SC – Dismissing the Appeal against the Andhra Pradesh HC judgment,
the Hon’ble SC held that the HC spelt out the reasons that have
necessitated the addition of the charges under Sections 406 and 420 of
IPC. Sec. 216 of the Cr.PC provides the court an exclusive power to
change or alter any charge.
The test to be adopted by the court
while deciding upon an addition or alteration of a charge is that the
material brought on record needs to have a direct link or nexus with the
ingredients of the alleged offence.
Addition of a charge merely
commences the trial for the additional charges, whereupon, based on the
evidence, it is to be determined whether the accused may be convicted
for the additional charges. — Hon’ble Justices Dr. Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud and Hrishikesh Roy [21-01-2020]
Counsel for the Parties – Ms. Rashmi Nandakumar, AOR Mr.
Shankar Narayanan, Ms. Ayushma Awasthi, Mr. Mahfooz Ahsan Nazki, AOR Mr.
Gowtham Polanki, Ms. Anindita Mitra, AOR Mr. A.T.M. Ranga Ramanujam,
Mr. M. A. Chinnasamy, AOR Mr. C. Rubavathi, Mr. V. Senthil Kumar, Mr. P.
Rajaram
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