Criminal judgments

Telangana High Court ·22 Sep 2026 ·Criminal Law

Telangana HC acquits man of murder: incomplete circumstantial chain; untested witnesses cannot prove 'last seen together'

The question: Can statements recorded under Section 164 CrPC be treated as substantive evidence when the witnesses did not testify at trial?

A Division Bench of the Telangana High Court set aside a Jagtial sessions court's life sentence for murder and destruction of evidence. The prosecution had proved a homicidal death but not who caused it. Its key 'last seen together' link rested on statements of two witnesses recorded before a magistrate who were never examined at trial, and the recovery of a towel did not connect the accused to the death.

Allowed CRLA/683/2025

AP High Court ·21 Sep 2026 ·Criminal Law

AP High Court quashes prohibition case against a 72-year-old jaggery merchant, following its earlier rulings on black jaggery

The question: Can proceedings under the prohibition law be sustained over transport or trade in black jaggery?

A 72-year-old jaggery merchant from Guntakal asked the High Court to quash a case against him under the A.P. Prohibition (Amendment) Act, 2020 and the Gur (Regulation of Use) Order, 1968. His counsel argued that he had no link to the allegations beyond a co-accused's confession, and the Assistant Public Prosecutor accepted that the issue was already settled by earlier High Court orders.

Allowed CRLP/8291/2026

Telangana High Court ·17 Sep 2026 ·Bail

Telangana HC grants anticipatory bail to a company director in a Rs 98 crore GST credit case; arrest must be necessary

The question: Does the seriousness of an alleged GST fraud justify refusing anticipatory bail?

A director of a Hyderabad company, accused of wrongly claiming about Rs 98.47 crore of input tax credit on invoices from non-genuine suppliers, sought protection from arrest under the Central and Telangana GST Acts. The High Court held that the seriousness of an economic offence is not enough on its own: what matters is whether custodial interrogation is actually necessary, and here the evidence was largely documents already seized.

Allowed CRLP/13710/2026

Telangana High Court ·17 Sep 2026 ·Criminal Law

Telangana HC: A Magistrate must apply his mind before taking cognizance; cryptic docket order summoning an accused quashed

The question: What must a Magistrate record before taking cognizance and issuing summons to an accused?

An accused challenged a Magistrate's one-line docket order of 18 May 2026, in a Kukatpally court, that took cognizance and issued summons without recording any satisfaction. The Additional Public Prosecutor did not oppose the challenge. The High Court quashed the order and sent the matter back to the Magistrate to take cognizance afresh.

Disposed of CRLP/13550/2026