Criminal litigation requires a precise understanding of substantive criminal law, criminal procedure, evidence, investigation, and courtroom advocacy. Effective criminal practice begins with accurately analysing the facts, identifying the alleged offences, assessing the available evidence, and determining the appropriate procedural and strategic response. Criminal drafting requires particular precision because complaints, bail applications, discharge applications, petitions, written submissions, affidavits, and other pleadings can directly affect an individual's liberty and legal rights. Litigation strategy must also account for investigation, arrest, remand, evidence collection, trial proceedings, examination of witnesses, and appellate remedies. This advanced program provides practical and structured training in criminal law analysis, litigation drafting, procedural strategy, evidence, courtroom advocacy, defence strategy, and appellate practice. 

PROGRAM MODULES

Module No. 1: Foundations of Criminal Law – Concepts & Philosophy

Overview

•  Evolution of Criminal Law in India 
•  Objectives and Scope of the Criminal Justice System 
•  Key Legal Theories: 
  •  Retributive Theory 
  •  Reformative Theory 
  •  Deterrent Theory 
•  Distinction between Criminal Law and Civil Law 
•  Classification of Offences: 
  •  Cognizable and Non-Cognizable Offences 
  •  Bailable and Non-Bailable Offences 

Module No. 2: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 – Substantive Criminal Law

Core Topics

•  Structure and Key Features of BNS, 2023 
•  Reformative Aspects vis-à-vis the Indian Penal Code (IPC) 
•  General Exceptions, Culpability, and Defenses 

Classification of Offences

•  Offences Against Person: 
  •  Homicide 
  •  Hurt 
  •  Assault 
•  Offences Against Women and Children: 
  •  Rape 
  •  POCSO-related Offences 
  •  Domestic Violence (Reference) 
•  Offences Against Property: 
  •  Theft 
  •  Extortion 
  •  Robbery 
  •  Forgery 
•  White-Collar and Economic Offences 

Special Categories

•  Crimes Against the State: 
  •  Terrorism 
  •  Sedition-related Provisions 
  •  National Security Offences 
•  Organized Crime 
•  Cybercrime (under BNS and Special Laws) 
•  Attempt 
•  Abetment 
•  Criminal Conspiracy 

Comparative Study

•  Repeal and Replacement Table (IPC vs BNS) 

Module No. 3: Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 – Criminal Procedure

Procedural Framework

•  Overview of Reforms and Procedural Shifts from CrPC 
•  Arrest, Bail, Custody, and Remand Procedures 
•  Role and Rights of Victims 
•  Victim Compensation Schemes under BNSS and State Policies 

Criminal Justice Stakeholders

•  Role of Police 
•  Role of Magistrate 
•  Role of Public Prosecutor 

Investigation Process

•  FIR 
•  Investigation 
•  Charge Sheet 
•  Closure Reports 

Court Procedures

•  Summons 
•  Warrants 
•  Proclamations 
•  Committal Proceedings 
•  Plea Bargaining 
•  Summary Trials 

Rights and Technology

•  Protection of Accused Rights during Investigation 
•  Role of Technology: 
  •  e-FIR 
  •  Digital Evidence Submission 

Module No. 4: Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), 2023 – Law of Evidence

Introduction

•  Overview of BSA, 2023 
•  Key Changes from the Indian Evidence Act 

Evidence Law

•  Relevancy vs Admissibility 
•  Types of Evidence: 
  •  Oral Evidence 
  •  Documentary Evidence 
  •  Digital Evidence 
  •  Forensic Evidence 

Principles of Proof

•  Presumptions 
•  Estoppel 
•  Burden of Proof 

Witnesses and Examination

•  Examination-in-Chief 
•  Cross-Examination 
•  Re-Examination 
•  Hostile Witnesses 
•  Contradictions 

Special Evidentiary Issues

•  Electronic Evidence 
•  Secondary Evidence 
•  Confessions 
•  Dying Declarations 
•  Extra-Judicial Confessions 
•  Chain of Custody 

