{"id":342224,"date":"2025-02-25T12:00:42","date_gmt":"2025-02-25T06:30:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/?p=342224"},"modified":"2025-02-26T18:07:15","modified_gmt":"2025-02-26T12:37:15","slug":"sc-acquits-man-accused-of-kidnapping-killing-16-year-old-alleged-girlfriend-after-21-years-legal-battle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2025\/02\/25\/sc-acquits-man-accused-of-kidnapping-killing-16-year-old-alleged-girlfriend-after-21-years-legal-battle\/","title":{"rendered":"SC acquits man accused of kidnapping &amp; killing 16-year-old alleged girlfriend after 21 years of legal battle"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>\n.animate-charcter{background-image: linear-gradient(-225deg, #231557 0%, #44107a 29%, #ff1361 67%, #fff800 100%); background-size: 200% auto; -webkit-background-clip: text; -webkit-text-fill-color: transparent; animation: textclip 0s linear infinite;}\n@keyframes textclip {to {background-position: 200% center;}}\n<\/style>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Supreme Court:<\/span> In a criminal appeal against the Gauhati High Court&#8217;s decision, whereby, the criminal appeal against the Trial Court&#8217;s decision convicting the accused under Sections <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001561687\" target=\"_blank\">366(A)<\/a>\/<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001561607\" target=\"_blank\">302<\/a>\/<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001561485\" target=\"_blank\">201<\/a>\/<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001561652\" target=\"_blank\">34<\/a> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726960\" target=\"_blank\">Penal Code, 1860<\/a> (&#8216;IPC&#8217;), was dismissed, the Division Bench of Abhay S. Oka and <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Ujjal Bhuyan*<\/span>, JJ. allowed the appeal and set aside the impugned decision considering that none of the circumstances put forth by the prosecution to prove the guilt of the convict were proved. The complete chain of circumstances, to dispel any hypothesis of innocence of the convict was also incomplete.<\/p>\n<h3>Factual Matrix<\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">On 26-08-2003, the father-complainant (PW-1) lodged a first information report (&#8216;FIR&#8217;) stating that the convict herein, along with co-accused had kidnapped his minor daughter. The complainant alleged that his daughter had taken away Rs. 60,000 in cash from his house. It was further mentioned that mother of the convict told the complainant that the convict had kidnapped his daughter with the intention of marrying her. During the investigation, the dead body of the minor girl was found. Chargesheet was submitted against both the accused persons under Sections <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001561687\" target=\"_blank\">366(A)<\/a>\/<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001561607\" target=\"_blank\">302<\/a>\/<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001561485\" target=\"_blank\">201<\/a>\/<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001561652\" target=\"_blank\">34<\/a> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726960\" target=\"_blank\">IPC<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Trial Court convicted the convict and co-accused under Sections <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001561687\" target=\"_blank\">366(A)<\/a>\/<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001561607\" target=\"_blank\">302<\/a>\/<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001561485\" target=\"_blank\">201<\/a>\/<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001561652\" target=\"_blank\">34<\/a> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726960\" target=\"_blank\">IPC<\/a>. The convict was sentenced to suffer rigorous imprisonment (RI) for 5 years alongwith a fine of Rs. 3,000 with a default stipulation for the offence under Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001561687\" target=\"_blank\">366(A)<\/a> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726960\" target=\"_blank\">IPC<\/a>. For the offence under Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001561485\" target=\"_blank\">201<\/a> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726960\" target=\"_blank\">IPC<\/a>, he was sentenced to undergo RI for 5 years alongwith a fine of Rs. 3,000, again with a default stipulation. The convict was also sentenced to undergo RI for life and to pay a fine of Rs. 3,000 with a default stipulation for the offence under Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001561607\" target=\"_blank\">302<\/a> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726960\" target=\"_blank\">IPC<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">Separate appeals were preferred by the convict and the co-accused. Vide the impugned judgment, the High Court set aside the conviction of the accused persons including that of the convict under Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001561687\" target=\"_blank\">366(A)<\/a> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726960\" target=\"_blank\">IPC<\/a> but affirmed their conviction under Sections <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001561607\" target=\"_blank\">302<\/a>\/<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001561485\" target=\"_blank\">201<\/a>\/<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001561652\" target=\"_blank\">34<\/a> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726960\" target=\"_blank\">IPC<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>Analysis and Decision<\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court perused the statements of the prosecution witnesses, including the father&#8217;s examination-in-chief wherein he stated that the convict and the co-accused kidnapped his daughter and that the brother-in-of the convict and his mother informed the father that his daughter would return once the convict had married her. He also stated that his daughter had a love affair with the convict since last five years. At the time of the occurrence, the daughter was about 16 years of age.