{"id":313176,"date":"2024-02-05T18:00:55","date_gmt":"2024-02-05T12:30:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/?p=313176"},"modified":"2024-02-20T16:00:41","modified_gmt":"2024-02-20T10:30:41","slug":"to-shift-burden-of-proof-on-accused-to-explain-death-106-prosecution-must-give-evidence-orissa-hc-legal-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2024\/02\/05\/to-shift-burden-of-proof-on-accused-to-explain-death-106-prosecution-must-give-evidence-orissa-hc-legal-news\/","title":{"rendered":"[S. 106 Evidence Act] For shifting burden of proof on accused to explain death, prosecution must give clear and cogent evidence: Orissa HC"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Orissa High Court:<\/span> In an appeal against the Trial Court’s order, whereby, the appellant\/ convict was convicted for offences under Section 458<\/a> read with Section 302<\/a> of the Penal Code, 1860<\/a> (‘IPC’) and sentenced to life imprisonment, the Division Bench of G. Satapathy*<\/span> and D. Dash, JJ. allowed the appeal and set aside the impugned judgment.<\/span><\/p>\n

Factual Matrix<\/p>\n

In the matter at hand, the convict regularly assaulted his wife under the influence of liquor. On 15-07-2013, the convict’s wife left the house after a quarrel, but in the evening when she found her house locked, she went to the neighbour’s (deceased) house. In the night, the convict reached the deceased’s house and there was a quarrel between the two. The convict dealt a blow on his wife’s head with a beer bottle causing injury on her head and the wife left the deceased’s house. Later, the deceased was found dead. The landlord lodged a First Information Report (‘FIR’) against the convict on 16-07-2023. A chargesheet was filed against the convict for offences punishable under Section 302 read with Section 460<\/a> and 307<\/a> of the IPC<\/a>. On prima facie material and evidence, the Trial Court framed charges for commission of offences punishable under Section 458<\/a> read with Section 302<\/a> of the IPC<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Analysis and Decision<\/p>\n

The Court noted that the conviction was based on two circumstances, firstly, the last seen theory and secondly, the recovery of weapon i.e., a stone. Regarding the question of nature of death, the Court noted that the doctor had stated haemorrhage and shock due to injury to the brain and multiple bleeding injuries on abdomen and other parts of the body, as the cause of death of the deceased. The Court also noted that it was stated in the post-mortem report that the injuries were fatal and sufficient to cause death in ordinary course of nature. Therefore, the Court said that there was no doubt regarding the establishment of the homicidal death of the deceased beyond all reasonable doubts.<\/p>\n

Further, the Court noted that direct evidence as to the occurrence was absent, however, the Court said that the guilt of the offender can always be established through circumstantial evidence. Regarding the last seen theory relying upon appellant’s wife and son testimony, the Court said that the wife’s evidence did not transpire that the deceased was last seen with the convict. The Court noted that the wife had stated in her evidence that when the convict started to fight the deceased, the deceased out of anger dealt two blows upon convict by means of an iron rod and the convict dealt a blow on her head with a beer bottle and out of pain, she came outside the house and informed the police on duty at Atharanala about the incident. Thereafter, when the police reached at the spot<\/span><\/span>, the deceased was lying in his room with deep cut injury on his neck and other injuries on different parts of his body and the convict was not present there. The Court noted that the son had also given a similar testimony.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Court noted that the investigating officer had received FIR on 16-07-2013 at about 1 PM, but he received a phone call about murder of the deceased at about 9 AM and sent Assistant sub-inspector of police to verify the information, but he did not make any entry in the station diary about the phone call and after registering the case, he went to the spot. Hence, the Court said that the police had reached to the spot after registering the case at 1 PM in the afternoon and it is also the specific evidence of the convict’s wife and son that after the police arrived, they came along with them to the deceased’s house and found him lying dead. Therefore, the Court said that it was very clear that since mid-night till the FIR was lodged at 1 PM, which is more than twelve hours, the police had not reached to the spot.<\/p>\n

Thus, the Court rejected the wife and son’s evidence and said that the wife was not revealing the true genesis of the case, rather she deposed selectively by withholding some facts which might incriminate her. The Court also added that neither the convict’s wife nor his son had seen the convict assaulting the deceased in any manner and their evidence only demonstrates that there was a quarrel between the deceased and the convict, but what happened to the deceased from mid night till his dead body was found in his bed room in the morning was not stated.<\/p>\n

The Court perused Section 106<\/a> of the Evidence Act, 1872<\/a> (‘the Act’) and said that doctrine of last seen theory emanates from Section 106 and is an exception to the burden of proof under Section 101 of the Act. However, the Court said that the initial burden of proof never shifts by invoking the provision of Section 106 of the Act, unless the prosecution establishes the foundational facts by clear, cogent and acceptable evidence. The Court explained that Section 106 of the Act never relieves the prosecution from establishing prima facie guilt of the accused beyond all reasonable doubt. It is only when the same is established, the burden would shift to the accused to explain the facts which are within his personal knowledge and in case, he fails to explain or establish those facts, an adverse inference can obviously be drawn against the accused.<\/p>\n

