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Vyakti Vikas Kendra India v. Manoj Misra (Dead) & Ors. — Polluter Pays Principle and Environmental Damage

The Supreme Court set aside an NGT order against Art of Living in a Yamuna floodplain matter. The Court held that the Polluter Pays Principle cannot be invoked absent a demonstrable link to environmental damage. The Court found that contemporaneous material showed the site was already damaged before it was handed over to the appellant.

State of Uttar Pradesh v. Ajmal Beg — Dowry death and cruelty case

A case involving dowry death and cruelty against a married woman under Sections 304-B and 498-A IPC. The Supreme Court's judgment dated 15 December 2025 restored a trial court's conviction of the accused, and subsequently issued 10-point nationwide directions to expedite trials in similar cases.

State vs Unknown — Vejalpur Police Station custodial death case, Ahmedabad

In May 2026, 70-year-old Zahiruddin Shaikh died while in the custody of the Vejalpur Police Station in Ahmedabad. Following a Supreme Court order dated 23 July 2026, the Gujarat government registered an FIR and appointed a Special Investigation Team to probe the death after the Gujarat High Court previously dismissed the family's petition. As of 29 August 2026, the case is under investigation.

State v Two Advocates — Quashing of gangster charges based on Executive 'Gang Charts'

In a judgment delivered as reported on 27 August 2026, the Supreme Court quashed proceedings against two advocates under the U.P. Gangsters Act. The Court held the legislation is stillborn for failing to create an independent offence and ruled that prosecuting individuals based solely on administrative gang charts violates constitutional principles.

State vs Anil Deshmukh and others — Rs 100 crore extortion case

Former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh faces allegations of a Rs 100 crore extortion racket involving dismissed police officer Sachin Vaze. Following the Maharashtra Governor's sanction for his prosecution in August 2026, Deshmukh challenged the proceedings by questioning the exclusion of former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh. As reported on 26 August 2026, a special court in Mumbai rejected Deshmukh's plea for an adjournment in the ongoing CBI corruption case.

Marine Cargo Annual Turnover Policy — Insurer liability case

In the case of New India Assurance Company Limited vs. M/s Louis Dreyfus Commodities India Pvt Ltd, the Supreme Court ruled on 18 August 2026 that an insurer is not liable for losses exceeding the sum insured under a Marine Cargo Annual Turnover Policy without advance premium payment. The Court affirmed that Section 64VB of the Insurance Act prohibits insurers from assuming risks based on informal promises or before receiving the requisite premium.

In re: Post Facto Environmental Clearances

On 19 August 2026, the Supreme Court struck down the 2021 Office Memorandum that allowed for ex-post-facto environmental clearances, ruling that prior environmental approval is the mandatory rule. The Court affirmed on 25 August 2026 that the Union of India may exercise statutory authority under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, to implement time-bound amnesty schemes for environmental clearances, provided these schemes are enacted through statutory notifications rather than administrative orders.

Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay v. Union of India and Others — PIL seeking expedited NDPS trials

Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay filed a public interest litigation in the Supreme Court seeking mandatory timelines for forensic reports, expedited trials, and a national strategy to address the drug menace in India. Following the issuance of notices to the Centre and states on 10 August 2026, the Supreme Court tagged the petition with ongoing suo motu proceedings concerning the national drug crisis on 24 August 2026.

Supreme Court ruling on SC/ST Act applicability in private spaces

The Supreme Court of India ruled that caste-based insults made within a private space or closed room do not constitute an offense under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. The court clarified that such actions only qualify as an offense if committed within public view, as established in the judgment delivered as reported on 22 August 2026.

Vijay Madanlal Choudhary vs. Union of India — PMLA Constitutional Validity Review

Review petitions were filed challenging the Supreme Court's July 2022 judgment that upheld the constitutional validity of sweeping powers of the Enforcement Directorate under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). A new bench was reconstituted to hear these review petitions in 2026.

