Authority: Supreme Court of India
Order Date: 22 September 2026
Case Overview
- Parties: Appellant K.K. Rajagopal (Duty Doctor, Kamala Hospital) vs. State represented by the Inspector of Police.
- Proceedings: Criminal Appeal No. 4504/2026 arising out of Special Leave Petition (Criminal) No. 11822/2025; the appeal challenges the High Court order dated 09‑06‑2025 (Criminal R.C. No. 274/2023) which confirmed the conviction and six‑month sentence imposed by the Judicial Magistrate, Court No. 1, Salem, in C.C. No. 449/2005 dated 25‑02‑2020.
- Allegations: The appellant was accused of altering the accident register at Kamala Hospital by changing the accident time from 02:30 p.m. to 07:30 p.m.
- Evidence Issues: The accident register, the primary evidence of alleged alteration, was never produced in court. The trial court relied solely on an investigation report submitted by an investigator appointed by the insurance company, which recorded the alleged modification.
- Court Observations: The Supreme Court held that in the absence of the primary evidence (the accident register), the trial court was not justified in finding the appellant guilty and imposing imprisonment. The High Court’s confirmation of the conviction was also erroneous for overlooking this crucial evidentiary gap.
- Exemption Orders: The Court noted that on 04‑08‑2025 it granted exemption from surrendering to the appellant, and this exemption was extended by a notice on 14‑08‑2025.
Final Outcome
- The appeal is allowed. The judgment dated 25‑02‑2020 in C.C. No. 449/2005 and its confirmation by the High Court (Criminal R.C. No. 274/2023) are set aside.
- All pending applications, if any, shall stand disposed of.
- The order is signed by Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva.
Topics: Court Proceedings, Criminal Law, Healthcare