SURESH RAI AND ORS V. STATE OF BIHAR INSC 162

SURESH RAI & ORS. v. STATE OF BIHAR

Citation: 2000(1)ACR883(SC) Appellant: Suresh Rai and Ors. Respondent: State of Bihar

FACTS The appellants, Suresh Rai, Pradeep Rai, and Jitendra Rai, were convicted by the trial court under s.302 and s.34 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and s.27 of the Arms Act for the murder of Shambhu Rai on June 2, 1984. According to the prosecution, the incident occurred at Dhamaun Chour around 5:30 AM. The accused allegedly attacked the deceased using a pistol and daggers. The three alleged eyewitnesses were close relatives of the deceased. The appellants’ appeal was dismissed by the High Court in 1998, leading to the present appeal in the Supreme Court.

ISSUES Whether the alleged eyewitnesses were present at the scene of the crime? Whether the prosecution case was fabricated due to existing enmity between the parties? Whether the investigation was flawed and influenced by bias? HOLDING The Supreme Court allowed the appeal, acquitting the appellants. The Court found that the evidence presented by the prosecution was unreliable, and the presence of the eyewitnesses at the scene of the crime was doubtful.

RATIONALE There were serious contradictions in the testimonies of the eyewitnesses and the investigating officer. No physical evidence corroborated the claim that the eyewitnesses were present at the scene (e.g., absence of tools or grass collected as claimed by the witnesses). The court noted that the case involved prior enmity between the families, suggesting a motive for false implication. The investigation was deemed tainted, as key details were either missing or contradictory, and the name of the assailants was initially not disclosed. Given these factors, the Court concluded that the prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.