The Punjab and Haryana High Court refused anticipatory bail to author and social commentator Madhu Purnima Kishwar in a case relating to an alleged defamatory social media post concerning Prime Minister Narendra Modi, holding that investigation materials justified continuation of the probe and pre-arrest protection was unwarranted.
The Calcutta High Court directed the West Bengal government to file a detailed status report on 11 criminal cases against TMC MLA Dilip Mondal, arrested over allegations including provocative speeches and criminal intimidation, while hearing his plea seeking quashing of the criminal proceedings initiated against him.
The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court quashed criminal proceedings and summons issued against Wipro chairman Azim Premji and senior company officials in an alleged labour law violation case linked to the company’s Ghaziabad office, while allowing their petition challenging the prosecution proceedings.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court held that advocates operating offices from their residences cannot be charged commercial electricity tariffs, observing that the legal profession differs fundamentally from trade or business activities since legal practice does not involve buying, selling or commercial trading of goods or services.
The Allahabad High Court quashed criminal proceedings against advocates, holding that lawyers cannot face prosecution for acts performed during professional duties, observing that treating legal representation as criminal conspiracy would undermine the legal profession and citizens’ valuable right to effective legal assistance and defence.
The Madras High Court refused to ban the Tamil film Karuppu, observing that portraying judicial corruption and criticising the judiciary cannot automatically amount to contempt, while emphasising that judges are not beyond scrutiny and freedom of artistic expression must be protected in a democratic society.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court cancelled anticipatory bail granted to former district judge Giribala Singh in the suspicious death case of Twisha Sharma, observing that the trial court acted hastily without properly assessing medical evidence, case diary materials and surrounding circumstances before granting relief.
The Calcutta High Court vacated interim protection granted to Trinamool Congress leader Jahangir Khan in multiple criminal cases registered in West Bengal, with Justice Partha Sarathi Sen refusing to extend relief from coercive action earlier restraining police from taking immediate steps against the TMC leader.
