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State of Gujarat v. Ratansingh @ Chinubhai Anopsinh Chauhan

Criminal Appeal · Neutral citation not assigned (Criminal Appeal No. 403 of 2007)Decided 10 Jan 2014
Criminal Appeal No. 403 of 2007
Justice K.S. Radhakrishnan · Justice A.K. Sikri

Background

A neighbour was prosecuted for the alleged rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl whose body was found near her village. The trial court convicted him and imposed a death sentence, relying on witness accounts, medical evidence and recovered articles. The Gujarat High Court found serious flaws in the investigation and evidence and acquitted him, prompting the State's appeal.

Decision Breakdown

The Supreme Court dismissed the State's appeal and upheld the acquittal. Witnesses gave conflicting and improved accounts about the girl's last contact with the accused, so that crucial link could not be accepted. Medical findings and the claimed recovery of a grinding stone also conflicted with the investigation records, and the handling of another possible suspect was inadequately explained. Taken together, the evidence did not form a complete chain proving this accused's guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

Lesson Learnt

The seriousness of a crime cannot replace reliable proof identifying its perpetrator. When a case depends on circumstances, contradictions in witnesses, forensic findings and recoveries can break the chain needed for conviction.

Official source (sci.gov.in)View Judgment (PDF)

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