Module No. 5: Police Functioning, Manuals, and Realities of Investigation

Police Administration

•  Role of Police under BNSS and Police Acts 
•  Police Hierarchy 
•  Police Powers and Responsibilities 

Police Manuals

•  Study of State Police Manuals: 
  •  Madhya Pradesh 
  •  Maharashtra 
  •  Delhi 
  •  Other States 

Practical Challenges

•  FIR Manipulation 
•  Illegal Detention 
•  Custodial Violence 

Rights and Remedies

•  Right to Legal Aid 
•  Legal Remedies during Arrest and Remand 

Investigation Tools

•  Recording of Confessions under Section 164 CrPC / BNSS 
•  Role of Forensic Science 
•  FSL Reports 
•  Medico-Legal Reports 

Module No. 6: Special Criminal Laws

1. NDPS Act, 1985

•  Key Definitions: 
  •  Narcotic Drug 
  •  Psychotropic Substance 
•  Powers of Officers 
•  Legal Procedures 
•  Burden of Proof and Reverse Onus 
•  Search and Seizure 
•  Trial Procedure 
•  Bail Provisions 
•  Sentencing Guidelines 

2. Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA)

•  Scope and Purpose 
•  Differences from General Criminal Law 
•  Confessions under MCOCA 
•  Interceptions 
•  Preventive Detention 
•  Case Studies: 
  •  Terrorism Cases 
  •  Gang-related Trials 

3. Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA)

•  Declaring Organizations Unlawful 
•  Bail Restrictions 
•  Presumptions Against the Accused 

4. Probation of Offenders Act, 1958

•  Purpose and Applicability 
•  Court Powers 
•  Rehabilitation Measures 
•  Community Service Orders 

5. Juvenile Justice Act

•  Children in Conflict with Law 
•  Special Procedures 
•  Rehabilitation Mechanisms 

6. Prevention of Corruption Act (with PMLA Relevance)

•  Investigation by CBI 
•  Sanction for Prosecution 
•  Cognizance Procedure 
•  Link with White-Collar Crime 

Module No. 7: Criminal Trial, Sentencing & Appeals

Trial Process

•  Stages of Criminal Trial 
  •  Magistrate Courts 
  •  Sessions Courts 
•  Role of Judge 
•  Role of Prosecutor 
•  Role of Defence Counsel 

Charges and Applications

•  Framing of Charge 
•  Discharge Applications 
•  Interim Applications: 
  •  Section 91 CrPC / BNSS 
  •  Section 311 CrPC / BNSS 

Sentencing

•  Sentencing Principles 
•  Sentencing Guidelines 
•  Types of Punishments: 
  •  Capital Punishment 
  •  Life Imprisonment 
  •  Fine 
  •  Other Punishments 

Appeals and Remedies

•  Compounding of Offences 
•  Appeals: 
  •  Sessions Court 
  •  High Court 
  •  Supreme Court 
•  Revision 
•  Review 
•  Reference Jurisdiction 
•  Post-Conviction Remedies: 
  •  Remission 
  •  Mercy Petition 
  •  Parole 
  •  Furlough 

Module No. 8: Legal Drafting in Criminal Law

Drafting Exercises

•  FIR 
•  Criminal Complaint 
•  Bail Application 
•  Anticipatory Bail Application 
•  Criminal Revision Petition 
•  Criminal Appeal 
•  Quashing Petition under Article 226 / Section 482 
•  Written Arguments 
•  Cross-Examination Notes 

Module No. 9: Legal Research, Case Analysis & Court Hierarchy

Court Structure

•  Structure of Criminal Courts in India 
•  Jurisdiction of Courts 

Fair Trial Jurisprudence

•  Supreme Court Guidelines on Fair Trial 

Landmark Case Analysis

•  D.K. Basu v. State of West Bengal 
•  Arnesh Kumar v. State of Bihar 
•  Kartar Singh v. State of Punjab 
•  Other Landmark Cases 

Modern Research Tools

•  Latest Judgments under: 
  •  BNS 
  •  BNSS 
  •  BSA 
•  Judgment Analysis and Precedential Value 
•  Use of AI and Legal Databases for Criminal Case Preparation 

