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1. Introduction In a significant reaffirmation of bail jurisprudence and evidentiary standards , the Supreme Court of India declined to cancel the bail granted to an accused in the high-profile murder case of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique. The ruling underscores the judiciary’s commitment to individualised criminal liability , even in cases involving allegations of organised crime. 2. Factual Background The case arises from the murder of Baba Siddique, a three-time MLA and senior leader, who was shot dead on October 12, 2024 , in Mumbai’s Bandra (East) area outside his son’s office. The accused, Akashdeep Karaj Singh, aged 22, was arrested in November 2024 from a border village in Punjab. He became the first accused to secure bail in the case from the Bombay High Court on February 9. The prosecution alleged links between Singh and the Bishnoi organised crime syndicate , purportedly orchestrated by Anmol Bishnoi. The bail order was challenged by the deceased’s widow, Shehze...

1. Introduction The recent decision of the Supreme Court of India in the Vadodara car crash case brings into sharp focus the evolving contours of bail jurisprudence , criminal liability under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) , and the judicial approach toward acts committed under intoxication . By dismissing the Gujarat government’s plea against bail, the Court reaffirmed foundational principles governing pre-trial liberty , while carefully distinguishing between culpable conduct and deliberate criminal intent . 2. Factual Matrix The case arose from a tragic incident dated March 14, 2025 , in Vadodara, Gujarat. A 23-year-old law student, Rakshit Ravish Chorasiya, allegedly drove a car under the influence of drugs and caused multiple collisions near Muktanand crossroads, Karelibaug . One woman, Hemali Patel, lost her life. Nine others sustained injuries. Eyewitness and video evidence suggested erratic behaviour, including the accused shouting “another round” post-collision. The accuse...

Background of the Pune Porsche Crash Case (2024) The Pune Porsche crash case arose out of a tragic road accident that occurred in the early hours of 19 May 2024 near Kalyani Nagar, Pune . According to the prosecution, a 17-year-old boy , allegedly under the influence of alcohol, was driving a high-end Porsche car after attending a late-night party with two friends. At around 2:00 AM , the car rammed into a two-wheeler, resulting in the death of two young IT professionals, Anis Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta . The incident sparked nationwide outrage, not only due to the loss of innocent lives but also because of the subsequent allegations that influential individuals attempted to manipulate the criminal justice process . Allegations of Evidence Tampering and Role of the Accused The present Supreme Court proceedings concerned three accused persons alleged to have tampered with evidence after the accident: The father of one of the juveniles present in the car , Ashish Satish Mittal , and A...

Courts Cannot Recall Signed Orders Except for Clerical Errors I. Background of the Case In a rare and procedurally significant ruling, the Supreme Court of India restored anticipatory bail granted to an accused in a narcotics case after holding that the Patna High Court acted without jurisdiction in recalling a bail order that had already been signed. The case highlights a critical question of criminal procedure: Can a court undo a signed judicial order because of an internal staff error? The Supreme Court answered with a clear no . II. FIR and Allegations Under NDPS Act The case originated from an FIR registered in October 2024 in Vaishali district, Bihar , under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act) . Key Allegations: 6.33 kg of ganja was allegedly recovered from a co-accused During interrogation, the co-accused claimed that the contraband was meant to be delivered to Rambali Sahni No recovery was made from Sahni S...

Supreme Court Reasserts Victim-Centric Approach in POCSO Bail Jurisprudence The Supreme Court has once again underscored that victim safety and the integrity of the trial process must override all other considerations while deciding bail under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO Act) . In a significant judgment delivered on Friday, the Court cancelled the bail granted to an accused in a 2024 gangrape case involving a minor, holding that the Allahabad High Court’s order suffered from “manifest perversity” . The ruling reinforces the heightened statutory rigour applicable to sexual offences against children and clarifies that prolonged incarceration or delay in trial cannot be mechanically invoked to grant bail in grave POCSO offences . Factual Background of the Case The case arises from an alleged gangrape of a 16-year-old girl in Shamli district, Uttar Pradesh , on December 1, 2024 . An FIR was registered the following day at the Shamli police station. Acc...

