What governments did, and what it cost the country

What was done

The Justice Verma Committee recommended changes to sexual-offence laws. The Union government first introduced a Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill in 2012, withdrew it, and then Parliament passed the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013.

What it meant for the country

The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013 strengthened legal protection against sexual violence, as the Supreme Court noted it removed a sentencing escape clause and raised the minimum gang-rape sentence to twenty years.

• The Supreme Court recorded in Shimbhu v State of Haryana that the 2013 Act deleted the proviso allowing a court to impose less than the minimum sentence for gang rape, and enhanced the minimum gang-rape sentence to twenty years, which may extend to imprisonment for the remainder of the offender's natural life. [6]
• The 2013 Bill amended the Indian Penal Code to include a provision headed 'Sexual harassment and punishment for sexual harassment'. [16]
• The 2013 Bill amended the Code of Criminal Procedure to allow a court, when recording the evidence of a woman below eighteen who is alleged to have been subjected to rape or another sexual offence, to take measures so that she is not confronted by the accused while still allowing cross-examination. [16]
• The 2013 Bill amended the Indian Evidence Act by inserting section 53A and substituting section 114A, provisions dealing with evidence in sexual-offence cases. [16]

Step by step

1. 2012-12-04
   The government introduced the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2012 in the Lok Sabha and referred it to the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs. [15]
2. 2012-12-23
   A three-member committee headed by Justice J.S. Verma, former Chief Justice of India, was constituted to recommend amendments to criminal law for quicker trial and enhanced punishment for sexual assault against women. [12][13][17]
3. 2013-01-23
   The Justice Verma Committee submitted its report. The Ministry of Home Affairs recorded that the committee agreed to most provisions of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2012. [12][13][14]
4. 2013-02-03
   The President signed an anti-rape Ordinance based on some of the committee's recommendations. [17]
5. 2013-03-19
   The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2012 was withdrawn, and the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2013 was passed by the Lok Sabha. [15][17]
6. 2013-03-21
   The Rajya Sabha passed the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2013. [17]
7. 2013-04-04
   The Ordinance lapsed after the Bill passed by Parliament replaced it. [17]

The documents

1. [1] 230Th Report On Reforms In The Judiciary - Some Suggestions Court, indiankanoon.org
2. [2] Rajesh Kumar Verma S/O Shri Jaimal vs State Of Rajasthan on 23 January ... Court, indiankanoon.org
3. [3] Justice For All vs Govt. Of Nct Of Delhi on 23 January, 2026 Court, indiankanoon.org
4. [4] Prevention of Money-Laundering (Amendment) Act, 2012 Court, indiankanoon.org
5. [5] Jammu and Kashmir Criminal Laws (Amendment) Act, 2013 Court, indiankanoon.org
6. [6] Shimbhu & Anr vs State Of Haryana on 27 August, 2013 Court, indiankanoon.org
7. [7] The Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1932 - Indian Kanoon Court, indiankanoon.org
8. [8] Presentation Of The 72 Nd To 74 Th Reports Of The Standing Committee On ... Court, indiankanoon.org
9. [9] 243Rd Report On Section 498A Ipc - Indian Kanoon Court, indiankanoon.org
10. [10] Presentation Of The 227 Th Report Of The Standing Committee On Human ... Court, indiankanoon.org
11. [11] PDF REPORT - PRS Legislative Research Research, prsindia.org
12. [12] Justice Verma Committee Report Summary Research, prsindia.org
13. [13] PDF Report Summary - PRS Legislative Research Research, prsindia.org
14. [14] Year End Review-2013 Ministry Of Home Affairs Official, pib.gov.in
15. [15] Withdrawn Of The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2012. on 19 March, 2013 Court, indiankanoon.org
16. [16] PDF The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2013 Research, prsindia.org
17. [17] PDF Justice J. S. Verma Committee Recommendations and Criminal Law ... Web, cafi-online.org
18. [18] (PDF) Justice JS Verma Committee Report - Academia.edu Web, academia.edu

Compiled from the documents cited, 30 Sept 2026

What was done

The Delhi High Court, by Justice Sunil Gaur, on 7 December 2015 declined to quash the trial court's order and held that the complainant had established a prima facie case under sections 403, 406 and 420 read with section 120B of the Indian Penal Code. A Special Judge on 16 December 2025 declined to take cognizance of the money-laundering offence and dismissed the Enforcement Directorate's prosecution complaint. The Delhi High Court on 22 December 2025 issued notices to the respondents in the Enforcement Directorate's revision petition against that dismissal.

What it meant for the country

The cited documents record that the National Herald newspaper stopped publishing and its Delhi building was leased commercially, but they do not establish any quantified loss or a final finding of wrongdoing; the ED's money-laundering complaint was dismissed at the cognizance stage.