Therefore, the Court said that it cannot be concluded that the deceased was only last seen together with the convict, to invoke the provision of Section 106 of the Act against the convict to offer explanation for the death of the deceased. The Court also said that there was no evidence as to what the convict’s wife was doing even after sustaining injury on her head, from mid night till she was sent for medical examination by the IO at 3:45 PM on 16-07-2013, hence, creating a genuine doubt with the prosecution’s case. The Court concluded that the prosecution did not establish the foundational facts to press the service of Section 106 of the Act against the convict to explain about the death of the deceased.<\/p>\n

Regarding the weapon, the Court said that evidence was absent as to how the weapon, i.e., stone was recovered and the place of recovery stated by the investigating officer did not tally with the place of recovery stated by the convict in the disclosure statement which was a bush on the ridge of a tank as per the prosecution case.<\/p>\n

The Court allowed the appeal and acquitted the convict of the charges. The impugned judgment was set aside.<\/p>\n

[Ashok Nayak v. State of Odisha, 2024 SCC OnLine Ori 456<\/a>, Decided on: 22-01-2024<\/span>]<\/p>\n

Judgment Authored by: Justice G. Satapathy<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Advocates who appeared in this case:<\/p>\n

For the appellant:<\/span> Advocate B.C. Ghadei<\/p>\n

For the respondent:<\/span> ASC G.N. Rout<\/p>\n

Buy Penal Code, 1860   HERE<\/a><\/h3>\n

\"penal<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

‘Section 106 of Evidence Act never relieves the prosecution from establishing prima facie guilt of the accused beyond all reasonable doubt, only when the same is established, the burden would shift to the accused.’<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":67517,"featured_media":293189,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,10],"tags":[6252,65067,13961,37146,58967,10181,65066],"class_list":["post-313176","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-casebriefs","category-highcourts","tag-evidence-act","tag-explain-death","tag-ipc","tag-orissa-high-court","tag-section-106","tag-section-302","tag-shift-burden-of-proof"],"yoast_head":"\nTo shift burden of proof on accused to explain death u\/s 106, prosecution must give evidence: Orissa HC | SCC Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"To shift burden of proof on accused to explain death u\/s 106, prosecution must give evidence: Orissa High Court\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2024\/02\/05\/to-shift-burden-of-proof-on-accused-to-explain-death-106-prosecution-must-give-evidence-orissa-hc-legal-news\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"[S. 106 Evidence Act] For shifting burden of proof on accused to explain death, prosecution must give clear and cogent evidence: Orissa HC\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"To shift burden of proof on accused to explain death u\/s 106, prosecution must give evidence: Orissa High Court\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2024\/02\/05\/to-shift-burden-of-proof-on-accused-to-explain-death-106-prosecution-must-give-evidence-orissa-hc-legal-news\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"SCC Times\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/scc.online\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-02-05T12:30:55+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-02-20T10:30:41+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/orissa-high-court.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"886\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"590\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Editor\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"[S. 106 Evidence Act] For shifting burden of proof on accused to explain death, prosecution must give clear and cogent evidence: Orissa HC\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Editor\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2024\/02\/05\/to-shift-burden-of-proof-on-accused-to-explain-death-106-prosecution-must-give-evidence-orissa-hc-legal-news\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2024\/02\/05\/to-shift-burden-of-proof-on-accused-to-explain-death-106-prosecution-must-give-evidence-orissa-hc-legal-news\/\",\"name\":\"To shift burden of proof on accused to explain death u\/s 106, prosecution must give evidence: Orissa HC | SCC Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2024\/02\/05\/to-shift-burden-of-proof-on-accused-to-explain-death-106-prosecution-must-give-evidence-orissa-hc-legal-news\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2024\/02\/05\/to-shift-burden-of-proof-on-accused-to-explain-death-106-prosecution-must-give-evidence-orissa-hc-legal-news\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/orissa-high-court.webp\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-02-05T12:30:55+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-02-20T10:30:41+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/84913f82186a8dea042dc300d5751624\"},\"description\":\"To shift burden of proof on accused to explain death u\/s 106, prosecution must give evidence: Orissa High Court\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2024\/02\/05\/to-shift-burden-of-proof-on-accused-to-explain-death-106-prosecution-must-give-evidence-orissa-hc-legal-news\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2024\/02\/05\/to-shift-burden-of-proof-on-accused-to-explain-death-106-prosecution-must-give-evidence-orissa-hc-legal-news\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2024\/02\/05\/to-shift-burden-of-proof-on-accused-to-explain-death-106-prosecution-must-give-evidence-orissa-hc-legal-news\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/orissa-high-court.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/orissa-high-court.webp\",\"width\":886,\"height\":590,\"caption\":\"orissa high court\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2024\/02\/05\/to-shift-burden-of-proof-on-accused-to-explain-death-106-prosecution-must-give-evidence-orissa-hc-legal-news\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"[S. 106 Evidence Act] For shifting burden of proof on accused to explain death, prosecution must give clear and cogent evidence: Orissa HC\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"SCC Times\",\"description\":\"Bringing you the Best Analytical Legal News\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/84913f82186a8dea042dc300d5751624\",\"name\":\"Editor\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d822f35f9fcd11386aa47345cde7945e45a64da7205eebe9784f21d0cd223603?