In Brief
Dr Sridhar Reddy was initially charged with dowry harassment under IPC Section 498A. During investigation, evidence emerged that he had demanded Rs 5 lakhs from his father-in-law to secure a job in the UK and failed to deliver. An additional charge-sheet for cheating (Section 420) and criminal breach of trust (Section 406) was filed but overlooked at charge-framing. The Trial Court rejected an application to add these charges, but the High Court reversed this, directing their framing. The Supreme Court upheld the High Court, holding that at the charge-framing stage, courts need only find prima facie material showing a connection to the alleged offence's ingredients, not evaluate evidence on merit. That determination occurs only after trial begins."
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