Supreme Court reaffirms conviction in absence of motive, citing strong circumstantial evidence in murder case.
ABSENCE OF MOTIVE NO GROUND FOR ACQUITTAL
Case in NewsAbsence of motive no ground for acquittal stated by Supreme Court of India in the case of Subhash Aggarwal Vs The State Of NCT Of Delhi. |
Case Overview
Case Name – SUBHASH AGGARWAL vs. THE STATE OF NCT OF DELHI
In the judgment the Supreme Court of India reiterated that absence of motive does not weaken a case built on strong circumstantial evidence . The bench of Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice K Vinod Chandran upheld the life imprisonment of a father who murdered his minor son by his own licensed firearm. Despite no proven motive, forensic evidence, witness statements and false suicide claims exposed the guilt of the accused .
Key Aspects
- The father claimed his son has committed suicide using his licensed revolver.
- Forensic test found gunshot residue on the dominant hand of the accused .
- The screwdriver cited as the cause of death had no bloodstains.
- Accused misled police and family with a false suicide theory.
- Witnesses made the confirmation that only the accused knew how to operate the weapon.
Legal Insights
- Section 302 IPC : Murder charges upheld based on circumstantial evidence .
- Absence of motive : Not fatal if evidence forms a complete and unbroken chain.
- Quoted the case of Suresh Chandra Bahri vs. State of Bihar, 1995 for precedent.
Court’s Verdict
The Supreme Court of India affirmed the conviction by stating that a clear motive is not required when guilt is established beyond reasonable doubt through strong and consistent evidence .
Source
Read Also – The LawGist – Witness
