal protection for women in such unions.
The Supreme Court expressed strong displeasure over the Chhattisgarh High Court's decision to reduce a murder conviction to culpable homicide, criticising its understanding of IPC sections. The apex court issued notice to the state and the accused, indicating a potential restoration of the original murder conviction and life sentence.
The Delhi High Court has ruled that a woman can be charged with gang rape under Section 376D of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 70 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), stating there is no basis to restrict the term 'persons' in the law to only men.
A special POCSO court in Kairana, Uttar Pradesh, has sentenced Kapil Sharma to 20 years in prison and imposed a Rs 60,000 fine for raping a minor girl in February 2021.
The Delhi High Court has ruled that a woman can be charged with gang rape even if she did not physically commit the act, but facilitated the victim's rape. This judgment clarifies the interpretation of Section 376D IPC and Section 70 BNS, stating that anyone acting in furtherance of a common intention in a group can be held liable, regardless of gender. The ruling came while dismissing a plea challenging charges against a woman accused of forcing her minor daughter into sexual relations.
A special POCSO court in Muzaffarnagar has sentenced a man and a woman to 10 years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 20,000 each for the 2019 rape of a 14-year-old girl. The convicts, Vikas and Lalita, were found guilty under various IPC sections and the POCSO Act.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to entertain self-styled godman Asaram's plea challenging the Gujarat High Court's order denying him bail in the 2013 Gandhinagar rape case. Asaram, who is currently on parole granted by the Rajasthan High Court in another rape case, had sought bail to visit his ailing wife. The court noted his parole status and will hear his appeal against conviction in the Jodhpur case after his surrender on November 17.
A Latur court sentenced Kiran Ashok Kushbhage to 20 years in jail and fined him Rs 5,000 for sexually assaulting a minor girl in 2023. The case was registered under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The Patna High Court has set aside a man's conviction for attempted rape of a widow due to insufficient evidence, but upheld his conviction for assaulting her with intent to outrage her modesty and house trespass. The court directed him to pay a Rs 25,000 fine to the victim as compensation.
A Delhi court has acquitted a woman accused of abetting her husband's suicide in 2015, ruling that criminal liability under IPC Section 306 cannot be based solely on ordinary matrimonial discord. The court found no evidence that the wife instigated or intentionally aided her husband to take his life, despite allegations of quarrels and "mental torture."
A special MPID court in Mumbai has framed charges against developer Vijay Machhindar, his wife, and their company Ornate Spaces Pvt Ltd for allegedly cheating homebuyers and investors of Rs 28 crore. The charges relate to failing to deliver flats in an Oshiwara residential project and not returning the invested money, leading to a trial under IPC, MPID, and MOFA provisions.
The Jammu Crime Branch has filed a chargesheet against an education consultant, Lalit Sharma, for allegedly duping multiple individuals of over Rs 37 lakh by falsely promising to arrange work visas abroad, particularly to Canada. The investigation confirmed the receipt of funds and established an offence under Section 420 of the IPC.
A Delhi court has convicted a man, Girdhari Lal, for insulting a woman's modesty with the sexually-derogatory remark "Kaun se wale papa?". The court ruled that the comment, made in response to the woman pacifying her child, insinuated infidelity and questioned the child's paternity, thus affronting her dignity and leading to a conviction under IPC section 509.
A Delhi court has convicted former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain for abetment to rioting in a case related to the 2020 northeast Delhi riots in the Dayalpur area. While Hussain was convicted, 12 other co-accused were acquitted of all charges. Sentencing for Hussain is scheduled for November 16.
A Delhi court has convicted a man, Girdhari Lal, for insulting a woman's modesty with the remark "Kaun se wale papa?" The court ruled that the comment, made in response to the woman telling her daughter "dekho papa aa gaye," was a sexually-derogatory insinuation about her fidelity and the paternity of her child, and not an innocent question. He was convicted under IPC section 509.
A Delhi court has dismissed the fourth regular bail application of Aniket Jha, an accused in the 2021 Jangpura Extension double murder and robbery case. The court cited the gravity of the offence, the recovery of stolen items, and the framing of serious charges, stating that long incarceration alone is not sufficient grounds for bail.
The Allahabad High Court has ruled against compelling employees to wear Santa Claus red caps, stating such actions can hurt religious sentiments and are not permitted in India's democratic system. The court partly allowed a plea challenging criminal proceedings against an individual accused of forcing subordinates to wear the caps, clarifying how such cases should be treated under law.
The CBI has filed its 21st chargesheet in an alleged homebuyer fraud case related to the 'Acme Boulevard' housing project in Mumbai. Five former promoters/directors of Acme Realties Private Limited and Acme Housing India Private Limited are accused of inducing homebuyers through false assurances and fraudulent representations. The agency is also investigating 32 other similar cases involving various builder companies and financial institutions.
A Delhi court has acquitted five men accused of rioting and attempted murder during the 2020 northeast Delhi riots. The court criticised the investigating agency for trying to "fill the lacuna" in the case and failing to establish the accused's presence at the crime scene, citing weak evidence from CCTV footage and lack of identification by witnesses.
