In Brief
The appellant was convicted of murder under Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC for killing Shamsher Singh, based on circumstantial evidence. The Supreme Court examined the three key prosecution witnesses: PW-10 (extra-judicial confession), PW-11 (chance witness at crime scene), and PW-12 (another chance witness). The Court found PW-10's testimony unreliable due to contradictions, PW-11's account improbable due to unexplained travel delays and dubious simultaneous observations, and PW-12's evidence unconvincing. The Court held that the prosecution failed to establish a complete, cogent chain of circumstantial evidence excluding reasonable doubt. Significant gaps, improbabilities, and inconsistencies undermined the conviction. The Court acquitted the appellant, holding that suspicion and weak circumstantial evidence cannot substitute for proof beyond reasonable doubt.
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