The Supreme Court allowed withdrawal of an SLP seeking regular bail in an NDPS Act and Arms Act case after making sharp observations on the accused’s criminal antecedents during the hearing, remarking on the petitioner’s extensive criminal history before permitting withdrawal of the plea.
The Bombay High Court held that merely demanding repayment of a loan or following up with a borrower cannot amount to abetment of suicide. The Court clarified that Section 306 IPC requires clear evidence of intentional instigation, active encouragement, or conduct specifically intended to drive a person to take their own life.
The Karnataka High Court, while hearing a rape accused’s bail plea, expressed concern over rising serious crimes and diminishing fear of legal consequences. Justice R Nataraj stressed the need for stronger enforcement of criminal laws, observing that deterrence within the justice system appears to be weakening.
The Supreme Court awarded Rs 11 lakh compensation to a prisoner unlawfully kept in custody for 24 days beyond the legally permissible period, holding that wrongful deprivation of personal liberty constitutes a serious violation of Article 21 and undermines the constitutional guarantee of fundamental rights.
The Supreme Court directed expeditious trial in the 2023 Manipur ethnic violence cases and sought a status report, noting SIT chargesheets in 207 cases involving over 400 accused, while observing that bail cancellation requires egregious grounds and emphasising rehabilitation measures to uncover the complete truth.
