CRIMINAL LAW ROUNDUP: A quick recap of the top criminal cases from March 2025
Top criminal cases on quashing of proceedings, arrest, bail, acquittal, and more.
Rape
Supreme Court Roundup March 2025 | Stories on 2002 Gujarat Riots Case; Kashmir University VC murder; Rising student suicides; Tax officers’ arrest powers; and more
As March comes to a close, it’s time to reflect on the significant judgments, orders, and developments from the Supreme Court. This roundup provides an overview of the top stories, important cases, and key updates that made headlines this month. It also highlights some never-before-reported judgments, notable cases from SCC Weekly, a “Know Thy Judge” feature, as well as appointments and transfers by the Supreme Court.
HIGH COURT MARCH 2025 WEEKLY ROUNDUP | Stories on Lawrence Bishnoi Gang; Corruption case against Judges; Jagjit Singh Dallewal; and more
A quick legal roundup to cover important stories from all High Courts this week.
Woman though can’t commit rape, but can be held liable for abetment to rape under Section 109 IPC: MP High Court
““abetment is separate and distinct offence than rape” and if the act abetted is committed in consequences of the abetment, then the person i.e. man or woman abeting such crime is liable to be punished under Section 109 of IPC.”
Patriarchal to say that woman must foresee marriage problems solely because she is elder to her partner; DHC refuses to quash FIR against a man accused of rape on pretext of marriage
The accused, despite being fully aware of the age difference, actively pursued the relationship, gave assurances of marriage, and induced the victim to make financial and emotional commitments.
SC stays Allahabad HC decision which held that grabbing breasts & breaking minor’s pajama string is not attempt to rape
The Supreme Court had taken suo motu cognizance of the matter after an NGO ‘We the Women of India’ approached the Court against the impugned decision.
‘Accused and victim now happily married, continuing prosecution would cause unnecessary harassment to them and their children’; SC quashes POCSO proceedings
Supreme Court said that the High Court overlooked the fact that the Trial Court could not have recorded the settlement, and this was a suitable case for the High Court to exercise its jurisdiction under Section 482 CrPC to quash the proceedings. As a result, the parties were unnecessarily compelled to approach this Court.
Know Thy Newly Appointed Supreme Court Judge: Justice Joymalya Bagchi
Justice Joymalya Bagchi formerly serving as Judge of Calcutta High Court was appointed to the Supreme Court on 10-3-2025 and is in line to become the CJI in 2031.
Misuse of Advocate-Client Relationship | MP High Court refuses to quash FIR in Rape allegations against Advocate
“Statement of prosecutrix recorded under Section 164 of CrPC cannot be given preference over the FIR and the statement recorded under Section 161 of CrPC.”
Law with ‘greater degree’ of punishment applies when convicted under IPC and POCSO both: Supreme Court
“The provisions of Section 42A of POCSO Act, cannot be interpreted so as to override the scope and ambit of enabling provision, i.e., Section 42 of POCSO Act.”
‘Victim had sufficient knowledge, full capacity to know import of her actions’; Bombay HC grants bail to 24-year-old accused of raping his then 14-year-old girlfriend
“The victim has left her parents’ house without informing the parents and stayed with the accused for 3 days and 3 nights, she also confessed that she was in love with the accused and travelled along with him to different places and had a consensual encounter.”
‘Not a sexual predator but a young person involved in consensual relationship’; Bombay HC grants bail to 22-year-old man accused of raping his 16-year-old girlfriend
“Both the parties were of the age to have a reasonable understanding of the import of their conduct, and despite that, had engaged in the said act over a substantial period of time.”
Proximity at workplace results in consensual relationships which on turning sour get reported as crimes; Delhi High Court grants bail
A perusal of Charge-sheet shows that the Applicant and the Complainant were in a relationship for more than one year. However, as per the Complainant eventually the attitude of Petitioner/Complainant changed, and he started ill-treating and blackmailing her.
‘No other evidence except victim’s bare words’; Bombay HC acquits father for allegedly having sexual intercourse with daughter
“It was suggested that the victim girl lodged a false report against her father because the father did not give green signal to her marriage with the boy to whom she wanted to marry.”
Consent to engage in physical relations does not extend to misuse of a person’s private moments in an inappropriate manner: Delhi High Court
The assertion made in the bail application that the complainant, “being a married woman, was mature and intelligent enough to understand the significance and consequences of her actions” is a specious argument that cannot absolve the accused of the allegations levelled against him.
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.
HIGH COURT JANUARY 2025 WEEKLY ROUNDUP | Stories on Kareena Kapoor’s Copyright Infringment; Ladki Bahin Scheme; Bhopal Gas Tragedy Cleanup; and more
A quick legal roundup to cover important stories from all High Courts this week.
‘Child witness evidence appears to be result of tutoring’; Telangana HC acquits man convicted of raping 9-year-old girl
“The evidence of a child witness can easily be influenced by the elders in the family. Acceptance of the child witness evidence would be dangerous in the present circumstances of the case as the evidence appears to be a result of tutoring. Not examining the father and grandfather of the victim, who were sleeping by the side of the victim girl is fatal to the prosecution case”.
HIGH COURT DECEMBER 2024 WEEKLY ROUNDUP | Stories on Gurmeet Ram Rahim; Mankind-Sepkind trademark tussle; Gyanvapi Mosque; and more
A quick legal roundup to cover important stories from all High Courts this week.
Bombay HC denies suspension of sentence of 73-year-old man who raped mentally challenged house help
The convict, his wife, and sister-in-law had attempted to convince and pressurise the victim and her mother to not lodge a complaint and get an abortion.