Module No. 10: Legal Terminologies, Maxims, Doctrines & Argumentation

Core Legal Concepts

•  Actus Reus and Mens Rea 
•  Strict Liability 
•  Vicarious Liability 
•  Presumption of Innocence 

Constitutional and Criminal Doctrines

•  Doctrine of Double Jeopardy 
•  Doctrine of Autrefois Acquit 
•  Doctrine of Autrefois Convict 

Legal Maxims

•  Latin Maxims 
•  English Interpretations 
•  Contextual Application 
•  Relevant Case Law 

Advocacy Skills

•  Cross-Examination Techniques 
•  Courtroom Ethics and Conduct 
•  Argument Structuring 
•  Persuasive Advocacy Techniques 

Module No. 11: National Security Laws and State Powers

Security Legislation

•  National Security Act (NSA) 
•  Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) 

State Powers and Surveillance

•  Internet Shutdowns 
•  Surveillance Powers 
•  DNA Technology Regulation Bill 
•  Data Retention Rules 
•  Interception Rules 

Search and Investigation

•  Rights during Search and Seizure 

Emerging Technologies

•  Use of Drones by Police 
•  Artificial Intelligence in Policing 
•  Facial Recognition Technologies 

Protection Mechanisms

•  Witness Protection 
•  Victim Protection 
•  Whistleblower Protection 

Module No. 12: Ethics, Human Rights & Accountability

Accountability Mechanisms

•  Police Accountability 
•  Custodial Death Remedies 
•  NHRC Guidelines 

Access to Justice

•  Legal Aid Services 
•  Role of Amicus Curiae 

Human Rights Framework

•  International Conventions 
•  Impact on Indian Criminal Law 

Professional Ethics

•  Preventing Misuse of Criminal Law 
•  Client Handling in Sensitive Criminal Matters 

Module No. 13: Practical Tools for Criminal Litigation Practice

Digital Platforms

•  e-Courts Portal 
•  NJDG 
•  ICJS 
•  CCTNS 

Practical Procedures

•  Case Tracking 
•  FIR Search 
•  Charge Sheet Updates 

Accessing Records

•  Certified Copies 
•  RTI Applications 
•  Police Station Diaries 

Evidence Collection

•  Forensic Reports 
•  Medico-Legal Reports 
•  CCTV and DVR Data 

Strategic Litigation

•  Applications under Section 156(3) 
•  Complaints under Section 200 BNSS 
•  Real-World Bail Arguments 
•  Urgent Hearings 
•  Courtroom Survival Strategies 

Module No. 14: Combating Misuse of Criminal Law

Commonly Misused Provisions

•  False Dowry Cases 
•  False SC/ST Act Cases 
•  False POCSO Cases 
•  False Rape Allegations 

Quashing of FIRs

•  Legal Strategies 
•  Landmark Judgments 
  •  State of Haryana v. Bhajan Lal 

Malicious Prosecution

•  Abuse of Police Powers 
•  Malicious Investigations 

Client Protection

•  Reputation Management 
•  Documentation Strategies 
•  Lawful Safeguards for Innocent Clients 

Module No. 15: Comparative Criminal Law (International & Constitutional Lens)

International Comparisons

•  United States: 
  •  Miranda Rights 
•  United Kingdom: 
  •  PACE Codes 
•  Europe: 
  •  Human Rights Court Standards 

Constitutional Protections

•  Article 20 
•  Article 21 
•  Article 22 

Constitutional Remedies

•  Habeas Corpus 
•  Other Constitutional Writs against Unlawful Detention 

Module No. 16: AI & Technology in Criminal Law Practice

Use of AI Tools

•  Drafting Criminal Petitions 
•  Bail Applications 
•  Cross-Examination Outlines 
•  FIR Translation 
•  Judgment Translation 
•  Legal Research 
•  Judgment Mapping 

