In Brief
This appeal challenged the conviction of Jivraj Badha for the murder of Dalpat, who was fatally assaulted in a courtroom in Bhavnagar in 1997. The appellant argued that procedural irregularities in the FIR registration, the failure of one witness to identify him, and alleged inconsistencies in the prosecution narrative made the case unreliable. The Supreme Court affirmed the conviction, holding that eyewitness identification by two credible witnesses (a police officer and a court constable who knew the accused through prior contact) was cogent and well-corroborated by material evidence. Minor procedural irregularities and the failure of one witness to identify the accused did not undermine the core eyewitness testimony. The appeal was dismissed and the life sentence upheld.
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