Bank Juristic Person, No Mens Rea' : Supreme Court Quashes FIR Against HDFC Bank & Officials For Violating Income Tax Dept Order

The Supreme Court quashed an FIR against HDFC Bank officials, ruling that a bank, being a juristic entity, cannot possess "mens rea" (criminal intent), a requirement for penal action. The case involved non-compliance with an Income Tax Department directive. The court highlighted that the liability for criminal offenses is typically personal, not transferable to institutions unless explicitly stipulated by law. This ruling clarified that banks, as legal entities, cannot be held criminally liable without statutory provisions.