State of Rajasthan v. Bhanwar Singh 2025 INSC 1166 - Murder Case - Acquittal Upheld
Criminal Trial - Mere threat to inflict harm may constitute an incriminating circumstance but in isolation, the said circumstance would fall woefully short of proof of conspiracy to commit murder. (Para 37)
Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 - Section 378 ,386- The scope of interference by an appellate court for reversing the judgment of acquittal recorded by the trial court in favour of the accused has to be exercised within the four corners of the following principles: 1. That the judgment of acquittal suffers from patent perversity; 2. That the same is based on a misreading/omission to consider material evidence on record; and 3. That no two reasonable views are possible and only the view consistent with the guilt of the accused is possible from the evidence available on record. -The appellate court, in order to interfere with the judgment of acquittal would have to record pertinent findings on the above factors if it is inclined to reverse the judgment of acquittal rendered by the trial court. (Para 39)
Case Info
- Case name: State of Rajasthan v. Bhanwar Singh Etc. Etc.
- Neutral citation: 2025 INSC 1166.
- Coram: Justice Sandeep Mehta; Justice Joymalya Bagchi.
- Judgment date: September 26, 2025.
Caselaws and citations
- Babu Sahebagouda Rudragoudar v. State of Karnataka, (2024) 8 SCC 149.
Statutes / laws referred
- Indian Penal Code, 1860: Sections 302, 120-B, 143, 201.
- Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973: Section 374(2); Section 173(2); Section 313.
- Indian Evidence Act, 1872: Section 27; Section 65-B.
