In a pivotal ruling, the Allahabad High Court has reiterated the importance of corroborative evidence alongside eyewitness testimony in criminal cases.
Justices Siddharth and Vinod Diwakar presided over the bench. They acquitted a man who convicted in a 46-year-old murder case originating from Meerut.
The case traces back to 31 May 1978, when Chamel Singh lodged a murder complaint at the Jani police station in Meerut.
Singh alleged that Indrapal and Sohanveer had unlawfully entered his residence, fatally shooting his son Karamveer before fleeing the scene.
The prosecution asserted that the motive behind the murder was Karamveer’s opposition to Sohanveer’s alleged illicit relationship with Chamel Singh’s cousin.
Following a trial that concluded on 26 November 1980, the court heavily relied on the testimony of Vijendra Singh, the sole eyewitness and the deceased’s brother.
Based on Vijendra Singh’s account, the trial court convicted Indrapal and Sohanveer, imposing life imprisonment sentences.
Despite subsequent legal challenges and appeals, including the death of co-accused Sohanveer during the appeal process, the conviction persisted until recently.
Challenging Eyewitness Testimony: Allahabad High Court’s Landmark Decision
The Allahabad High Court’s decision centered on the insufficiency of relying solely on eyewitness testimony, especially without supplementary corroborative evidence.
The bench emphasized glaring investigative shortcomings, such as the failure to recover the murder weapon or subject seized evidence to forensic scrutiny.
Citing judicial precedents from the Supreme Court, the High Court cautioned against the hazards of basing convictions solely on eyewitness accounts, underscoring the necessity for additional evidentiary support.
The court scrutinized the initial investigation, highlighting deficiencies such as the omission to send crucial evidence for forensic analysis.
Conclusively, the High Court deemed the appellant’s conviction solely on the basis of Vijendra Singh’s testimony to be precarious and unsound.
In its verdict, the High Court overturned the ruling of the Additional Sessions Judge from Meerut, acquitting the appellant of all charges.
This decision reinforces the judiciary’s commitment to ensuring that convictions rest on robust and corroborated evidence, thereby upholding the fundamental principles of justice and equity in criminal proceedings.
The judgment is poised to influence future legal practices, stressing the imperative of thorough investigation and substantiation in criminal trials.
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