Rest The Case Weekly News Brief : Most Impactful Cases & Legal Updates

India Enacts Historic New Criminal Laws: Faster Trials, Digital Evidence & Victim-Centric Justice from July 2025

On July 1, 2025, India officially put into effect three new criminal laws: the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (replacing the Indian Penal Code), the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (replacing the Code of Criminal Procedure), and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (replacing the Indian Evidence Act). These laws aim to modernize the justice system with new offences like mob lynching and organized crime, set strict timelines for police investigations, and allow digital and electronic evidence to be presented directly in court. Before the rollout, lakhs of police officers, prosecutors, and judges were trained to handle cases under the new rules, and a special bench of Senior Judges reviewed the procedures to help courts apply them smoothly. The goal is to make trials faster, reduce case backlogs, and focus more on giving justice to victims instead of only punishing the accused.

On July 2, 2025, Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke at an event in Delhi and called this change the biggest reform since Independence. He explained that under the new laws, an FIR could lead to a case reaching the Supreme Court within three years, which would be a huge improvement from the past. Shah also said that over 23 states and union territories have already started using digital tools like e-summons and e-evidence, helping benches and trial courts work more quickly. He stressed that these laws were written for Indian citizens, unlike the old colonial laws, which mainly aimed to control them. According to Shah, the real focus now is to deliver affordable, timely, and fair justice to everyone.

Karnataka Introduces Strict Fake-News Law, Sparking Widespread Concern

On June 30, 2025, the Karnataka cabinet approved the draft Karnataka Misinformation and Fake News (Prohibition) Bill, 2025, aimed at tackling harmful online content. The bill proposes prison terms of 2–5 years for spreading general misinformation and up to 7 years in jail plus ₹10 lakh fines for serious offences like “anti-Sanatan” content or promoting superstition. It also plans to set up a six-member regulatory authority, led by the state’s IT minister and including platform representatives, to flag and block content deemed false. Special courts, formed with the Karnataka High Court’s consultation, would handle these cases quickly and even hold companies liable for user content.

IT-BT Minister Priyank Kharge defended the move, saying it updates old rules to protect citizens, and promised public consultation before the law is finalised.

But journalists and digital rights groups warn the bill’s vague wording could threaten free speech and be misused to silence criticism. The Karnataka High Court has asked the state to explain how the bill respects freedom of expression under Article 19(1)(a). The draft law has since become a major national debate, highlighting the struggle to balance online safety with constitutional rights.

Kolkata Police Launch Real-Time Social Media Surveillance

On June 29, 2025, the Kolkata Police rolled out a real-time social media surveillance system to track cybercrime, hate speech, and fake news more quickly. The new system scans platforms like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram for keywords linked to communal tension or threats. A special team reviews flagged posts and decides on legal action or takedown requests.

Police say this step is meant to curb the spread of harmful content that can trigger panic or street protests. They believe real-time monitoring will help prevent crimes and reassure citizens that online spaces are under watch.

Digital rights activists, however, worry about privacy and misuse. They argue that without clear rules or court oversight, the system could silence criticism and satire.

The Cybercrime Branch has promised careful review of flagged posts and insists action will only be taken against clear violations of the law. Even so, the new system has sparked debate about balancing public safety with freedom of expression.

Supreme Court Dismisses Lalit Modi’s Plea Against ₹10 Crore FEMA Fine

On June 27, 2025 June 27, 2025, the Supreme Court of India dismissed a plea by former IPL chairman Lalit Modi, who had challenged a ₹10 crore penalty imposed on him under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). The penalty was earlier upheld by the appellate tribunal after finding violations related to financial transactions during his time at the Indian Premier League.

A Bench led by Justice BR Gavai heard Modi’s appeal and noted there was no strong ground to interfere with the order confirming the fine. The court said the authorities had followed due process and Modi had been given enough opportunity to defend himself before the tribunal.

During the hearing, Modi’s legal team argued that the penalty was excessive and not fully justified by the evidence. However, the Bench disagreed and stressed that the nature of the violations, along with the amount involved, justified the penalty under FEMA.

With this dismissal, Lalit Modi must now pay the ₹10 crore fine, unless he pursues any further legal options. Legal experts say the ruling shows the court’s firm stand on ensuring financial compliance and accountability, especially in high-profile cases.

Supreme Court Sets New Rules on How Long to Keep Court Office Records

On June 26, 2025, the Supreme Court of India announced new rules called the “Guidelines for Retention and Destruction of Administrative Records, 2025.” These rules explain how long different kinds of office files, notes, and documents in the court’s administration should be kept, and when they can be destroyed. Until now, there were proper rules only for keeping case files and judicial records, but there weren’t clear rules for the court’s internal office paperwork. Under the new guidelines, important and historic documents must be kept permanently. Other routine records can be destroyed after a fixed period, but only if there’s no ongoing investigation, audit, or court case related to them.

The Supreme Court says this step will help reduce clutter in court record rooms, speed up work, make the process more transparent, and help courts move towards digital systems. All High Courts and lower courts across India have also been asked to follow these guidelines.

Legal experts believe this change will make court administration more organized and modern, which will ultimately help the public.