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Criminal Trial

Dadu @ Ankush v. State of Madhya Pradesh 2025 INSC 1395 - Hostile Witness Evidence

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• 1 min read
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Criminal Trial - Hostile Witness - The evidence of a hostile witness would not be totally rejected if spoken in favour of either the prosecution or the accused. It would rather have to be subjected to closer scrutiny and that portion of the evidence which is consistent with the case of the prosecution or defence may be accepted. [Context: Allowing appeal, Supreme Court set aside convictions under Sections 354, 323 IPC and Section 3(1)(xi) SC/ST Act due to evidentiary inconsistencies, lack of independent witnesses, medical evidence indicating simple injuries possibly from a fall/drag, and incorrect High Court inference on caste‑based motive.]

Case Info


Case Details

  • Case name: Dadu @ Ankush & Anr. v. State of Madhya Pradesh & Anr.
  • Neutral citation: 2025 INSC 1395
  • Coram: Justice Dipankar Datta; Justice Augustine George Masih
  • Judgment date: December 08, 2025
  • Disposition: Appeal allowed; convictions set aside; appellants discharged from bail bonds.

Caselaws and citations

  • Cited: State of U.P. v. Ramesh Prasad Misra, (1996) 10 SCC 360On appreciation of evidence of a hostile witness; portions consistent with prosecution or defence may be accepted.

Statutes / laws referred

  • Indian Penal Code, 1860: Sections 323, 354, 294, 34
  • Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973: Section 374(2); Section 313
  • Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989: Section 3(1)(xi)

Dadu @ Ankush v. State of Madhya Pradesh 2025 INSC 1395 - Hostile Witness Evidence
Dadu @ Ankush v. State of Madhya Pradesh 2025 INSC 1395 - Hostile Witness Evidence.pdf
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