No interfere with an acquittal unless there are compelling reasons or glaring errors in the judgment

Supreme Court Upholds High Court's Acquittal in Raj Pal Singh v. Rajveer Case Supreme Court affirms High Court's decision, finding no compelling reason to interfere with the acquittal of accused in the alleged murder of Captain Praveen Kumar.

In a significant judgment, the Supreme Court of India has upheld the acquittal of Rajveer and others in the alleged murder case of Captain Praveen Kumar, a serving officer in the Indian Army. The apex court dismissed the appeal filed by the complainant, Raj Pal Singh, father of the deceased, challenging the Allahabad High Court's decision to overturn the trial court's conviction.

The case, which dates back to 1996, involved the tragic death of Captain Praveen Kumar, allegedly at the hands of his uncle Dharam Pal and cousins, Rajveer and Sudhir. The trial court had previously convicted the respondents under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code, sentencing them to life imprisonment and imposing a hefty fine. However, this conviction was overturned by the High Court, citing inconsistencies in the prosecution's evidence.

The Supreme Court, comprising Justices K. Vinod Chandran and N.V. Anjaria, found the High Court's reasoning plausible, noting significant discrepancies in the testimonies and evidence presented by the prosecution. The Court emphasized the principle of non-interference by appellate courts in acquittals, underscoring the double presumption of innocence that applies once an accused has been acquitted.

The Supreme Court's judgment reiterated the necessity for the prosecution to establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt, distinguishing between "may be proved" and "must be proved." In this case, the Court found that the evidence against the accused lacked the requisite certainty to disturb the acquittal.

The High Court had previously highlighted several factors that undermined the prosecution's case, including the improbability of the events as described, given the physical and health conditions of the accused Dharam Pal, and the lack of credible evidence regarding the possession and use of firearms by the accused at the time of the incident.

Furthermore, the discrepancies in the dates and details of the complaints filed, coupled with the absence of ballistic examination of the alleged murder weapon, further weakened the prosecution's case.

The Supreme Court's decision to uphold the acquittal underscores the judiciary's cautious approach in overturning acquittals, especially in cases where the evidence is not overwhelmingly conclusive. The judgment serves as a reminder of the high standard of proof required in criminal cases and the importance of ensuring that convictions are based on solid and compelling evidence.

Statutory provision(s): Indian Penal Code, 1860 - Section 302, Section 34; Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 - Section 378

Raj Pal Singh v. Rajveer, (SC) : Law Finder Doc Id # 2822457