#interested witnesses

Calcutta HC quashed criminal proceedings against a father accused of assault during court-ordered visitation, ruling that the FIR lacked credible evidence of criminal intent (mens rea) and suffered from unexplained delay. The judgment reinforces that visitation disputes cannot be criminalized without clear proof of wrongful intent, protecting parents from abuse of process under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Patna High Court sets aside conviction under Section 364 IPC, ruling that reliance solely on interested witnesses and the last seen theory-without forensic or independent evidence-fails to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The judgment reinforces the need for corroborative evidence in circumstantial cases to prevent miscarriage of justice.

The Calcutta High Court acquitted 17 appellants in a murder case, ruling that convictions cannot stand on contradictory, politically motivated testimonies alone, especially when forensic evidence like firearms or ballistic reports is missing. The judgment reinforces that uncorroborated Section 164 CrPC statements and inquest reports are insufficient to establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt.