In Brief
Three policemen named in an FIR for a 2000 murder were not charge-sheeted after investigation revealed they had alibis (duty certificates, medical records proving they were in Jaipur, 175 km away). Years later, during trial, the complainant sought to add them as additional accused under Section 319 CrPC. The trial court and High Court allowed this based on witness testimony. The Supreme Court reversed the orders, holding that Section 319 power is extraordinary and discretionary, requiring much stronger evidence than mere witness statements. Since investigation had gathered documentary proof supporting the alibi, the trial court erred in relying solely on examination-in-chief depositions without weighing such materials.
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.