Criminal defence & trials
Representation of the accused from police notice and investigation to charge, trial, revision and appeal under the BNS, BNSS and special statutes, including the right to legal counsel at each stage.
Advocate · Criminal Law & General Practice
Clear, careful counsel
when the law comes calling
Adv. Latika Kashyap advises and represents individuals and families in criminal proceedings and everyday legal disputes — from bail and FIR quashing to cheque dishonour, matrimonial, property, civil and consumer matters.
8Practice areas described
43IPC → BNS offences mapped
3New criminal codes explained
5Steps from query to hearing
About
Adv. Latika Kashyap
An advocate enrolled with the State Bar Council, with a practice centred on criminal law and a general civil practice alongside it.
Adv. Latika Kashyap appears in criminal matters at every stage — from the first notice or FIR, through bail and investigation, to trial, revision and appeal — and in civil, family, property and consumer disputes before the appropriate courts and commissions.
Her approach is practical: understand the documents first, explain the options and their risks in plain language, and keep you informed of every date and step. Since 1 July 2024, criminal cases are governed by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA); she works with both the new codes and the earlier IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act, which continue to apply to older matters.
- Enrolment
- Enrolment No. [PLACEHOLDER] — Bar Council of [State]
- Qualifications
- [PLACEHOLDER] e.g. B.A. LL.B. / LL.B., University, year
- Courts
- [PLACEHOLDER] e.g. District & Sessions Courts, Magistrate Courts, Family Court, Consumer Commissions, High Court
- Languages
- [PLACEHOLDER] e.g. English, Hindi, regional language
Our approach
Every matter is different. Advice begins with your documents and your facts — never with a promise about the result.
What she handles
Practice areas
The areas of practice below are listed for information only. If your matter falls outside them, you may still write in and you will be told honestly whether it can be taken up.
Bail & anticipatory bail
Regular bail before Magistrate and Sessions courts (BNSS ss. 480 & 483, formerly CrPC ss. 437 & 439), anticipatory bail (BNSS s. 482, formerly CrPC s. 438) and default bail, along with bond and surety formalities.
FIR quashing
Petitions before the High Court under its inherent powers (BNSS s. 528, formerly CrPC s. 482) and Article 226, including quashing on settlement in compoundable and private disputes where the law permits.
Cheque bounce — NI Act s. 138
Statutory demand notices within the 30-day window, complaints before the Magistrate, replies and defences for the drawer, compounding and settlement under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.
Matrimonial, 498A & BNS s. 85
Cruelty complaints under BNS ss. 85–86 (formerly IPC s. 498A), dowry matters, divorce, maintenance (BNSS s. 144, formerly CrPC s. 125), domestic violence and custody — with mediation explored where appropriate.
Property disputes
Title verification, partition and possession suits, injunctions, sale-deed and registration issues, tenancy disputes and criminal complaints connected with property, such as trespass and forgery.
Civil litigation
Money recovery and summary suits, contract disputes, injunctions, declarations, execution proceedings and legal notices, drafted with an eye to limitation and the evidence required.
Consumer complaints
Complaints before District, State and National Commissions under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, for defective goods, deficient services, insurance and builder disputes, including e-filing.
Quick reference
BNS ↔ IPC section guide
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 replaced the Indian Penal Code, 1860 from 1 July 2024. Offences committed before that date generally remain chargeable under the IPC. Use this table to find the new section for commonly charged offences.
| Offence | IPC, 1860 | BNS, 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Murder — punishment | 302 | 103(1) |
| Culpable homicide not amounting to murder — punishment | 304 | 105 |
| Causing death by negligence | 304A | 106(1) |
| Dowry death | 304B | 80 |
| Abetment of suicide | 306 | 108 |
| Attempt to murder | 307 | 109 |
| Voluntarily causing hurt — punishment | 323 | 115(2) |
| Voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means | 324 | 118(1) |
| Voluntarily causing grievous hurt — punishment | 325 | 117(2) |
| Grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means | 326 | 118(2) |
| Wrongful restraint — punishment | 341 | 126(2) |
| Wrongful confinement — punishment | 342 | 127(2) |
| Assault or criminal force to outrage a woman’s modesty | 354 | 74 |
| Sexual harassment | 354A | 75 |
| Stalking | 354D | 78 |
| Kidnapping — punishment | 363 | 137(2) |
| Rape — punishment | 376 | 64 |
| Theft — punishment | 379 | 303(2) |
| Theft in a dwelling house, etc. | 380 | 305 |
| Extortion — punishment | 384 | 308(2) |
| Robbery — punishment | 392 | 309(4) |
| Dacoity — punishment | 395 | 310(2) |
| Criminal breach of trust — punishment | 406 | 316(2) |
| Criminal breach of trust by public servant, banker, merchant or agent | 409 | 316(5) |
| Dishonestly receiving stolen property | 411 | 317(2) |
| Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property | 420 | 318(4) |
| Criminal trespass — punishment | 447 | 329(3) |
| House-trespass — punishment | 448 | 329(4) |
| Forgery — punishment | 465 | 336(2) |
| Forgery of valuable security, will, etc. | 467 | 338 |
| Forgery for the purpose of cheating | 468 | 336(3) |
| Using a forged document or electronic record as genuine | 471 | 340(2) |
| Marrying again during lifetime of spouse (bigamy) | 494 | 82(1) |
| Cruelty by husband or his relatives | 498A | 85 (“cruelty” defined in s. 86) |
| Defamation — punishment | 500 | 356(2) |
| Criminal intimidation — punishment | 506 | 351(2) / 351(3) |
| Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman | 509 | 79 |
| Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention | 34 | 3(5) |
| Criminal conspiracy — punishment | 120B | 61(2) |
| Attempt to commit offences (general) | 511 | 62 |
| Sedition | 124A | Omitted (BNS s. 152 is a new, differently worded offence — not a renumbering) |
| Snatching | — | 304 (new offence) |
| Organised crime | — | 111 (new offence) |
Procedure: CrPC → BNSS · Evidence Act → BSA
| Provision | Old law | New law |
|---|---|---|
| Registration of FIR (information in cognizable cases) | CrPC 154 | BNSS 173 |
| Police custody / remand during investigation | CrPC 167 | BNSS 187 |
| Bail in non-bailable offences (Magistrate) | CrPC 437 | BNSS 480 |
| Anticipatory bail | CrPC 438 | BNSS 482 |
| Special bail powers of High Court / Sessions Court | CrPC 439 | BNSS 483 |
| Inherent powers of High Court (quashing) | CrPC 482 | BNSS 528 |
| Maintenance of wife, children and parents | CrPC 125 | BNSS 144 |
| Admissibility of electronic records | Evidence Act 65B | BSA 63 |
Source: Corresponding section table of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 published by the National Crime Records Bureau, Ministry of Home Affairs (ncrb.mha.gov.in), and the BNSS/BSA texts on India Code. Several BNS provisions changed wording or punishment; a matching number does not mean an identical offence. For general information only — not legal advice.
