BNSS
Criminal Law July 2025: A Dive into the Month’s Biggest Criminal Cases
Covering all the important criminal cases across various High Courts and the Supreme Court, this roundup provides a quick summary of cases, links to other roundups and a few top stories of the July 2025.
Gravity of offence justifies denying bail to juvenile accused of heinous crime: Rajasthan High Court
“The gravity of the offence, specifically, the allegation of mercilessly causing the death of another person, necessitates a cautious approach.”
Rajasthan High Court imposes Community Service condition under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan while granting bail to NDPS accused
“As a reformative approach to re-include the accused-applicant back in the society with a better vision, aim and zeal in life, this court deems it fit to impose an ancillary condition upon the applicant.”
No Scope for inherent powers to interfere with interim orders passed under DV Act without manifest illegality: Kerala High Court
“As far as the present case is concerned, the interim order passed by the Magistrate cannot be said to be gross illegality or irregularity. The petitioner could very well approach the same court seeking order, modifying or vacating the aforesaid order if there are sufficient reasons. That apart, appeal is provided under Section 29 of the PWDV Act against the aforesaid order”
Can police refuse an FIR for an unsigned email complaint from abroad? Kerala High Court answers
“Section 173 of the BNSS granted statutory recognition to the concept of Zero FIR, which now deals with the registration of FIRs in cognizable cases. Zero FIR has been introduced with the primary purpose of ensuring that victims can file complaints regardless of jurisdiction.”
Lawyers at the Police Station: Protection of the Accused or Interference in the Investigation Process?
by Gautam Khazanchi* and Vinayak Chawla**
[Online Trolling] Andhra Pradesh High Court directs State to identify and block swear, militant words on social media
“In the present day, vulgar, hate filled and abusive posts in social media have become the new age norm. The “trolls” as they are called, attract lightning responses all over and this is all the when the point of reference is a celebrity or a political leader of stature and the following.”
Omissions and Contradictions: Assessing their Effect on the Evidence
by T.A.S.S.R.A. Rishik*
Emotional/mental vulnerability due to depression, & other psychiatric problems to be considered in abetment of suicide cases; higher proof of instigation required: Delhi HC
“Every case of suicide does not amount to abetment and therefore, the Court has to see whether the conduct of the accused was such that a normal person, not merely a hypersensitive one, would have been driven to suicide.”
Ensuring Frivolity is Filtered: Supreme Court’s Stand on Artistic Expression
by C. George Thomas* and Ansh Mittal**
Mere assertions or absence of recovery of narcotics from accused insufficient when nexus with narcotic network prima facie exists: Delhi High Court
The Court observed that accused prima facie seems to be involved in organized narcotic network and has been frequently in touch with the main supplier of the contraband and with the receiver of the contraband.
Delhi Govt notifies rules to enhance transparency of FIR process in NCT of Delhi
FIR filed electronically has to be signed by the informant within 3 days.
Photographs and Videography of seized property can be used as evidence vide Delhi BNSS (Identification of Case Property) Rules, 2025
These rules promote transparency in handling of case properties by maintaining detailed records.
Delhi Govt. to establish Electronic Summons Delivery Centre in every Police Station for electronic serving of summons
Summons can be served electronically if ordered by Court.
Delhi Govt. streamlines the process of recording non-cognizable offences under BNSS
Any non-cognizable offence will be converted into NCR forwarded to Magistrate fortnightly.
Delhi Govt notifies Delhi BNSS (Arrest Information) Rules, 2025 to streamline communication of arrest
Delhi BNSS (Arrest Information) Rules, 2025 have been notified to ensure swift and transparent communication of arrest to the relatives or any other person nominated by the arrested person, of his arrest.
‘Expedition of trial cannot be at cost of fairness’; Delhi HC permits cross examination of Head Constable in Delhi riots case
While this court does not fault the Trial Court for attempting to proceed with the trial expeditiously, but, denying to the petitioner (‘accused’) the right to cross-examine the Head Constable on an issue which is critical to his defence appears to have been a disproportionate sense of expedition.