A Delhi court has upheld the conviction of Yatin Sharma in a 2013 fatal road accident case in Hauz Khas, rejecting his appeal and plea for probation. The court emphasised that high-speed vehicular negligence resulting in death warrants custodial sentences to ensure public safety and deterrence, directing Sharma to surrender within 30 days.
A Delhi court has convicted a couple, Hareena Ray alias Reena and Jeetu Kumar, for abandoning their premature and medically vulnerable infant in a hospital. The court rejected their defence that leaving the child in a medical facility implied an intention for treatment, ruling that their actions demonstrated a clear intent to wholly abandon the child, who later died.
A Gurugram court has sentenced a man, Indrajeet alias Ashu, to 20 years imprisonment for the rape of a 17-year-old girl. The court also imposed significant fines under the POCSO Act and IPC sections. The case, which dates back to April 2023, involved a thorough investigation by Gurugram police, leading to the conviction.
A court in Meghalaya's West Khasi Hills district has sentenced Banphrangkupar Nongbri to life imprisonment without parole for the murder of 79-year-old Phlesis Syiem and her 25-year-old domestic help, Maitlynti Lyngdoh Marshillong, in August 2021. The motive for the heinous crime was determined to be robbery, with the court also imposing a fine of Rs 1 lakh.
The CBI has filed a charge sheet in a Rs 3,750-crore cheating case against Reliance Communications Ltd. (RCom), former executives of the Reliance ADA Group, and a former Chief Investment Officer of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC). The case involves LIC subscribing to NCDs worth Rs 1,500 crore from RCom in 2012 based on alleged misrepresentations, with funds subsequently diverted to ADA group companies, causing wrongful loss to LIC.
A Delhi court has sentenced three men, Sahil alias Ishmile, Mohit, and Vishal alias Vicky, to six years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10,000 each for the attempted murder of a youth in Badarpur in 2019. The court found them guilty under Section 307 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code, noting their common intention in the stabbing incident where the victim, Mukul, sustained life-threatening injuries.
A special NIA court in Mumbai has rejected the discharge plea of Atib Rashid, a key accused in the 2022 murder of Amravati pharmacist Umesh Kolhe. The court found "more than prima facie sufficient material" to proceed with the trial, citing a common conspiracy to commit the murder and evidence linking Rashid to the crime, including electronic records and CCTV footage.
A POCSO court in Keralam has sentenced a 64-year-old man, Abdul Razak, to 20 years in prison for sexually assaulting a nine-year-old girl in October 2023. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 1.5 lakh. The incident led to a mob attack on the accused, for which his wife filed a separate case.
A special POCSO court in Thane has convicted a 20-year-old man for sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl, sentencing him to three years of rigorous imprisonment. The court relied heavily on the victim's "clear and cogent" testimony and rejected the plea for probation, citing the fear and insecurity caused by the accused's actions.
A Delhi court has acquitted two men, Deepak alias Golu and Shanu alias Furkan, who were accused of robbing and shooting a man at a metro station in 2018. The court cited the prosecution's failure to establish their identity as assailants and inability to scientifically link the recovered pistol to the firing, highlighting a lack of evidence beyond reasonable doubt.
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.
Delhi Police have arrested Vinod Kumar Bhardwaj, a key accused in a Rs 1.75 crore cheating and forgery case. Bhardwaj allegedly duped a retired Tihar Jail pharmacist by selling him six plots using fake documents. The accused, who carried a Rs 50,000 reward and was a proclaimed offender, was apprehended in Dwarka. Investigations are ongoing to trace his associates and financial transactions.
A 48-year-old man, Lalit, has been arrested in New Delhi for his alleged involvement in a 1994 double murder-cum-dacoity case. He had been absconding for nearly 32 years after two sadhvis were strangled to death and valuables looted from a spiritual ashram. Three other co-accused were arrested earlier, while Lalit lived under a false identity as a labourer.
The Delhi High Court has ruled that criminal cases involving sexual offences against children, particularly under the POCSO Act, cannot be settled by the survivor or their family. Justice Sachin Datta emphasised that such heinous offences have a serious societal impact and quashing proceedings based on a compromise would undermine the statute's objectives and justice.
A Palghar court has sentenced Madhu Dharma Govari to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting a minor boy. The court rejected the defence's claim of improbability in a crowded locality, emphasizing that "bystander apathy" does not undermine a victim's testimony. Forensic evidence and the victim's credible account corroborated the conviction under POCSO Act and IPC.
A Delhi court has granted student activist Sharjeel Imam seven days' interim bail to attend the weddings of his two cousins in Delhi and Bihar. The court cited it as his second such plea for family events, despite opposition from Delhi Police regarding the seriousness of charges under UAPA related to the 2020 Delhi riots. Imam is subject to strict conditions during his temporary release.
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 has issued notices regarding Tarun Tejpal's sentencing in a 2013 rape case, responding to both his petition against a 10-year prison term and the Goa government's plea for an enhanced sentence.
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.
Congress's Nandigram bypoll candidate Milan Pradhan has been remanded to judicial custody in connection with old criminal cases, including murder charges from 2007. This development effectively prevents him from campaigning for the upcoming by-election. The Congress party has questioned the timing of the arrest, alleging political motives behind the revival of these long-pending cases.