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">Noting that the conviction at hand was based on conviction is based on circumstantial evidence, the Court referred to <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">Ramu Appa Mahapatar<\/span> v. <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">State of Maharashtra<\/span>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink\/D6s7P2Y2\" target=\"_blank\">2025 SCC OnLine SC 233<\/a> wherein, while dealing with the limitations of an extra- judicial confession which is one of the instances of circumstantial evidence held that circumstantial evidence is not direct to the point in issue but consists of evidence of various other facts which are so closely associated with the fact in issue that taken together, they form a chain of circumstances from which the existence of the principle fact can be legally inferred or presumed. The chain must be complete and each fact forming part of the chain must be proved. Where a case rests on circumstantial evidence, inference of guilt can be justified only when all the incriminating facts and circumstances are found to be incompatible with the innocence of the accused or the guilt of any another person.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">In the matter at hand, the Court noted that the prosecution relied on three circumstances to prove the convict&#8217;s guilt. The three circumstances were- appellant and the victim were last seen together; extra-judicial confession made by the convict; and the fact of recovery of the dead body following the confessional statements of the convict.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court pointed out that the High Court discarded the circumstance of extra-judicial confessions made by the convict on the ground that those confessions were made in the presence of the police and thus were hit by Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001516766\" target=\"_blank\">25<\/a> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726934\" target=\"_blank\">Evidence Act, 1872<\/a>. Considering that the High Court had disbelieved one of the three circumstances put forth by the prosecution as part of the chain of circumstantial evidence to prove the guilt of the appellant, the Court stated that the chain of circumstantial evidence was not complete. As the chain got broken, the convict was entitled to the benefit of doubt as it could not be said that the circumstances put together established his guilt beyond all reasonable doubt.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">The Court held that the High Court fell into error in holding the convict guilty on basis of the other two pieces of circumstantial evidence.<\/p>\n<p class=\"animate-charcter\" style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 3%; font-style: italic;\">&#8220;When one of the three circumstances was disbelieved and discarded by the High Court, then the chain of circumstantial evidence could not have been held to be complete and proved and on that basis to hold the accused guilty of the offence. Each and every circumstance forming the chain of circumstantial evidence has to be proved.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h3>Circumstance of last seen together<\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court noted that the deceased&#8217;s friend PW-2 was the only witness who stated in her evidence that convict had forcefully taken the deceased away in a Tata Sumo when both of them were walking along the road. However, she also stated that the deceased had told her that she loved the convict. In her cross- examination, she stated that deceased had gone on her own accord and, therefore, she did not raise any hue and cry. The Court also noted that she stated that no money was seen in the hands of the deceased.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">Further, the Court noted that mother and brother-in-law of the convict had come to the residence of deceased&#8217;s father and assured him that his daughter was safe and that they would arrange for their marriage. The Court said that for four days, the father did not lodge any complaint or first information though his daughter had gone missing. It was only on 26-08-2003 afternoon that the FIR was lodged and thereafter the dead body was recovered on the following day.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">The Court stated that there were glaring discrepancies in the evidence of the witnesses who allegedly had seen the deceased last alive in the company of the convict on 22-08-2003. The Court pointed out that the dead body was recovered five days thereafter on 27-08-2003 that too after lodging of FIR on 26-08-2003.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court relied on <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">State of Goa<\/span> v. <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">Sanjay Thakran<\/span> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink\/X81Mg0NB\" target=\"_blank\">(2007) 3 SCC 755<\/a>, wherein, it was laid down that circumstance of last seen together would normally be taken into consideration when it is established by the prosecution that the time gap between the point of time when the accused and the deceased were found together alive and when the deceased was found dead is so small that possibility of any other person being with the deceased could completely be ruled out. In <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">Kanhaiya Lal<\/span> v. <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">State of Rajasthan<\/span>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink\/b4M4p6uj\" target=\"_blank\">(2014) 4 SCC 715<\/a>, it was held that the circumstance of last seen together does not by itself lead to the inference that it was the accused who had committed the crime, there must be something more to establish the nexus between the accused and the crime. Applying the aforesaid principles, the Court stated that there was considerable time gap between the time the convict and the deceased were last seen together alive and recovery of the dead body.