In Brief
The Supreme Court addressed an appeal by the State of Delhi against the acquittal of six accused in a murder case involving conspiracy and firearms offences. The Court held that criminal conspiracy can be established through tacit understanding and circumstantial evidence without direct proof of agreement; acts and statements of co-conspirators are reliable evidence. While affirming the acquittal on the law, the Court found sufficient material creating grave suspicion of the accused's involvement. Due to inconsistencies in charge framing, the Court directed a fresh retrial to be completed within six months on a day-to-day basis, emphasizing the appellate court's power to direct retrial even when dealing with acquittals.
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.