• The National Herald newspaper had stopped printing in April 2008, and Young Indian later declared it would not publish any newspaper, so a newspaper publication ceased. [2]
• The National Herald building in New Delhi was leased out commercially, with AJL receiving ₹60 lakhs per month in rent for that property alone. [2]
• The Enforcement Directorate's money-laundering prosecution complaint was dismissed by the Special Judge on 16.12.2025, so no money-laundering charge proceeded at that stage. [1]

Step by step

1. 2015-12-07
   Delhi High Court (Justice Sunil Gaur) dismissed the petitions by Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and others seeking to quash the trial court's order; it held the complainant had established a prima facie case under sections 403, 406 and 420 read with section 120B of the Indian Penal Code and that no case for quashing the complaint or the order was made out. [2]
2. 2025-12-16
   A Special Judge in Case No. 14/2025, 'Enforcement Directorate Vs. Sonia Gandhi & Anr.', declined to take cognizance of the offence of money laundering and dismissed the prosecution complaint filed by the Enforcement Directorate. [1]
3. 2025-12-22
   Delhi High Court in CRL.REV.P. 542/2025 found the matter required consideration and issued notices to the respondents, directing a reply to be filed before the next date. [1]

The documents

1. [1] The Assistant Director Of Enforcement, ... vs Smt. Sonia ... Court, indiankanoon.org
2. [2] Rahul Gandhi vs Dr.Subramanian Swamy & Anr. on 7 December, 2015 Court, indiankanoon.org
3. [3] Rahul vs The State (Govt. Of Nct Delhi) on 10 July, 2025 Court, indiankanoon.org
4. [4] State vs Sonia on 15 September, 2025 - Indian Kanoon Court, indiankanoon.org
5. [5] Rahul Gandhi vs State Of U.P on 25 July, 2025 - Indian Kanoon Court, indiankanoon.org
6. [6] Rahul Gandhi vs The State - Indian Kanoon Court, indiankanoon.org
7. [7] Dr. Subramanian Swamy vs Union Of India Ministry Of Law ... Court, indiankanoon.org
8. [8] Subramanian Swamy vs Union Of India, Min. Of Law. on 15 July ... Court, indiankanoon.org
9. [9] Subramanian Swamy vs Union Of India, Min. Of Law. on 7 April ... Court, indiankanoon.org
10. [10] Neeti Sharma vs Saranjit Singh on 2 April, 2025 - Indian Kanoon Court, indiankanoon.org
11. [11] Vivek Sood &Anr vs Central Bureau Of Investigation on 11 ... Court, indiankanoon.org
12. [12] Vijay Thakur vs State (Nct Of Delhi) & Anr on 14 January, 2026 Court, indiankanoon.org

Compiled from the documents cited, 1 Oct 2026

What was done

General V.K. Singh said Tejinder Singh offered him ₹14 crore at a meeting in his office on 22 September 2010, to clear the file for 1,676 high-mobility vehicles including Tatra trucks. He did not make a written complaint until March and April 2012. The defence ministry then asked the CBI to investigate both the bribe offer and the way Tatra trucks had been bought through BEML since the 1980s.

What it meant for the country

The inquiry held up truck orders and the DRDO expected delays. But the CBI could not prove the claims about how the trucks were bought, and no court has yet decided the bribe-offer case, so the overall effect is unclear.

• While the CBI inquiry was pending, no orders were placed with Tatra Sipox. BEML was later allowed to buy parts from the new maker, Tatra Trucks a.s. of the Czech Republic. [5]
• The DRDO, the defence research body, told the ministry that its systems built on Tatra vehicles were likely to be delayed. [3]
• In the truck-buying case, the CBI could not prove the claims and asked to close the case. It did not ask for anyone to be tried in that case. [5]
• The bribe-offer case was registered in October 2012. Charges were framed in 2019, and the trial was still hearing witnesses in 2023. [9][11]

Step by step

1. 2010-09-22
   The meeting in the Army chief's office where, according to the CBI, the bribe was offered. [9]
2. 2012-03-26
   General V.K. Singh speaks publicly about the bribe offer. The defence ministry asks the CBI to inquire. [1]
3. 2012-03-30
   The CBI registers a case about how Tatra trucks were bought through BEML. [2]
4. 2012-10
   The CBI registers a case against Tejinder Singh for offering a bribe. [9]
5. 2014-08-25
   The CBI files a closure report in the truck-buying case, saying it could not prove the claims. [5]
6. 2014-09-01
   A special CBI court, having taken note of the CBI charge sheet, sends Tejinder Singh to judicial custody. A charge sheet is an accusation, not a finding of guilt. [7]
7. 2014-09-05
   The Delhi High Court gives Tejinder Singh bail. [8]
8. 2019-08-02
   The trial court frames charges against Tejinder Singh. He pleads not guilty. [9][11]
9. 2019-11-26
   As reported by PGurus, the special court had still not accepted the 2014 closure report in the truck case and asked the CBI for more material. [12]
10. 2022-07
    The Delhi High Court rejects Tejinder Singh's challenge to the charges. It says the gaps he pointed to are for the trial to decide. [9]
11. 2023-02-25
    V.K. Singh is cross-examined as a witness. The trial continues. [11]

