The Supreme Court has acquitted a man sentenced to death for the 2014 rape and murder of a 23-year-old woman, dismantling the case built by the prosecution due to significant flaws in the evidence. On January 28, 2025, the Court set aside the Bombay High Court’s ruling, which had upheld the conviction and death sentence.
A bench consisting of Justices B.R. Gavai, Prashant Kumar Mishra, and K.V. Viswanathan concluded that the circumstantial evidence presented by the prosecution failed to establish the appellant’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The Court stressed that when relying on circumstantial evidence, the case must leave no room for an alternative explanation, and in this case, there were “gaping holes” in the prosecution’s story.
In its judgment, the Court observed that the evidence provided did not form a complete and unbroken chain linking the appellant to the crime. Notably, the Court rejected the use of CCTV footage, ruling that it could not be considered as valid evidence due to the prosecution’s failure to comply with legal requirements for electronic records.
The testimony from key witnesses also came under scrutiny. The Court found the last-seen theory unconvincing, as the crucial witnesses delayed their statements for over two months without providing an adequate explanation. Additionally, the supposed extra-judicial confession made by the appellant to a witness was deemed unreliable, given its weak evidentiary value.
The Court’s ruling highlights the fundamental principle that a death sentence can only be upheld if the prosecution’s evidence is overwhelming and irrefutable. With a careful review of the case, the Supreme Court found that the prosecution had failed to meet this standard, leading to the appellant’s acquittal.
In a critical reflection, the Court underscored the importance of rigorous adherence to legal standards, particularly when a person’s life is at stake. This ruling serves as a reminder that justice must be grounded in solid and incontrovertible evidence.
