Criminal Matters

Liberty is the most fundamental right of the accused. Juris and Justice moves swiftly and strategically on bail — whether at the time of arrest, before Sessions Courts, or before High Courts and the Supreme Court when bail is denied at the first instance.

We advise on and file regular bail applications under Section 483 BNSS (erstwhile Section 437 CrPC), anticipatory bail applications under Section 482 BNSS (formerly 438 CrPC), bail in non-bailable offences under Section 480 BNSS, and bail in cases involving special statutes like NDPS, PMLA, and POCSO — which carry their own stringent conditions for bail.

Where bail has been wrongly granted, we represent the prosecution or complainant in bail cancellation proceedings before appropriate courts.

NDPS cases are among the most complex and severe in Indian criminal law — carrying mandatory minimum sentences and a presumption of guilt that places a heavy burden on the accused. The Act's twin conditions under Section 37 make bail extremely difficult, and a conviction can attract rigorous imprisonment of up to 20 years or even the death penalty in the most serious cases.

Our NDPS defence team scrutinises every aspect of the prosecution's case — from the legality of the search and seizure to the compliance with mandatory sampling and analysis procedures under Section 52A and the NDPS Rules. We identify procedural violations, challenge the chain of custody, and rigorously cross-examine the prosecution's witnesses to build the strongest possible defence.

We handle NDPS matters at every level — bail applications (including the twin conditions), Special Court trials, appeals before High Courts, and SLPs before the Supreme Court.

POCSO cases carry some of the most serious sentences in Indian law and are prosecuted with the full weight of the state. The Act creates special courts, special procedures, and a presumption of guilt in many cases. False allegations — particularly in the context of matrimonial disputes or family conflicts — are not uncommon, and a wrongful conviction can destroy lives.

Juris and Justice approaches POCSO defence with the seriousness the charge demands and the rigour the facts require. We analyse the statement of the child witness (often the sole prosecution evidence), challenge inconsistencies in the testimony, examine compliance with the procedural safeguards built into the POCSO Act itself, and engage appropriately qualified experts where the evidence is disputed.

We represent accused persons at the POCSO Special Court level, in appeals before High Courts, and in SLPs before the Supreme Court of India.

The Maharashtra Organised Crime Control Act (MOCA/MCOCA) is one of the most stringent criminal statutes in India — targeting organised crime syndicates and carrying provisions that drastically restrict bail, make confessions to police admissible, and impose severe minimum punishments. Prosecution under MOCA is typically accompanied by parallel proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and other related statutes.

Defence in MOCA matters demands careful analysis of whether the statutory prerequisites for applying the Act are satisfied — including the threshold of "organised crime" and the requirement of "continuing unlawful activity." Juris and Justice scrutinises the prosecution's invocation of MOCA, challenges the admissibility of evidence obtained under the Act's special provisions, and fights for bail in an environment that presumes detention.

Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act is one of the most commonly litigated provisions in Indian law — with millions of cheque dishonour cases pending before Magistrate Courts across the country. The NI Act creates a presumption that the cheque was drawn for a legally enforceable debt, placing the burden on the accused to rebut it.

Juris and Justice handles NI Act matters from both sides — prosecuting on behalf of payees who have received dishonoured cheques, and defending accused drawers who have issued cheques under duress, as accommodation cheques, or for considerations that did not materialise. We challenge demand notices for non-compliance, dispute presumptions with documentary and circumstantial evidence, and appear in appeals and revisions before Sessions Courts and High Courts.

For large-scale NI Act disputes involving multiple complainants or cross-allegations, we advise on the strategic management of consolidated or linked proceedings.