Supreme Court — Dowry death case with acquittal of husband and 17 in-laws

In a judgment delivered on 13 July 2026, the Supreme Court acquitted a husband and 16 family members in a 26-year-old dowry death case originating from April 2000 in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh. The Court overturned the convictions after finding that the deceased did not accuse her husband of cruelty during her five-day hospitalization, and it criticized the mechanical prosecution of all accused family members.

State vs 36-year-old man and two others — Abduction, rape, and attempted murder of six-year-old child

A 36-year-old man and two others allegedly abducted and raped a six-year-old child and attempted to murder her on 9 May 2025. While two of the accused were apprehended, the 36-year-old evaded arrest. The case relates to an incident occurring soon after the accused's acquittal by the Supreme Court.

Applicability of Section 498A IPC to live-in relationships

The Supreme Court of India has clarified that the legal protections against cruelty afforded under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, extend to individuals in live-in relationships. This ruling addresses the scope of domestic cruelty laws beyond formal marriages.

Saradha Chit Fund Scam — Multi-crore Ponzi scheme collapse — CBI & ED prosecutions against accused promoters and linked individuals

The Saradha Group allegedly collected approximately Rs 2,500 crore from investors through a fraudulent Ponzi scheme, leading the Supreme Court to transfer the investigation to the CBI in 2014. While the trials against multiple accused have faced a stalemate since 17 April 2026, the Supreme Court granted bail to primary promoter Sudipta Sen on 20 August 2026 after he spent nearly a decade in custody. The PMLA court dismissed the ED’s money-laundering case against Nalini Chidambaram on 1 August 2024.

Shahid Khan v. State of Karnataka — UAPA case

Shahid Khan challenged his prolonged trial under UAPA in the Supreme Court, which criticized the State of Karnataka for its unrealistic prosecution plan involving 700 witnesses. Following hearings concluded on 19 August 2026, the Court ordered the establishment of a dedicated UAPA court to expedite proceedings and granted the petitioner liberty to apply for bail after three protected witnesses are examined.

Rishi Malhotra vs Union of India — Challenge to hanging as a mode of execution

In this public interest litigation, Rishi Malhotra challenged the constitutional validity of execution by hanging under Section 354(5) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, arguing that it is not a dignified form of death. The Supreme Court dismissed the plea on 18 August 2026, declining to refer the earlier judgment in Deena v. Union of India.

In re: Electrocution Liability Case

The Supreme Court ruled on 13 August 2026 that electricity authorities are subject to strict, rather than absolute, liability for electrocution injuries and deaths. Furthermore, as reported on 14 August 2026, the Court held that writ petitions under Article 226 of the Constitution are not maintainable when cases involve disputed questions of fact, requiring petitioners to seek alternative legal remedies.

Challenge to the Transgender Persons Amendment Act, 2026 — self-identification

The Supreme Court is examining petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Transgender Persons Amendment Act, 2026, on the grounds that it restricts the right to self-identification. As reported on 17 August 2026, the Union Government defended the law before a three-judge bench, arguing that permitting self-perceived identity would make 169 statutory provisions unworkable. The court has directed the Union to further evaluate the impact of the 2026 amendment.

State of Maharashtra vs Arnab Goswami — Abetment to Suicide

Republic TV founder Arnab Goswami was arrested in connection with a 2018 abetment to suicide case involving the death of an architect and his mother. Following his arrest in November 2020, the Supreme Court of India granted him interim bail on 27 November 2020. As reported on 15 August 2026, the Bombay High Court has since questioned the state government's authority to reopen this case after a magistrate had previously accepted a police closure report.

State vs Unknown accused — Narcotics vehicle interception case

The Supreme Court addressed the procedural requirements under Section 42 of the NDPS Act in circumstances requiring immediate interception of moving vehicles carrying narcotics. The Court held that substantial compliance with statutory requirements is sufficient in such urgent situations.