Criminal Law — Supreme Court Judgments

Sri v. State Rep. by Inspector of Police, Q Branch, Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu

(2026) INSC 516

Whether the appellant — a Sri Lankan national residing openly in Trichy under the name 'Ranjan' — is the same as the absconding accused 'Sri' (A-5) who allegedly handed over cyanide capsules and poisonous substances to co-accused Krishnakumar in May 2015 for revival of the banned LTTE organisation, and whether the conviction based solely on the belated and improved testimonies of two witnesses (who were themselves illegally staying in India on forged documents) is sustainable.

Ram Balak v. State of U.P.

(2026) INSC 511

Whether the High Court, while exercising its statutory power under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS) (corresponding to Section 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973) to grant or reject bail, can issue far-reaching directions mandating the State Government and police authorities to create departmental accountability systems for service of summons, execution of coercive measures, and production of witnesses, or whether such directions exceed the scope of the statutory power of bail jurisdiction.

State of Tamil Nadu v. Ponnusamy

(2026) INSC 507

Whether the High Court was justified in reversing the Trial Court's conviction of nine accused for murder and criminal conspiracy, and acquitting them on the ground that the approver's evidence was unreliable, witnesses were chance witnesses with delayed disclosure, CDRs were not properly proved under Section 65-B of the Evidence Act, 1872, and electronic evidence (CCTV footage and gait analysis) was mishandled, despite the Trial Court having found the evidence credible and consistent.

Syed Iftikhar Andrabi v. National Investigation Agency, Jammu

(2026) INSC 503

Whether the stringent bail conditions under Section 43-D(5) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAP Act) and Section 37 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act) can be relaxed on the ground of prolonged incarceration and delayed trial, especially in light of the three-Judge Bench decision in K.A. Najeeb, and whether smaller Benches can dilute or circumvent the ratio of a larger Bench.

Talari Naresh v. State of Telangana

(2026) INSC 486

Whether the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt against the appellant for offences under Sections 302 and 323 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Sections 3(2)(v) and 3(1)(x) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, where the sole eyewitness was the mother of the deceased (an interested witness), the other eyewitness turned hostile, witnesses on the Panchayat turned hostile, and the medical evidence contained unexplained discrepancies regarding the date and time of postmortem.

Yatin Narendra Oza v. Suo Motu, High Court of Gujarat

(2026) INSC 470

Whether a senior advocate and President of the High Court Bar Association, who made public statements terming the High Court a 'gambling den' and alleging corruption, favouritism, and nepotism against the Registry, is guilty of criminal contempt under Section 2(c)(i) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, and whether his repeated unconditional apologies should be accepted given his history of similar conduct.

Gunjan @ Girija Kumari v. State (NCT of Delhi)

(2026) INSC 468

Whether the essential ingredient of 'any place within public view' under Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 is made out when the alleged caste-based abuses and insults occurred inside a residential house, where no independent members of the public were present, and whether the FIR and charge-sheet can be quashed on this ground at the threshold.

In Re: Order Dated 17.03.2025 Passed by the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad in Criminal Revision No. 1449/2024 and Ancillary Issues v. We the Women of India

(2026) INSC 165

Whether the accused's actions of taking a minor victim on a motorcycle, dragging her near a culvert, and committing sexually offensive acts constituted 'preparation' or 'attempt' to commit rape. Additionally, whether guidelines are required to inculcate sensitivity and compassion in judicial approach while dealing with sexual offences.

State of U.P. v. Ajmal Beg

(2025) INSC 1435

Whether the High Court was justified in reversing a conviction under Section 304-B of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 for dowry death based on omissions, inconsistencies, and contradictions in witness testimonies, and whether the prosecution had established the essential ingredients of dowry death including demand 'soon before death'.

Mihir Rajesh Shah v. State of Maharashtra

(2025) INSC 1288

Whether Section 47 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS 2023) and Article 22(1) of the Constitution of India require that grounds of arrest be furnished in writing to every accused in every case, and what is the consequence of non-compliance, particularly in the context of offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS 2023).

NaXXXX Kumar v. KaXXXX

Whether ad-interim maintenance can be granted under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 in the absence of a specific application, and whether such maintenance should be payable from the date of filing of the application or from the date of the order. Also, whether the dismissal of a maintenance application under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 bars a claim under Section 125 CrPC.