Nakul Iswary v. the State of Assam
Case brief
What is this about?
Gauhati High Court, Bail Appln. 3111/2025 (decided 17.11.2025 by Justice Sanjeev Kumar Sharma): bail granted to Nakul Iswary, accused in Bongaigaon P.S. Case No. 226/2024 / Session Case TI No. 73/2024 under Ss. 120(B)/302 IPC and 25(1-A)/27/35 Arms Act (murder), because the Section 50 CrPC arrest notice contained no grounds of arrest and none were furnished from arrest (01.07.2024) until rejection of his first bail plea (10.07.2024); Legal Aid Counsel appointment held insufficient to cure the lapse; prejudice demonstrable; arrest vitiated under Article 22(1) notwithstanding the Vihaan Kumar–Sri Darshan dichotomy. Precedents engaged: Prabir Purkayastha (2024) 8 SCC 254 (followed); Vihaan Kumar 2025 SCC OnLine SC 269 (relied on); State of Karnataka v. Sri Darshan 2025 SCC Online SC 1702 (prejudice test applied); NIA v. Thangminlen Mate, Crl.A. 234/2025 (Gauhati HC DB); Pranay Sethi (2017) 16 SCC 680 (referred). Keywords: grounds of arrest; Section 50 CrPC; Section 50A CrPC; Article 22(1); prejudice test; bail; murder; Arms Act; Section 483 BNSS 2023.