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d822f35f9fcd11386aa47345cde7945e45a64da7205eebe9784f21d0cd223603?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Editor\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/author\/scc-online-editor\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"To shift burden of proof on accused to explain death u\/s 106, prosecution must give evidence: Orissa HC | SCC Blog","description":"To shift burden of proof on accused to explain death u\/s 106, prosecution must give evidence: Orissa High Court","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2024\/02\/05\/to-shift-burden-of-proof-on-accused-to-explain-death-106-prosecution-must-give-evidence-orissa-hc-legal-news\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"[S. 106 Evidence Act] For shifting burden of proof on accused to explain death, prosecution must give clear and cogent evidence: Orissa HC","og_description":"To shift burden of proof on accused to explain death u\/s 106, prosecution must give evidence: Orissa High Court","og_url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2024\/02\/05\/to-shift-burden-of-proof-on-accused-to-explain-death-106-prosecution-must-give-evidence-orissa-hc-legal-news\/","og_site_name":"SCC Times","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/scc.online\/","article_published_time":"2024-02-05T12:30:55+00:00","article_modified_time":"2024-02-20T10:30:41+00:00","og_image":[{"width":886,"height":590,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/orissa-high-court.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Editor","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_title":"[S. 106 Evidence Act] For shifting burden of proof on accused to explain death, prosecution must give clear and cogent evidence: Orissa HC","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Editor","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2024\/02\/05\/to-shift-burden-of-proof-on-accused-to-explain-death-106-prosecution-must-give-evidence-orissa-hc-legal-news\/","url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2024\/02\/05\/to-shift-burden-of-proof-on-accused-to-explain-death-106-prosecution-must-give-evidence-orissa-hc-legal-news\/","name":"To shift burden of proof on accused to explain death u\/s 106, prosecution must give evidence: Orissa HC | SCC Blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2024\/02\/05\/to-shift-burden-of-proof-on-accused-to-explain-death-106-prosecution-must-give-evidence-orissa-hc-legal-news\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2024\/02\/05\/to-shift-burden-of-proof-on-accused-to-explain-death-106-prosecution-must-give-evidence-orissa-hc-legal-news\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/orissa-high-court.webp","datePublished":"2024-02-05T12:30:55+00:00","dateModified":"2024-02-20T10:30:41+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/84913f82186a8dea042dc300d5751624"},"description":"To shift burden of proof on accused to explain death u\/s 106, prosecution must give evidence: Orissa High Court","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2024\/02\/05\/to-shift-burden-of-proof-on-accused-to-explain-death-106-prosecution-must-give-evidence-orissa-hc-legal-news\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2024\/02\/05\/to-shift-burden-of-proof-on-accused-to-explain-death-106-prosecution-must-give-evidence-orissa-hc-legal-news\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2024\/02\/05\/to-shift-burden-of-proof-on-accused-to-explain-death-106-prosecution-must-give-evidence-orissa-hc-legal-news\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/orissa-high-court.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/orissa-high-court.webp","width":886,"height":590,"caption":"orissa high court"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2024\/02\/05\/to-shift-burden-of-proof-on-accused-to-explain-death-106-prosecution-must-give-evidence-orissa-hc-legal-news\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"[S. 106 Evidence Act] For shifting burden of proof on accused to explain death, prosecution must give clear and cogent evidence: Orissa HC"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/","name":"SCC Times","description":"Bringing you the Best Analytical Legal News","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/84913f82186a8dea042dc300d5751624","name":"Editor","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d822f35f9fcd11386aa47345cde7945e45a64da7205eebe9784f21d0cd223603?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d822f35f9fcd11386aa47345cde7945e45a64da7205eebe9784f21d0cd223603?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Editor"},"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/author\/scc-online-editor\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/orissa-high-court.webp","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":335745,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2024\/11\/22\/orissa-high-court-acquits-two-accused-convicted-due-to-circumstantial-evidence-and-suspicious-conduct\/","url_meta":{"origin":313176,"position":0},"title":"Suspicion alone insufficient for conviction; Orissa High Court acquits two and convicts one in murder case","author":"Editor","date":"November 22, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cIn dealing with circumstantial evidence, there is always a danger that conjecture or suspicion lingering on mind might take the place of proof and therefore, the Court has to be watchful and ensure that such thing should not take place.\u201d","rel":"","context":"In "Case Briefs"","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Orissa High Court","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Orissa-High-Court.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Orissa-High-Court.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Orissa-High-Court.webp?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Orissa-High-Court.webp?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":254715,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2021\/09\/25\/false-defence-no-ground-to-convict-if-chain-of-circumstantial-evidence-is-incomplete-10-years-after-wifes-death-sc-sets-man-free\/","url_meta":{"origin":313176,"position":1},"title":"‘False defence no ground to convict if chain of circumstantial evidence is incomplete’. 