#case and counter case

Karnataka HC quashes criminal proceedings in a case and counter-case investigated by different IOs, directing the same investigating officer to handle both crimes arising from a solitary incident. The court orders a de novo investigation within three months to ensure procedural fairness and prevent abuse of process.

The Bombay High Court clarifies that procedural non-compliance in trying a criminal case and its counter case simultaneously does not invalidate proceedings unless the accused demonstrates actual prejudice. Section 465 CrPC operates as a curative provision, shielding convictions from technical defects when substantive justice is intact - a critical safeguard for prosecutors and trial courts navigating complex familial disputes.