In a pivotal decision, the Supreme Court emphasized that accusations must be backed by solid evidence, not mere speculation. This ruling came while discharging an accused individual, underscoring that any move to proceed against the accused under Section 227 of the CrPC requires substantial material evidence.
The Court stressed that the trial court must dismiss the accused if the case documents do not substantiate the charges. Highlighting this necessity, the bench, comprising Justices CT Ravikumar and Sudhanshu Dhulia, stated, “An accused should face trial only if the case record and accompanying documents reveal grounds for prosecution. The court must meticulously examine these records and documents, coupled with the arguments from both the defense and the prosecution.”
The ruling further clarified that while the trial court can sift and weigh evidence during charge framing, it must refrain from evaluating the evidence’s overall merit at this stage. This distinction ensures the prosecution has a fair chance to present its case during the trial, aligning with Section 232 of the CrPC.
Additionally, the Court noted that while reasons must be recorded for discharging an accused, reasons must also be provided for rejecting a discharge application, albeit not in exhaustive detail. This transparency allows higher courts to review such decisions effectively.
Citing the Allahabad High Court’s precedent, the Supreme Court reinforced that charges should be framed based on concrete evidence presented by the prosecution, not on presumptions or conjectures. The judgment concluded by discharging the accused of custodial death charges, as the trial court had prematurely framed charges without adequate legal evidence.
The decision reiterates the judiciary’s commitment to ensuring that trials are grounded in robust evidence, safeguarding the rights of the accused against unwarranted prosecution.