How it works
From first query to representation
- 1
Send a query
Use the form, call or WhatsApp with a short outline of your matter — no documents yet.
- 2
Conflict check & call-back
A conflict check is run first. You then receive a call to understand the urgency and fix a consultation.
- 3
Consultation
Your papers — FIR, notices, agreements, orders — are reviewed with you, and the options and risks are explained in plain language.
- 4
Written engagement
If you choose to proceed, the scope of work and professional fees are confirmed in writing before any filing.
- 5
Filing & hearings
Drafting, filing and appearance, with updates after each hearing and the next date shared in advance.
Words on justice · न्याय के शब्द
सत्यमेव जयते
“Truth alone triumphs.”
हम, भारत के लोग … सामाजिक, आर्थिक और राजनैतिक न्याय
“We, the people of India … Justice, social, economic and political”
राज्य, भारत के राज्यक्षेत्र में किसी व्यक्ति को विधि के समक्ष समता से या विधियों के समान संरक्षण से वंचित नहीं करेगा।
“The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India.”
किसी व्यक्ति को उसके प्राण या दैहिक स्वतंत्रता से विधि द्वारा स्थापित प्रक्रिया के अनुसार ही वंचित किया जाएगा, अन्यथा नहीं।
“No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law.”
FAQs
Common questions
Short, general answers to questions people often ask. The correct course in your case depends on its facts — please seek advice before acting.
Obtain a copy of the FIR (it is usually available on the state police website or from the police station), note the sections invoked and keep all related papers. Do not ignore any notice from the police. Depending on the offence, options may include responding to a notice under BNSS s. 35, applying for anticipatory bail, or seeking quashing before the High Court. Speak to an advocate before giving any written statement.
Regular bail is sought after a person has been arrested or is in custody (BNSS ss. 480 and 483). Anticipatory bail is a direction sought from the Sessions Court or High Court before arrest, by a person who has reason to believe they may be arrested for a non-bailable offence (BNSS s. 482, earlier CrPC s. 438). Courts may impose conditions in either case.
Generally, an offence committed before 1 July 2024 continues to be governed by the IPC, since a person cannot be punished under a law that did not exist when the act was done. Procedure is different: investigations and trials pending on that date continue under the CrPC, while fresh applications, petitions and appeals filed afterwards have been held by several High Courts to fall under the BNSS. The position can depend on the stage of the case.
A written demand notice must be sent to the drawer within 30 days of receiving the bank’s return memo. If payment is not made within 15 days of the drawer receiving the notice, a complaint may be filed before the Magistrate within one month after those 15 days end. Keep the original cheque, return memo, notice and postal proofs safely.
The offence is non-compoundable, but High Courts have the power to quash proceedings where the parties have genuinely settled a matrimonial dispute and continuing the case would serve no purpose. Whether this is appropriate depends on the facts, the stage of the case and the court’s view; it is not automatic.
Professional fees depend on the nature of the matter, the court, the urgency and the number of hearings expected. Fees are discussed after the consultation and confirmed in writing before any work begins. Court fees and other statutory charges are separate.
Your query is read only for the purpose of responding to you and is not shared or sold. However, an advocate–client relationship — and the privilege that comes with it — begins only once an engagement is confirmed. Please share only a brief outline in the form and keep detailed facts and documents for the consultation.
Consumer complaints can now be filed electronically through the e-Daakhil / e-Jagriti portal of the Consumer Commissions. Whether filing in person or online, the complaint should be within two years of the cause of action and before the Commission with the correct pecuniary and territorial jurisdiction.
Need to discuss a legal matter?
Send a short query, call during office hours, or message on WhatsApp.
Call or WhatsApp: +91 79821 16791
Contact
Send a query
Describe your matter briefly. You will usually receive a call-back on the next working day. For an arrest or a hearing listed today, please call directly.
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