The documents

1. [1] Army chief's bribe claim; ministry orders CBI probe (front page, 27 March 2012) Press, The Tribune
2. [2] Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 580: Tatra trucks deal (answered 26 November 2012) Parliament, Lok Sabha (Digital Library)
3. [3] Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1481: orders for Tatra trucks (answered 3 December 2012) Parliament, Lok Sabha (Digital Library)
4. [4] Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2170: CBI inquiry into Tatra truck deal (answered 11 March 2013) Parliament, Lok Sabha (Digital Library)
5. [5] Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 6895: irregularities in procurement of Tatra trucks (answered 8 May 2015) Parliament, Lok Sabha (Digital Library)
6. [6] Tatra bribery case: Lt General (retd) Tejinder Singh offered VK Singh Rs 14 crore Press, India TV
7. [7] Retired general detained in Tatra truck case (2 September 2014) Press, The Peninsula
8. [8] Tejinder Singh gets bail from HC in Tatra bribery case Press, Business Standard / PTI
9. [9] Delhi High Court dismisses Lt Gen Tejinder Singh's plea against framing of charges in Tatra case Press, Verdictum
10. [10] Tatra Truck case: Former Defence Minister AK Antony cross-examined as a witness in court Press, ANI
11. [11] Tatra truck case: Former COAS VK Singh cross-examined as witness in court Press, ANI
12. [12] Court slaps CBI and Defence Ministry for trying to close Tatra Trucks purchase scandal involving Ravi Rishi and Sanjay Bhandari Press, PGurus

Compiled from the documents cited, 9 Oct 2026

What was done

The special CBI court convicted Lalu Prasad in RC 20A/1996. Before the conviction, the Supreme Court had refused his request to transfer that case. After the conviction, the Jharkhand High Court quashed a separate case, RC 64A/1996, finding it was based on the same evidence. In another case, RC 38(A)/1996, he was convicted in 2018.

What it meant for the country

The documents record the conviction of a former Chief Minister in a fodder scam case, but do not state the amount lost to the state exchequer.

• A former Chief Minister of Bihar was convicted in RC 20A/1996, as recorded by the Jharkhand High Court on 14 November 2014. [3]
• In a separate fodder scam case, RC 38(A)/1996, he was convicted on 19 March 2018 and sentenced on 24 March 2018, as noted by the Jharkhand High Court on 10 January 2019. [5]

Step by step

1. 2003-08-26
   The Supreme Court dismissed appeals by Lalu Prasad and others seeking amalgamation or transfer of six fodder scam cases, holding that the main offences were under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the cases were before Special Judges in Jharkhand. [2]
2. 2013-08-13
   The Supreme Court dismissed Lalu Prasad's appeal against the Jharkhand High Court's refusal to transfer RC 20(A)/1996 and directed the Special Judge to pronounce the decision as early as possible. [4]
3. 2014-11-14
   The Jharkhand High Court recorded that Lalu Prasad had been convicted in RC 20A/1996 and quashed the criminal proceeding in RC 64A/1996 on the ground that the ingredients and evidence were the same. [3]
4. 2018-03-19
   A special CBI court convicted Lalu Prasad in RC 38(A)/1996-Pat, as noted in a later Jharkhand High Court order. [5]
5. 2018-03-24
   The same court sentenced Lalu Prasad in RC 38(A)/1996-Pat, as noted in a later Jharkhand High Court order. [5]
6. 2019-01-10
   The Jharkhand High Court rejected Lalu Prasad's plea for suspension of sentence in his appeal against the RC 38(A)/1996 conviction. [5]

The documents

1. [1] 244Th Report On Electoral Disqualifications - Indian Kanoon Court, indiankanoon.org
2. [2] Lalu Prasad @ Lalu Prasad Yadav vs State Through C.B.I. (A.H.D.) Ranchi ... Court, indiankanoon.org
3. [3] Lalu Prasad Alias Lalu Prasad Yadav vs The State Of Jharkhand Through ... Court, indiankanoon.org
4. [4] Lalu Prasad @ Lalu Prasad Yadav vs State Of Jharkhand on 13 August, 2013 Court, indiankanoon.org
5. [5] Lalu Prasad @ Lalu Prasad Yadav vs The State Of Jharkhand Through Cbi ... Court, indiankanoon.org
6. [6] Lalu vs State Election Commission Thru. ... on 21 June, 2021 Court, indiankanoon.org

Compiled from the documents cited, 1 Oct 2026