Summary
The Supreme Court upheld acquittal in a prosecution alleging that the accused caused fatal and non-fatal burns by throwing a burning cow-dung cake during wedding celebrations. The remaining eyewitness accounts materially conflicted about lighting and identification, several witnesses did not support the prosecution, and substantial delays in the FIR and witness statements were unexplained. The High Court had considered the evidence and reasonably found guilt unproved beyond reasonable doubt. No ground for special-leave interference was shown.
Issues
- Whether conflicting identification evidence and unexplained reporting delays warranted reversal of acquittal.
Held
- The prosecution retained the burden of proving guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Several witnesses, including injured witnesses, did not support its account; the two relied-on eyewitnesses materially differed about darkness, lighting and ability to identify those present. (¶¶ 8, 9)
- The FIR was substantially delayed and later witness statements were also recorded after a considerable interval without satisfactory explanation. These deficiencies were assessed together with the credibility problems, rather than treating delay alone as inevitably fatal. (¶¶ 9, 10, 11)
- The High Court had carefully examined the circumstances and evidence. No glaring mistake or omission of vital evidence justified Article 136 interference with its reasoned acquittal. The result was based on failure of proof, not merely absence of an intention to kill a particular individual. (¶¶ 8, 11, 12)
Result
State’s appeal dismissed; High Court’s acquittal left undisturbed.