A POCSO court in Assam's Dhubri district has sentenced Utpal Roy to death for the rape and murder of a four-year-old girl in 2023. The judge cited the 'rarest of rare' category for the capital punishment.
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 has ruled that mere swear words, profanities, and vulgar expletives, however offensive, do not amount to obscenity under Section 294 of the Indian Penal Code. The court clarified that for an utterance to be considered obscene, it must be lascivious, appeal to prurient interests, and have the tendency to deprave and corrupt minds. This ruling came while hearing a plea challenging a high court order confirming a conviction under IPC Section 294.
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.
A Delhi court on Monday acquitted former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and co-accused Vinod Tomar in a sexual harassment case filed by women wrestlers.
A Thane court has acquitted a man accused of attempting to rape his stepdaughter in 2016, citing that the victim and her mother turned hostile during the trial and there was a lack of corroborating evidence. The court observed that the case likely stemmed from domestic differences that may have been resolved.
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.
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.
Police in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh, have registered a case against 69 former and serving officers and employees of an Indian Bank branch for allegedly embezzling nearly Rs 5 crore from a union account. The case was filed following a court order after the accused failed to return the embezzled funds despite an earlier undertaking.
A POCSO court in Assam's Dhubri district has sentenced Utpal Ray to death for the rape and murder of a four-year-old girl in 2023, terming the crime "rarest of rare". The convict also received life imprisonment for rape and other sentences for related offences.
Mumbai Police have finally apprehended Omprakash Lalta Pasi, 36 years after he allegedly attacked a cricket umpire with a bat in Borivali in 1990, following a decades-long pursuit.
Observing that right to speedy trial is also a "valuable right" of a victim, the Supreme Court on Monday set aside an order of the Allahabad high court which had kept in abeyance the trial in a murder case.
A 48-year-old man, Jayaprakash alias Bachhi Ramkhilavan Yadav, who had been absconding for five years after being booked in a 2021 attempt to murder case, has been arrested by the Mira Bhayandar Vasai Virar (MBVV) police. He was apprehended on June 10 after frequently changing locations across Surat, Uttar Pradesh, and Mira-Bhayander to evade arrest. The case involves a land dispute where the accused allegedly stabbed a tea vendor's father.
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.
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.
The Supreme Court has refused to quash proceedings under the Prevention of Corruption Act against former NSE MD and CEO Chitra Ramkrishna, stating that the trial court will determine whether she can be considered a 'public servant' under the Act.
A court in Uttar Pradesh sentenced former MLA Mohammad Tabish Khan and his brother to three years' imprisonment for assaulting a police constable in 2016.
A former life insurance manager in Thane has been sentenced to two years in jail for defrauding people of over Rs 3.51 crore with false promises of high returns on stock market investments.
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 sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) posted in Punjab's Gurdaspur has been arrested in connection with the Rs 1.63 crore embezzlement of funds linked to land acquisition for a national highway project in 2018-2019.
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.
A Delhi court is set to pronounce its verdict on Thursday in the murder case of Intelligence Bureau officer Ankit Sharma, who was killed during the 2020 northeast Delhi riots. Former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain and 10 others are accused in the sensational case.
A man who escaped from custody while being presented in a Mumbai court has been re-arrested in the Palghar district. The fugitive was initially in custody for offences under the Indian Penal Code and Arms Act.
A special court in Mumbai has sentenced a 32-year-old man to six months rigorous imprisonment for making derogatory remarks against Dr B R Ambedkar and hurling casteist slurs at an advocate. The court rejected the defence's argument about lack of independent witnesses, noting the incident occurred in public view.
The Supreme Court was informed that AIIMS experts have concluded self-styled godman Asaram does not require hospitalisation but needs round-the-clock medical assistance, as he seeks interim bail on health grounds.
A special MP-MLA court in Prayagraj sentenced former legislator Vijay Mishra and three others to life imprisonment in a 46-year-old murder case. The court convicted them under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code and imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on each convict.
A Delhi court has deferred its verdict in the murder case of Intelligence Bureau officer Ankit Sharma, who was killed during the 2020 northeast Delhi riots. The judgment, involving former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain and 10 others, is now expected on June 11. The accused face charges including murder, rioting, and criminal conspiracy related to the communal violence.
The Delhi High Court granted interim bail to Baramulla MP Sheikh Abdul Rashid, who is imprisoned in a terror-funding case, following his father's death. The court stipulated that Rashid must be accompanied by police officials during his release.
A Thane court sentenced a convict serving a life term in a UP prison to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for orchestrating a 2015 extortion-linked firing incident against a local businessman from behind bars.
A local court in Guna, Madhya Pradesh, sentenced a man to life imprisonment for murdering his wife, concluding the trial in just over three months.
A deputy superintendent of police (DSP) in Phagwara, India, died on Tuesday after an accidental firing from his service revolver while cleaning it at his residence.
The Supreme Court has denied interim bail to self-styled godman Asaram, who is serving a life sentence for sexually assaulting a minor. While rejecting his plea for bail on health grounds for now, the court permitted him to engage a trained caretaker for round-the-clock assistance. The court noted that Asaram's counsel had previously moved for parole, and his health condition will be monitored.
A court in Budaun, Uttar Pradesh, sentenced a man to life imprisonment for the 2019 murder of his nephew following a dispute over money.
Gujarat police have arrested two brothers in connection with the alleged murder of a woman 34 years ago. The breakthrough came after DNA analysis of exhumed skeletal remains matched the victim's siblings.
A Mumbai court sentenced a taxi driver to two years in jail for outraging the modesty of a hotel professional by forcibly kissing her hand. The court rejected the defence's argument that it was a routine greeting, stating it occurred outside her official duties.
India recorded a 6% dip in overall crime in 2024, with 58.85 lakh cases registered compared to 62.41 lakh in 2023, according to the National Crime Records Bureau. Crime rates per lakh population also decreased, with Kerala, Puducherry, and West Bengal leading in solving crimes. While some crimes like those against women and SC/STs saw declines, cybercrime and crimes against senior citizens increased.
A Delhi court has dismissed the bail plea of activist Umar Khalid, who is accused in the 2020 northeast Delhi riots case. The court rejected his application for interim bail to attend his uncle's post-death ritual and care for his mother.
The Delhi High Court has refused to grant bail to Olympian Sushil Kumar in the alleged murder case of former junior national wrestling champion Sagar Dhankar. The court cited concerns over influencing witnesses, the gravity of the offence, and Kumar's conduct, echoing reasons previously given by the Supreme Court when it cancelled his earlier bail.
The Supreme Court of India has strongly condemned the disclosure of a rape victim's identity and directed all high courts to ensure the anonymity of survivors and their families in court orders, citing the deep stigma associated with such offences and existing legal provisions.
World Championships medallist Vinesh Phogat announced that women wrestlers will appeal a Delhi court's decision to acquit former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Vinod Tomar in a sexual harassment case.
