Criminal Law & Courts Day: Your Morning Brief — March 12, 2026

Criminal Law & Courts Day — Morning Brief

Published: March 12, 2026, 7:00 AM IST    |    Category: Daily Legal Brief

Tags: P&H High Court, Gurmeet Ram Rahim, SARFAESI 2026, BNSS, Criminal Law

Criminal Law & Courts Day: Your Morning Brief — March 12, 2026

Today's legal brief covers four major developments from Punjab and Haryana courts and the Supreme Court of India — from a landmark acquittal to FIR abuse in property disputes, SARFAESI enforcement updates, and the continuing evolution of BNSS procedure.

1. P&H HC Acquits Gurmeet Ram Rahim in Chhatrapati Murder Case

In a landmark verdict, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has acquitted Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in the 2002 murder case of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati. A bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Vikram Aggarwal held that the CBI had coerced a key witness into implicating Gurmeet Ram Rahim, rendering the prosecution evidence unreliable. The Court upheld the conviction and life sentence of three other accused — Kuldeep, Nirmal, and Krishan Lal.

2. FIR in Property Disputes — Criminal Law Cannot Substitute Civil Remedies

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has quashed a cheating and forgery FIR arising from a land agreement dispute, holding that criminal proceedings were being misused to escape civil liability. Justice H.S. Grewal held that where allegations are essentially civil in nature, the criminal process cannot be weaponised as a pressure tactic.

3. SARFAESI & DRAT February 2026 — Key Enforcement Rulings

The Debt Recovery Appellate Tribunal (DRAT) has issued significant February 2026 rulings clarifying that SARFAESI enforcement measures remain valid despite technical defects, provided no prejudice is shown. Banks and financial institutions receive stronger enforcement clarity, while borrowers must demonstrate actual prejudice to challenge proceedings.

4. BNSS vs CrPC — Procedural Transition Challenges for Practitioners

Courts across Punjab and Haryana are flagging procedural errors as advocates navigate the BNSS 2023 transition from CrPC 1973. Today's deep dive covers the five most critical procedural changes that every practitioner must master — from Section 35 arrest procedure to remand timelines under BNSS.

────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────