Kanoon

(1960)

Kalidas (Jeevan) is a killer arrested by the police for murder. He is up for trial in the Court of Judge Badri Prasad (Ashok Kumar), and he pleads guilty. He also informs the Court that he has already been convicted of the same crime 10 years ago when the Courts sentenced him for killing the very same man who has died at his hands recently. The Court is shocked at this erroneous decision, which may well have led Kalidas to the gallows for a crime he did not commit. Justices Badri Prasad and Jha continue this discussion after the proceedings are over and both take a bet that one of them could get away with murder. Shortly thereafter, a money-lender named Dhaniram is killed. A man, Kaalia (Nana Palsikar), is arrested by the police, is in custody and is accused of killing Dhaniram. But Kaalia claims that he only went to rob Dhaniram's house, and did not kill him. Advocate Kailash Khanna (Rajendra Kumar) comes to the defense of Kalidas and enters a plea of not guilty on his behalf. Kailash is the prospective son--in-law of Judge Prasad as he is in love with his daughter, Meena (Nanda). Throughout the proceedings, Kailash closely watches Judge Prasad as the Public Prosecutor goes on lay evidence upon evidence to prove that it was Kaalia who killed Dhaniram. Then when Khanna's turn comes, he points his finger accusingly at Prasad and accuses him of killing Dhaniram. There is furore in the Courtroom and subsequently in the media, as Prasad steps down and lets Jha take over the proceedings. Then there is a sudden turn of events when suddenly Kaalia informs the Court that it was he, and he alone that killed Dhaniram. It is now up to Khanna to decide to wean the truth out of this matter, or just accept the turn of events and carry on with this life.