CRIMINAL LAW ROUNDUP: A quick recap of the top criminal cases from January 2025
Top criminal cases on quashing of proceedings, arrest, bail, acquittal, and more.
Bail
Chhattisgarh HC denies bail to accused offering High Court Clerk job; Directs for criminal proceedings against person falling for cash-for-job scam
“Despite repeated warnings people were indulging in such allurements and becoming easy targets for touts.”
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Bombay High Court grants bail to six accused in Govind Pansare Murder Case
Govind Pansare, 82 years old, was shot in Kolhapur, Maharashtra on 16-02-2015 and succumbed to injuries on 20-02-2015.
Sexual assault against minors also attacks their innocence and sense of safety; often leave permanent psychological scars: Delhi HC dismisses bail application of POCSO accused
“It is a stark reminder of an unfortunate reality frequently observed by courts, where acts of sexual assault against children were often committed by individuals who occupy positions of trust or confidence in the child’s life. Such relationships of familiarity and trust not only provide perpetrators access to the child but also magnify the betrayal and lasting impact of the crime.”
Delhi HC grants bail to four co-owners of coaching centre basement in flooding case leading to death of three civil services aspirants
The Court directed the applicants (‘accused persons’) to make their voluntary donation of Rs. 5 lakhs with Delhi State Legal Services Authority (‘DSLSA’), within two weeks, towards the welfare of the families of the deceased. The member secretary, DSLSA, shall then consider the claims from the families of deceased and issue direction for disbursal of the said amount after due consideration.
Magic mushroom not a scheduled narcotic or psychotropic substance: Kerala HC grants bail to NDPS accused
In the present case, since the charas and ganja seized from the accused were of small quantities, the question to be decided by the Court is whether the mushroom and magic mushroom capsules together can be considered as commercial quantity.
‘Details of manual strangulation reflects how victim suffered traumatic end of her life’; Delhi HC dismisses bail application of husband in dowry death case
“To trivialize a case of murder on the ground that the accused and the victim, being husband and wife, had an altercation and therefore, the husband being drunk at the spur of the moment, had killed her, is not only unacceptable but also shocking.”
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Kerala HC grants bail to Boby Chemmanur in sexual harassment case, citing bail is rule & jail is exception; warns against body shaming
“Everybody should be vigilant while making comments about others, whether they are men or women.”
‘Bail in NDPS case on ground of undue delay in trial, unfettered by rigours of S. 37’; Punjab and Haryana HC grants bail to accused of selling narcotics pills
“The right to life and personal liberty cannot be rendered nugatory by unwarranted delays in the judicial process, particularly where such delay(s) is neither attributable to the accused nor justified by the prosecution with cogent reasons. An individual cannot be kept behind bars for an inordinate period of time by taking refuge in the rigours of Section 37.”
Rajasthan High Court grants interim bail to Asaram Bapu in 2013 rape case for medical treatment
Asaram Bapu was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2018 for raping a minor girl at his ashram in 2013.
‘Not a case of passive support to terrorist organisation’; Delhi High Court denies bail to alleged ISIS associate in UAPA case
The Court stated that the recovery of incriminating material recovered from the mobile phone of the appellant showing pro-ISIS material showed that the appellant is deeply influenced with the philosophy and ideology of the ISIS.
“Religious terrorism is tragic & dangerous phenomenon”; MP High Court denies bail due to strong prima facie evidence & National Security threat
“Religious terrorism is a tragic and dangerous phenomenon that distorts the true teachings of faith and causes immense harm to individuals and societies. While the roots of religious terrorism are deep and complex, it is crucial to understand that no religion inherently supports violence or terror.”
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“Bail is Rule and Jail is Exception”; Rajasthan High Court criticizes trial court for casual rejection of bail despite key evidence
“Every arrest is also a relief and a pain. It is a critical part of the justice system. All arrests have to be justified and be based on evidence and pave the way for justice.”
Supreme Court grants interim bail to rape convict Asaram Bapu on medical grounds
The interim bail has been granted till 31-03-2025.
Hyderabad Criminal Court grants bail to Actor Allu Arjun in Sandhya Theatre stampede case
Actor Allu Arjun was arrested after a woman passed away due to a stampede at the premier of his film Pushpa 2. He had been granted interim bail by the Telangana High Court on 13-012-2024.
Gujarat High Court suspends life imprisonment sentence of persons convicted of murder
“Considering the backlog of appeals pending before this Court, the chance of the appeal being heard in near future is extremely remote.”
Read why Madras HC granted bail to temple activist Rangarajan Narasimhan in two FIRs relating to video against Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin
“A reading of the complaint does not attract the provisions of Section 75 of BNS or Section 4 of the Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act. Furthermore, as the other offences are bailable, I am inclined to grant bail to the accused with certain conditions.”