LALTA AND ORS. vs STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH

The Supreme Court held that the principle of issue-estoppel applies in criminal cases, as established in prior rulings. The Court found that the acquittal of the appellants in a previous criminal case regarding the forcible obtaining of thumb impressions was final and could not be reopened. Consequently, the conviction for forgery and abetment of forgery was overturned, as the foundational allegation had been disproven. The Court clarified that Section 403 of the Code of Criminal Procedure does not preclude the application of issue-estoppel, affirming its soundness in legal principle.