In Brief
In 2013, Sugreev Kumar and family members were attacked while attempting to reclaim land from tenants, resulting in deaths and injuries. Police charge-sheeted only three persons; the prosecution sought to add eight others under Section 319 CrPC (summoning additional accused). The trial court and high court rejected this application. The Supreme Court set aside both orders, clarifying that Section 319 CrPC requires cogent evidence but not proof beyond reasonable doubt. The court was applying an improperly strict standard. The case was remitted for the trial court to reconsider whether the additional accused should be summoned based on the proper legal threshold and available evidence.
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