Essential Digital Tools

•  eCourts App 
•  Manupatra 
•  Indian Kanoon 
•  Supreme Court App 

Forensic Technology

•  Metadata Readers 
•  Mobile Tower Dump Analysis Tools 

AI Risks and Challenges

•  Deepfakes 
•  Voice Cloning 
•  AI-Generated Evidence 
•  Admissibility Issues 

Module No. 17: INTERPOL, Extradition & Transnational Criminal Law

Introduction to INTERPOL

•  Legal Status and Structure 
•  India's Relationship with INTERPOL 
•  General Assembly and Indian Representation 
•  CBI as India's National Central Bureau (NCB) 
•  International Law Enforcement Coordination 

INTERPOL Notices

•  Red Notice 
•  Blue Notice 
•  Yellow Notice 
•  Purple Notice 
•  Green Notice 
•  Orange Notice 
•  Black Notice 
•  Diffusions 

Practical Understanding

•  Response of Indian Courts and Police to INTERPOL Notices 

Case Studies

•  Mehul Choksi 
•  Nirav Modi 
•  Zakir Naik 
•  Vijay Mallya 

Module No. 18: Extradition Laws in India

Legal Framework

•  Extradition Act, 1962 
•  Bilateral Treaties 
•  Commonwealth Extradition Framework 

Treaty and Non-Treaty Countries

•  Legal Distinctions 
•  Practical Implications 

Judicial Oversight

•  Judicial Review of Extradition 

Government Authorities

•  Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) 
•  Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) 

Defenses Against Extradition

•  Political Offence Exception 
•  Human Rights Violations 
•  Risk of Unfair Trial 
•  Risk of Death Penalty 

Role of Courts

•  Delhi High Court 
•  Supreme Court of India 

Module No. 19: Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLATs)

Introduction

•  Role of MLATs in Criminal Investigations 
•  International Evidence Collection 

Judicial Cooperation

•  Letters Rogatory (LR) 
•  Judicial Assistance Mechanisms 

Areas of Application

•  Drug Trafficking 
•  Terror Financing 
•  Child Sexual Exploitation 
•  Cybercrime 
•  Economic Fraud 

Challenges

•  Procedural Delays 
•  Sovereignty Concerns 
•  Cross-Border Enforcement Issues 

Module No. 20: Transnational Criminal Offences

Major Offences

•  Money Laundering 
  •  PMLA 
  •  FATF Standards 
•  Cybercrime and Data Breaches 
•  Email Fraud 
•  Cryptocurrency Theft 
•  Human Trafficking 
•  Child Sexual Exploitation 
•  Terrorism 
•  Organized Crime Syndicates 

International Cooperation

•  MCOCA and INTERPOL Coordination 
•  Cross-Border Investigations 

Indian Case Studies

•  Vijay Mallya Extradition Case 
•  Mehul Choksi Red Notice Litigation 
•  Zakir Naik Extradition Proceedings 
•  Challenges to INTERPOL Red Notices 

Practice Opportunities for Lawyers

•  Challenging INTERPOL Red Notices 
•  Cross-Border Asset Seizures 
•  PMLA and ED Proceedings 
•  Extradition Defence 
•  Cross-Border Bail Conditions 
•  Overseas Warrant Advisory and Compliance Strategies

• Criminal Law & Procedural Framework: Understand offences, essential legal ingredients, criminal jurisdiction, limitation where applicable, investigation, arrest, custody, remand, charge, trial, and appellate stages.
• Advanced Criminal Drafting: Develop practical skills in drafting criminal complaints, bail applications, discharge applications, quashing petitions, replies, objections, affidavits, written submissions, and other litigation documents. 
• Investigation & Evidence Strategy: Learn to analyse FIRs and complaints, case records, documentary and electronic evidence, witness statements, forensic material, contradictions, and evidentiary weaknesses. 
• Defence & Prosecution Litigation Strategy: Develop strategies for bail, anticipatory relief, discharge, framing of charges, trial preparation, examination and cross-examination, objections, and final arguments. 
• Courtroom Advocacy & Appellate Practice: Build practical skills in oral submissions, responding to judicial questions, trial advocacy, judgment analysis, appeals, revisions, constitutional remedies, and post-judgment strategy.