The Allahabad High Court dismissed murder accused Mevalal Prajapati’s bail plea while strongly criticising rising criminal case pendency in Uttar Pradesh district courts, holding the State government and police authorities largely responsible for prolonged judicial delays in criminal proceedings.
The Supreme Court issued directions for speedy disposal of pending bail applications nationwide, stressing protection of undertrial prisoners’ rights and personal liberty. A Bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant urged High Courts and investigating agencies to coordinate and avoid unnecessary delays.
The Delhi High Court warned the Delhi Police that it may order a Central Bureau of Investigation probe, stating the court would not let the matter go and could no longer trust the ongoing investigation, its police conduct.
Delhi High Court directed district courts to strictly implement Supreme Court directions on granting bail to undertrials held in prolonged custody. The case involved an accused who had spent more than one-third of a seven-year sentence in jail.
The Delhi High Court said the bail conditions forced on a convict’s wife were unacceptable intrusions into her privacy. It added that a court’s authority to impose such terms applies only to the undertrial or convict and not to their family members.
A Delhi court upheld discharge of two accused in a 2020 Northeast Delhi riots case, citing investigative lapses. The court observed grave suspicion lies against the police story, agreeing it is difficult to accept prosecution material at face value.
The Supreme Court of India held that confiscation proceedings under the Bihar Special Courts Act do not automatically end when a public servant dies. Especially if assets stand in names of relatives who were also parties to proceedings.
The CBI, while challenging the discharge of all 23 accused including former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy case, alleged that Judge Jitendra Singh conducted a “mini trial” and passed the order after selectively reading its case.
The Delhi High Court has directed the Director of AIIMS to constitute a medical board to verify if Jaideep Singh Sengar, convict in the Unnao custodial death case, is truly suffering from cancer. This follows his request for a jail sentence extension.
Today, On 20th February, The Supreme Court criticised Andhra Police for mishandling the murder case involving YSRCP MLC Udaya Bhaskar, stating it was “a clear case of the nexus of Police and power,” and noting investigators hobnobbed with accused to facilitate bail.