<\/p>\n<h3>Recovery of the dead body on confessional statements<\/h3>\n<p class=\"animate-charcter\" style=\"margin-bottom: 3%; text-align: center; font-style: italic;\">&#8220;Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001516767\" target=\"_blank\">26<\/a> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726934\" target=\"_blank\">Evidence Act<\/a> says is that no confession made by any person while he is in the custody of a police officer shall be proved as against such person unless it is made in the immediate presence of the Magistrate. This is an exception to the absolute bar of Section 25 which declares that no confession made to a police officer shall be proved as against a person accused of any offence. Section 27 provides that when any fact is deposed to as discovered in consequence of information received from a person accused of any offence, in the custody of a police officer, so much of such information, whether it amounts to a confession or not, as relates distinctly to the fact thereby discovered, may be proved.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court referred to <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">Asar Mohammad<\/span> v. <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">State of Uttar Pradesh<\/span>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink\/4Z9503CP\" target=\"_blank\">(2019) 12 SCC 253<\/a>, wherein, the Court referred to the word &#8216;fact&#8217; appearing in Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001516768\" target=\"_blank\">27<\/a> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726934\" target=\"_blank\">Evidence Act<\/a> and held that such a fact need not be self- probatory. The word &#8216;fact&#8217; is not limited to &#8216;actual physical material object.&#8217; The Court reiterated that discovery of fact arises by reason that the information given by the accused exhibited the knowledge or the mental awareness of the informant as to its existence at a particular place which includes discovery of the object, the place from which it is discovered and the knowledge of the accused as to its existence.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court stated that <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">the circumstance leading to discovery is intrinsically connected with the circumstance of extra-judicial confessions made by the convict and the other co-accused before the prosecution witnesses.<\/span> The Court pointed out that the High Court had already rejected the circumstance of extra-judicial confessions as being in-admissible evidence. It was in the course of such extra- judicial confessions that the said prosecution witnesses mentioned about the information given by the accused persons leading to discovery of the dead body. The Court also found glaring inconsistencies in the prosecution witnesses statements leading to the discovery. Therefore, the Court held that the circumstance of leading to discovery was not proved beyond all reasonable doubt as against the convict. Hence, the Court stated that not only the chain of circumstantial evidence was incomplete, but all the circumstances also put forth by the prosecution to prove the guilt were also invalid pieces of evidence.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court also said that considering that the convict and the deceased were in love, there was no reason for the convict to murder the deceased, as there was no motive for the convict in the same. The Court added that the postmortem report has also ruled out recent sexual activity of the deceased.<\/p>\n<h3>Conclusion<\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court viewed that none of the circumstances put forth by the prosecution to prove the guilt of the convict were proved, not to speak of proving the complete chain of circumstances, to dispel any hypothesis of innocence of the convict. Hence, allowing the appeal, the Court set aside the impugned decisions, and acquitted the convict of the charges levelled against him and directed to release him.<\/p>\n<p><!--\n\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">[<span style=\"font-weight: bold; color: #632423;\">Md. Bani Alam Mazid v. State of Assam, Criminal Appeal 1649 of 2011, decided on: 24-02-2025<\/span>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p style=\"text-indent: 18pt;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #000080;\">*Judgment Authored by: Justice Ujjal Bhuyan<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<hr\/>\n\n\n\n\n<p>Advocates who appeared in this case :<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p style=\"margin-left: 18pt;\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">For Appellants:<\/span> Abhijit Sengupta, AOR<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p style=\"margin-left: 18pt; margin-bottom: 3%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">For Respondents:<\/span> Mr. Shuvodeep Roy, AOR; Mr. Saurabh Tripathi, Adv.; Mr. Deepayan Dutta, Adv.<\/p>\n\n--><\/p>\n<div style=\"text-overflow: ellipsis; background-color: #92A8D1; text-align:justify; clear:both; text-size-adjust: auto; overflow: auto;\">\n<p style=\"font-size: 18pt; margin-top: 5px; text-align: center;\">CASE DETAILS<\/p>\n<table width=\"100%\" style=\"word-wrap: break-word; border-collapse:collapse; table-layout: fixed; margin-top: 10px;\">\n<colgroup>\n<col width=\"41%\"\/>\n<col width=\"59%\"\/>\n<\/colgroup>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #D4E4F7; font-weight: bold;\">Citation:<\/span><br \/><span style=\"color: #D4E4F7; font-size: 10pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink\/0eIrcPBc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2025 SCC OnLine SC 391<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #D4E4F7; font-weight: bold;\">Appellants&#160;:<\/span><br \/> Md. Bani Alam Mazid<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #D4E4F7; font-weight: bold;\">Respondents&#160;:<\/span><br \/> State of Assam<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p style=\"color: #D4E4F7; font-weight: bold;\">Advocates who appeared in this case<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #D4E4F7; font-weight: bold;\">For Petitioner(s):<\/span><br \/> Abhijit Sengupta, AOR<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #D4E4F7; font-weight: bold;\">For Respondent(s):<\/span><br \/> Mr. Shuvodeep Roy, AOR; Mr. Saurabh Tripathi, Adv.; Mr. Deepayan Dutta, Adv.