Summary
Two accused convicted of murder and conspiracy following a friend’s death from a drug overdose were acquitted. Sharing the room and being last seen with the deceased did not establish that they administered the fatal dose. Medical evidence did not determine the time or manner of administration, the alleged motive was unsupported, and the private complainant’s later account contained material improvements. The circumstantial chain failed to exclude self-injection or intervention by another person.
Issues
- Whether the circumstantial evidence established murder and conspiracy beyond reasonable doubt.
Held
- Each incriminating circumstance must be proved beyond doubt, point unerringly to guilt and form a complete chain excluding a reasonable alternative explanation. Courts should assess individual circumstances before considering their cumulative effect. (¶ 9–13)
- Although the accused shared the guest-house room with the deceased, evidence showed that the deceased had organized the journey, initially with two other friends. The inference that the accused took him there intending to kill him lacked evidentiary support. (¶ 13, circumstance 1)
- Medical evidence established overdose but did not establish when or how the fatal quantity was injected. No incriminating syringe, ampoules or purchase evidence connected the accused with that quantity. Self-injection or administration by another person could not be excluded. (¶¶ 13, circumstance 2, 15)
- The proposed love-triangle motive was contradicted by the woman’s evidence and appeared only years later. The inference that Chandru administered the drug merely because he was a medical student was unsupported. The complainant’s materially altered account and unexplained late allegations were unreliable. (¶¶ 13, circumstances 3–4, 14)
- The prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt either homicidal death or that the accused administered the fatal drug. The established circumstances did not complete a chain pointing exclusively to their guilt. (¶ 15–16)
Result
Both appeals allowed; convictions and sentences set aside and accused acquitted. Immediate release directed unless required in another case; pending applications disposed of.