#quashment

A newspaper proprietor merely as owner/shareholder cannot be prosecuted for criminal defamation under Section 7 of the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867, the Gauhati HC held, shielding passive owners from liability for content they did not create.

Allahabad High Court refuses to quash proceedings under BNSS Section 528 where the accused was never arrested, emphasizing that mere filing of a charge-sheet does not entitle automatic quashing. The court directs bail consideration under Satender Kumar Antil guidelines, reinforcing that procedural compliance alone does not override judicial discretion in criminal proceedings.

Madhya Pradesh High Court rules that once a chargesheet is filed based on prima facie evidence, criminal proceedings cannot be quashed under BNSS Section 528, reinforcing judicial restraint at the pre-trial stage. The decision underscores that disputed facts must be adjudicated during trial, not via inherent powers.

Calcutta High Court rules that acts of coercion and extortion during a vigilance enquiry fall outside the scope of official duty, stripping public servants of Section 197 CrPC immunity. The judgment clarifies that only acts integrally connected to official functions warrant protection, impacting criminal proceedings against government officials.

Karnataka High Court quashes proceedings against accused No.14 after co-accused were acquitted due to prosecution's failure to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

Andhra Pradesh High Court quashes criminal case under Sections 420 and 406 IPC, holding that civil disputes cannot be converted into criminal proceedings to exert pressure.

Madhya Pradesh High Court quashes dowry prosecution due to vague allegations, decade-long delay, and absence of specific acts against accused family members.

Madhya Pradesh High Court quashes FIR in land dispute, holding that criminal prosecution cannot substitute civil remedies when allegations lack essential ingredients of forgery or cheating.