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p style=\"font-size: 12pt; margin-top: -20px; margin-left: 5px;\"><span style=\"color: #D4E4F7; font-weight: bold;\">CORAM&#160;:<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"banner\" style=\"overflow: hidden; display: flex; justify-content: space-between; padding-left: 3%;\">\n<div class=\"\" style=\"max-width: 100%; max-height: 100%; font-size: 9pt; text-align: center;\">\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" height=\"100px\" width=\"100px\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scobserver.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/25.-Oka-modified.png\" alt=\"Abhay S. Oka, J.\" style=\"border-radius: 50%;\"><br \/><span style=\"color: black !important;\">Abhay S. Oka, J.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" style=\"max-width: 100%; max-height: 100%; font-size: 9pt; text-align: center;\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2024\/08\/02\/know-thy-judge-justice-ujjal-bhuyan-judge-of-supreme-court-of-india-career-notable-judgments-scc-blog-legal-research-news\/\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" height=\"100px\" width=\"100px\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scobserver.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Bhuyan-modified.jpg\" alt=\"Ujjal Bhuyan, J.\" style=\"border-radius: 50%; border: 2px solid #FF5733; padding: 1px;\"><br \/><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Ujjal Bhuyan, J.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" style=\"max-width: 100%; max-height: 100%; font-size: 9pt; text-align: center;\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" style=\"max-width: 100%; max-height: 100%;\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"\" style=\"max-width: 100%; max-height: 100%;\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"\" style=\"max-width: 100%; max-height: 100%;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3 style=\"color: #000080;\">Buy Penal Code, 1860 &nbsp; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ebcwebstore.com\/product_info.php?products_id=1158\" target=\"_blank\">HERE<\/a><\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ebcwebstore.com\/product_info.php?products_id=1158\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/penal-code-1860-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"penal code, 1860\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-294601\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/penal-code-1860-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/penal-code-1860-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/penal-code-1860-440x293.jpg 440w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/penal-code-1860-650x433.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/penal-code-1860.jpg 886w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/penal-code-1860-60x40.jpg 60w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p style=\"font-style: italic;\">&#8220;When one of the three circumstances was disbelieved and discarded by the High Court, then the chain of circumstantial evidence could not have been held to be complete and proved and on that basis to hold the accused guilty of the offence.&#8221;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":67517,"featured_media":342234,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,9],"tags":[4561,79059,78020,3433,79060,37644,3156,5363],"class_list":["post-342224","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-casebriefs","category-supremecourt","tag-acquittal","tag-acquittal-in-kidnapping","tag-acquittal-in-murder","tag-circumstantial_evidence","tag-incomplete-chain-of-circumstantial-evidence","tag-justice-ujjal-bhuyan","tag-murder","tag-supreme-court"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.4 (Yoast SEO v26.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>SC acquits man accused of kidnapping &amp; 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Ramasubramanian*and Indira Banerjee, JJ has reversed the High Court's verdict observing that there were glaring\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Case Briefs&quot;","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\/2022\/09\/MicrosoftTeams-image-69-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/MicrosoftTeams-image-69-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/MicrosoftTeams-image-69-2.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/MicrosoftTeams-image-69-2.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/MicrosoftTeams-image-69-2.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":333696,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2024\/10\/23\/heated-exchange-between-couple-family-members-over-meal-preparation-not-sufficient-to-prove-abetment-to-suicide-jk-hc-scc-times\/","url_meta":{"origin":342224,"position":5},"title":"Heated exchange between couple\/family members over meal preparation not sufficient to prove abetment to suicide: J&amp;K High Court","author":"Ritu","date":"October 23, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"The Court stated that the presumption under Section 114-C of the Evidence Act regarding dowry deaths could not be applied without credible evidence of dowry harassment.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Case Briefs&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Jammu-and-Kashmir-and-Ladakh-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\/03\/Jammu-and-Kashmir-and-Ladakh-High-Court.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Jammu-and-Kashmir-and-Ladakh-High-Court.webp?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Jammu-and-Kashmir-and-Ladakh-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\/342224","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=342224"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/342224\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/342234"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=342224"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=342224"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=342224"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}