Justice Cannot Be Bought: Supreme Court Rules Against "Blood Money" in Criminal Sentencing
Justice Cannot Be Bought: Supreme Court Rules Against "Blood Money" in Criminal Sentencing Can a criminal buy their way out of a prison sentence simply by paying the victim's family? In a landmark 2026 judgment ( Parameshwari vs. The State of Tamil Nadu & Ors. ), the Supreme Court of India answered with a resounding "No". The judgment, delivered by Justices Rajesh Bindal and Vijay Bishnoi, serves as a powerful reminder that while victim compensation is essential, it can never be a substitute for adequate criminal punishment. Here is a breakdown of the case and why the Supreme Court had to step in to correct a controversial High Court ruling. The Backdrop: A Decades-Old Crime The roots of this case go back to June 6, 2009. Driven by previous enmity, the accused individuals attacked the victim, stabbing him multiple times in the chest, rib, and abdomen with knives. According to medical testimony, the injuries were grievous and ...