Supreme Court acquits appellant in murder case due to lack of reliable evidence

NATHU Versus STATE OF UP

NATHU Versus STATE OF UP - 1956 AIR 56 Issues:
1. Identification of the perpetrator in a murder case.
2. Admissibility of confessional statements and their voluntary nature.
3. Reluctance of local police in investigating the matter.
4. Corroboration of evidence and sufficiency of evidence for conviction.
5. Evaluation of confessions of co-accused in a trial.

Analysis:

Issue 1:
The judgment revolves around the identification of the perpetrator in a murder case where a young boy was found dead in a well. The courts determined that the death was due to strangulation, leading to the question of who committed the crime.

Issue 2:
The case involved confessional statements made by the accused, which were initially retracted but later found to be true and voluntary by the courts. The admissibility of these confessions and their role in the conviction of the accused were central to the judgment.

Issue 3:
The judgment highlighted the reluctance of the local police in investigating the matter thoroughly, leading to delays in the arrest and re-arrest of the accused. The suspicion of the involvement of a dismissed head constable added complexity to the investigation process.

Issue 4:
The sufficiency of evidence and corroboration were crucial aspects of the judgment. The courts evaluated the confession of the appellant, corroborating evidence from witnesses, and the confessions of co-accused to determine the guilt of the accused.

Issue 5:
The judgment delved into the legal aspects of using confessions of co-accused as evidence against an accused. It referenced a previous case law to establish the role of such statements in the conviction process and emphasized the need for independent evidence to support a conviction.

Overall, the Supreme Court allowed the appeal, setting aside the conviction and sentence of the appellant due to the lack of reliable evidence for conviction. The judgment meticulously analyzed the voluntary nature of confessions, the corroboration of evidence, and the role of co-accused statements in the trial, ultimately leading to the acquittal of the appellant.