CASE BACKGROUND — DISMISSAL OF A DISTRICT JUDGE FOR GRANTING BAIL IN EXCISE CASES The Supreme Court set aside the dismissal of Nirbhay Singh Suliya , former Additional District & Sessions Judge, Khargone (Madhya Pradesh), who was removed from service in 2014 on allegations of: exercising judicial discretion improperly in bail orders under the MP Excise Act showing alleged “double standards” in granting or denying bail The disciplinary action was initiated after a complaint was filed in 2011 alleging corruption and irregularity in bail orders relating to seized liquor quantities above 50 bulk litres. An enquiry was conducted under the Madhya Pradesh Civil Services (Classification, Control & Appeal) Rules, 1966 , resulting in his dismissal, which was affirmed by the Madhya Pradesh High Court in July 2024. The officer challenged this before the Supreme Court. SUPREME COURT’S CENTRAL OBSERVATION — “FEAR CANNOT CONTROL JUDICIAL DISCRETION” Bench: Justice JB Pardiwala Justice KV Visw...

Background of the Support to Poor Prisoners Scheme (2023) The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) launched the Support to Poor Prisoners Scheme in 2023 to assist undertrial prisoners who were granted bail by courts but continued to remain in jail due to inability to furnish bail bonds or financial sureties . Under the scheme: Financial assistance is provided to States/UTs Funds may be used only in cases where bail has already been granted Assistance covers bail amount or surety shortfall However, a Supreme Court order dated 8 October 2025 directed: Review of the scheme framework Assessment of ground-level implementation Strengthening monitoring and release procedures The recent MHA advisory and revised guidelines have been issued in compliance with that order . Supreme Court Trigger for the Policy Revision The Supreme Court had expressed concern that: Thousands of undertrials remain in jail Despite bail orders by courts Only because they cannot afford bail amounts The Court treated this a...

The Supreme Court has reiterated that suppression of criminal history while seeking bail amounts to an abuse of the legal process and is, by itself, sufficient ground for dismissal of a petition — irrespective of the merits of the case. The ruling reinforces the duty of candour expected from litigants invoking the Court’s discretionary jurisdiction. Case Background — Bail Plea Rejected for Concealment of Criminal Cases The ruling arose in Firoz @ Farhu v. State of Rajasthan , where the accused sought bail in a murder case registered under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code. A bench of Justices Sanjay Kumar and Alok Aradhe found that: The petitioner falsely declared that he had “no antecedents”. However, the State’s counter-affidavit revealed: One earlier criminal case registered in June 2023. Another case registered in August 2024. The Special Leave Petition was filed in August 2025 despite the petitioner’s knowledge of these cases. The Court held that the concealment was deliberate ...

Heading: Background of the Case The Supreme Court has clarified that the long-standing principle of presumption of innocence applies only until the conclusion of the criminal trial. Once a conviction is recorded, the presumption no longer survives, and appellate courts must exercise extreme caution while suspending sentences and granting bail pending appeal. The ruling came while setting aside orders of the Patna High Court that had suspended the life sentences of two convicts — a father-son duo — involved in the murder of a village priest inside a temple in Bihar’s Rohtas district. The Court directed both convicts to surrender within ten days. Heading: Facts of the Crime and Trial Court Findings The incident occurred on 11 December 2021 inside the Mahavir Temple. The prosecution case was that the deceased, Krishna Behari Upadhyay, a village priest, had gone to the temple with his son to perform evening rituals when a group of armed men entered the premises, accused him of political i...

Introduction In a significant reaffirmation of personal liberty and criminal procedure safeguards, the Bombay High Court has held that an accused cannot be remanded to judicial custody merely for not applying for bail , particularly when the individual was never arrested during investigation and consistently appeared before the court pursuant to summons . The ruling underscores the constitutional limits on judicial power and reinforces the settled principle that custody is a legal status, not a procedural assumption . Background of the Case The ruling arose from a criminal case registered in 2023 , involving allegations that partners of AS Agri and Aqua Limited Liability Partnership defrauded investors of approximately ₹350 crore by promising unusually high returns. Alleged Offences The FIR invoked the following provisions: Section 406, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 – Criminal breach of trust Section 420, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 – Cheating Section 427, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhi...