Category: I P C

Five golden principles for cases based on circumstantial evidence reiterated: (1) circumstances establishing conclusion of guilt must be fully established; (2) facts established consistent only with hypothesis of guilt; (3) circumstances conclusive in nature; (4) exclude every possible hypothesis except guilt; (5) complete chain of evidence leaving no reasonable ground for innocence

2025 INSC 793 SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH CHETAN Vs. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA ( Before : Surya Kant and Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh, JJ. ) Criminal Appeal No. 1568…

Defamation — Imputation in Good Faith for Protection of Interests — Exception 9 to S. 499 IPC engrafts the principle of qualified privilege, stating it is not defamation to make an imputation on the character of another, provided it is made in good faith for the protection of the interest of the person making it, or of any other person, or for the public good

2025 INSC 502 SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH SHAHED KAMAL AND OTHERS Vs. M/S A. SURTI DEVELOPERS PVT. LTD. AND ANOTHER ( Before : K. V. Viswanathan and N.…

Murder (Filicide) vs. Suicide — In cases based on circumstantial evidence where the question is whether the death was homicidal (filicide) or suicidal, the prosecution must establish a complete chain of circumstances that points exclusively to the guilt of the accused and is inconsistent with any hypothesis of innocence

2025 INSC 499 SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH SUBHASH AGGARWAL Vs. THE STATE OF NCT OF DELHI ( Before : Sudhanshu Dhulia and K. Vinod Chandran, JJ. ) Criminal…

To attract S. 307 IPC, the crucial element is the intention or knowledge to cause death with which the act is done, irrespective of the nature or severity of the injury actually caused. S. 307 uses the word ‘hurt’, not ‘grievous hurt’ or ‘life-threatening hurt’ — Therefore, an accused cannot be acquitted merely because the injury inflicted was not grievous or dangerous to life, if the evidence establishes that the act was done with the requisite intention or knowledge to cause death

2025 INSC 503 SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH STATE OF HIMACHAL PRADESH Vs. SHAMSHER SINGH ( Before : Pankaj Mithal and S.V.N. Bhatti, JJ. ) Criminal Appeal No. 476…

Penal Code, 1860 — Sections 498A & 306 — Cruelty & Abetment of Suicide — Allegations supporting charges under Sections 498A and 306 IPC must be specific and substantiated — Vague complaints about the deceased being lazy or sick, without evidence of physical violence or persistent harassment meeting the threshold of cruelty likely to drive suicide, are insufficient for conviction under these sections.

2025 INSC 460 SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH JAGDISH GOND Vs. THE STATE OF CHHATTISGARH AND OTHERS ( Before : Sudhanshu Dhulia and K. Vinod Chandran, JJ. ) Criminal…