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State vs 38 convicts — 2008 Ahmedabad serial blasts case

In February 2022, a special court sentenced 38 individuals to death and 11 to life imprisonment for the 2008 Ahmedabad serial blasts, a decision upheld by the Gujarat High Court on 7 July 2026. As of 19 October 2026, the Supreme Court of India has stayed the execution of certain death row convicts, including Mohammad Tanvir and Ahmed Bawa, pending the submission of prison, probation, and psychological evaluation reports.

State vs Balwant Singh Rajoana — Beant Singh assassination case

Balwant Singh Rajoana was convicted for his role in the 1995 assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh. As reported on 17 October 2026, the Centre has opposed the commutation of his death sentence in the Supreme Court, citing the pendency of a mercy petition before the President since 2012.

Public Interest Litigation on Execution by Hanging

A Public Interest Litigation challenged the constitutionality of Section 354(5) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, which mandates execution by hanging. On 13 September 2026, the Supreme Court dismissed the petition and upheld the constitutional validity of the current execution method. The Court declined to refer the matter to a larger bench, effectively closing the case.

State vs. Convict — 1996 Samleti bus bomb blast case

The Supreme Court set aside the death sentence of Dr. Abdul Hameed on 21 July 2026, citing a lack of effective legal representation during the trial and ordering a fresh trial. In the same judgment, the Court acquitted a second convict, Salim, and upheld the acquittal of six other accused individuals on 22 July 2026, ruling that retracted confessions were insufficient to establish guilt.

State of Tamil Nadu vs Daswant — 2017 Mugalivakkam minor rape and murder case

Dashwanth was previously sentenced to death for the 2017 rape and murder of a 7-year-old girl in Mugalivakkam. The Supreme Court of India set aside his conviction and acquitted him on 8 October 2025. As reported on 28 May 2026, the Tamil Nadu government stated its intention to file a curative petition against this acquittal.

State of Tamil Nadu vs Accused — Dr. SD Subbiah murder case

The sessions court initially sentenced seven individuals to death and two to life imprisonment for the murder of neurologist Dr. SD Subbiah. Following an acquittal of all accused by the Madras High Court in June 2024, the Supreme Court set aside the acquittals on 19 May 2026. The Supreme Court restored the convictions of the seven individuals while modifying their sentencing to life imprisonment, with two others permitted to seek pardon.

State vs Mohammad Arif alias Ashfaq

Mohammad Arif alias Ashfaq was convicted and sentenced to death for his role in the 2000 Red Fort attack. Following the rejection of his mercy petition by President Droupadi Murmu on 12 June 2024, the Supreme Court of India issued a notice on 21 January 2026 to examine a curative petition challenging the dismissal of his earlier review petition.

State vs Vasanta Sampat Dupare

The Supreme Court overturned its own 2017 order that had upheld the death sentence of Vasanta Sampat Dupare, who was convicted for the rape and murder of a four-year-old girl. The court allowed an Article 32 petition challenging the sentence on the grounds of procedural safeguards.

State vs Unknown Accused (Uttarakhand Rape-Murder Case)

The Supreme Court acquitted two individuals, including one who was on death row, in connection with the 2014 rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl in Uttarakhand. The court cited a broken chain of circumstantial evidence as the basis for the acquittal.

State of Uttarakhand vs Unknown Accused — 2015 POCSO rape and murder case

In September 2025, the Supreme Court of India acquitted two individuals, including a death row convict, in the 2015 rape and murder case of a seven-year-old girl in Uttarakhand. The court ruled that the chain of circumstantial evidence was incomplete, overturning the 2017 conviction delivered by the Uttarakhand High Court.

State vs Mohd Firoz

The Supreme Court originally commuted Mohd Firoz's death penalty in a rape and murder case to a 20-year prison term in a verdict delivered on 19 April 2022. On 23 August 2025, the Supreme Court delivered a fresh judgment regarding Mohd Firoz and others concerning charges under Section 392 of the Indian Penal Code related to robbery.

State of Madhya Pradesh vs Accused — 2018 Mandsaur rape case

In the 2018 Mandsaur rape case, a trial court had initially convicted two men and sentenced them to death in July 2018. However, the Supreme Court set aside these convictions and the death penalties on 10 March 2025, resulting in the acquittal of the accused.

State of Maharashtra vs Convicts — Sonai murder case

In the 2013 Sonai triple murder case, a Nashik sessions court sentenced six men to death in January 2018 for the murder of three Dalit men in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. Following a 2021 Supreme Court stay on the execution of the death penalty, the Supreme Court delivered its final judgment regarding the convicts' appeals on 10 February 2025.

State vs Chandrabhan Sanap — Mumbai techie rape and murder case

Chandrabhan Sanap was originally convicted and sentenced to death by a trial court for the 2014 rape and murder of a woman in Mumbai, a decision upheld by the Bombay High Court in 2018. On 28 January 2025, the Supreme Court of India set aside this conviction and acquitted him, citing significant gaps in the prosecution's evidence.

State vs. Convict — 2016 Sexual Assault and Murder of a Minor Boy

The Supreme Court set aside the death penalty imposed on a convict for the 2016 sexual assault and murder of a four-year-old boy. The court commuted the sentence, citing procedural and legal considerations.

Reshma vs State of Uttarakhand — Rape and murder of a minor in Dehradun

Yusuf Alias Sonu was convicted for the rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl in Dehradun. Following a stay of his death sentence by the Supreme Court, the High Court of Uttarakhand issued a judgment on 2 May 2024, referring the criminal matter for confirmation.

State of Karnataka vs B.A. Umesh alias Umesh Reddy

B.A. Umesh alias Umesh Reddy is a serial killer convicted for rape and murder who has faced multiple legal challenges regarding his death sentence and solitary confinement. The Supreme Court of India ruled on 4 November 2022 that his decade-long solitary confinement was illegal due to the resulting mental trauma. Most recently, the Karnataka High Court rejected his petition concerning ongoing legal challenges to his conviction and sentencing as reported on 27 February 2024.

State of Uttar Pradesh vs. Shabnam and Salim

The Supreme Court upheld the death sentence of Shabnam, a teacher, and her partner Salim for the murder of seven members of her family in 2008 due to a property dispute and family opposition to their marriage.

State vs Mukesh and others — Nirbhaya case

In the 2012 Delhi gang-rape and murder case, the Supreme Court of India upheld the death sentences of four convicts in May 2017. Following the exhaustion of all legal remedies, the four convicts were executed by hanging at Tihar Jail on 20 March 2020.

State of Gujarat vs Ravjibhai et al. — 2003 murder case

The Supreme Court acquitted six individuals who had been sentenced to death in 2009 for the 2003 murder of five members of a family, including a minor girl. The court overturned its own previous judgment in a rare reversal.