10 years after wife’s death, SC sets man free","author":"Prachi Bhardwaj","date":"September 25, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Supreme Court: The bench of Ajay Rastogi and Abhay S. Oka*, JJ has held that when the chain of circumstantial evidence is not complete, falsity of the defence is no ground to convict the accused. Background\u00a0 The ruling came in a case where the appellant was convicted under Sections 302\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Case Briefs"","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/sc-2-7.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/sc-2-7.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/sc-2-7.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/sc-2-7.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/sc-2-7.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":204074,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2018\/10\/22\/section-106-evidence-act-not-a-substitute-for-the-burden-of-proof-which-rests-on-prosecution-murder-accused-acquitted-holding-prosecution-case-based-on-presumption-bombay-hc\/","url_meta":{"origin":313176,"position":2},"title":"Section 106 Evidence Act not a substitute for the burden of proof which rests on prosecution; murder accused acquitted holding prosecution case based on presumption: Bombay HC","author":"Bhumika Indulia","date":"October 22, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Bombay High Court: A Division Bench comprising of S.S. Shinde and A.S. Gadkari, JJ., allowed a criminal appeal filed against the judgment of the trial court whereby the appellant was convicted for murder under Section 302 IPC. The appellant and the deceased were living in a live-in-relationship. Both were married\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Case Briefs"","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Bombay-HC.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Bombay-HC.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Bombay-HC.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Bombay-HC.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Bombay-HC.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":350164,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2025\/06\/09\/circumstantial-evidence-inability-to-explain-situations-prosecution-primary-burden-supreme-court-legal-news\/","url_meta":{"origin":313176,"position":3},"title":"Circumstantial Evidence | Inability to explain certain situations can\u2019t be made a basis to relieve prosecution from discharging its primary burden: SC","author":"Sucheta","date":"June 9, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cThe subsequent acts of cleaning up the crime scene and making false enquiries amount to disappearance of evidence and raise grave suspicion against the convict. However, mere suspicion, no matter how grave, cannot take the place of proof in a criminal trial\u201d.","rel":"","context":"In "Case Briefs"","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"accused person's inability to explain; burden of proof","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/shared-image-13.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/shared-image-13.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/shared-image-13.webp?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/shared-image-13.webp?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":291587,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2023\/05\/08\/last-seen-evidence-not-irrevocable-conclusion-complete-chain-of-evidence-necessary-supreme-court-legal-news\/","url_meta":{"origin":313176,"position":4},"title":"Last seen evidence does not lead to irrevocable conclusion without complete chain of evidence establishing guilt; SC acquits convict in a 23-year-old murder case","author":"Editor","date":"May 8, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"The Court said that the prosecution failed to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt and the case did not pass the standard required in a case of circumstantial evidence.","rel":"","context":"In "Case Briefs"","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"last seen evidence","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/last-seen-evidence.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/last-seen-evidence.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/last-seen-evidence.webp?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/last-seen-evidence.webp?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":321753,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2024\/05\/09\/orissa-hc-commutes-death-sentence-to-life-imprisonment-of-accused-for-rape-and-murder-of-6-yr-old\/","url_meta":{"origin":313176,"position":5},"title":"[Rape & Murder of 6-yr-old] \u2018Every saint has past & every sinner has future, human endeavour should be to hate sin & not sinner\u2019; Orissa HC commutes death sentence to life imprisonment","author":"Editor","date":"May 9, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cIn case of no material on record including circumstances to satisfy the ingredients of \u2018rape\u2019 or \u2018aggravated penetrative sexual assault\u2019 committed on the deceased minor, it would be too risky to convict the accused either under Section 376-AB of the IPC or under Section 6 of the POCSO Act. The\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Case Briefs"","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Orissa High Court","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Orissa-High-Court.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Orissa-High-Court.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Orissa-High-Court.webp?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Orissa-High-Court.webp?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/313176","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/67517"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=313176"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/313176\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/293189"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=313176"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=313176"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=313176"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}