Supreme Court of India
KRISHNA GHOSHversusSTATE OF WEST BENGAL
- Citation
- 2009 INSC 437
- Decided
- 31 March 2009
- Disposal
- Dismissed
- Bench
- ARIJIT PASAYAT
Holding
The conviction of the appellant under Sections 498‑A and 302 read with Section 34 is upheld as the circumstantial evidence satisfies all the requisite conditions for a conviction.
Summary
Krishna Ghosh was convicted under Sections 498‑A (cruelty) and 302 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code for the murder of his wife Yogmaya, who was found dead in their matrimonial home within one year and four months of marriage. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence: multiple witnesses saw the body with injuries, the autopsy report corroborated these injuries, and the accused and his family were absconding at the time, with no material to support the appellant's alibi. The trial court and the Calcutta High Court upheld the conviction, and the appellant appealed to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court examined the standards for conviction on circumstantial evidence, reiterated the five‑point test, and held that the evidence satisfied all the requirements, leaving no reasonable doubt of the accused's guilt. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed and the conviction affirmed.
Issues considered
- Whether the conviction under Sections 498‑A and 302 read with Section 34 can be sustained solely on circumstantial evidence.
- Whether the circumstantial evidence presented meets the established five‑point test for establishing guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
- Whether the appellant's alibi was sufficiently proved to create reasonable doubt.
Legislation cited
- Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973s. 193, s. 207, s. 228(1)(b), s. 313
- Indian Penal Code, 1860s. 302, s. 34, s. 498-A
Subjects
circumstantial evidencemurdercrueltyIPC 498AIPC 302common intentionalibiconvictionSupreme Court
Judgment
~
[2009] 5 S.C.R. 333
'+
KRISHNA GHOSH A
v.
STATE OF WEST BENGAL
(Criminal Appeal No. 597 of 2009)
)
MARCH 31, 2009
B
[DR. ARIJIT PASAYAT AND ASOK KUMAR
GANGULY, JJ.]
Penal Code, 1860 - 498-A and 302134 - Subjecting the
wife to cruelty and her murder - Within 1 year 4 months of c
marriage - Circumstantial evidence - Prosecution witnesses
proving that body of deceased found from matrimonial home;
injuries on her body; accused absconding at the relevant time
- Evidence regarding injuries corroborated by autopsy report
- Conviction by courts below - On appeal, held: In view of the D
evidence of PWs and autopsy report accused-husband liable
to be convicted.
Evidence - circumstantial evidence - Reliance on -
Held: Conviction can be based on such evidence - Condition
E
precedent for reliance before conviction, discussed.
Appellant-accused was prosecuted alongwith two
co-accused (his wife and sister) for having killed his wife
'i and for subjecting her to cruelty. Trial court directed his
conviction u/ss. 498-A and 302 IPC. High Court confirmed F
the conviction. Hence the present appeal by the accused-
husband.
Dismissing the appeal, the Court
HELD:1. The evidence of PWs 1, 2, 4, 7, 8 and 14 G
~ clearly establish that the body was found in the
matrimonial home of the deceased with injuries noticed
by them which fit in with the evidence of the Autopsy
333 H
334 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2009] 5 S.C.R.
A Surgeon (PW-15). The death took place within one year
and four months of the marriage in the house of the
accused persons and the dead body was found with
injuries. The injuries on the dead body were noticed by
several witnesses e.g. PWs 1, 2, 4, 7 and 8. At the relevant
s time the accused persons were absconding which is of
considerable importance. From the evidence of PWs 2, 4,
7 and 8, it is seen that the accused persons were
absconding since the date of incident when the dead
body of the deceased lay in her matrimonial home. The
c Investigating Officer's evidence was to that effect. The
plea of alibi set up by the appellant has been discarded
because there was no material to substantiate such plea.
Above being the position, there is no merit in this appeal.
(Paras 15 and 17] (342-G-H; 343-A, F]
D 2.1. Where a case rests squarely on circumstantial
evidence, the inference of guilt can be justified only when
all the incriminating facts and circumstances are found
to be incompatible with the innocence of the accused or
the guilt of any other person. [Para 6] (338-G-H; 339-A]
E
2.2. The circumstances from which an inference as
to the guilt of the accused is drawn have to be proved
beyond reasonable doubt and have to be shown to be
closely connected with the principal fact sought to be
F inferred from those circumstances. [Para 6] (339-B-C]
2.3. Before conviction could be based on
circumstantial evidence, the conditions which must be
fully established, are: (1) the circumstances from which
the conclusion of guilt is to be drawn should be fully
G established. The circumstances concerned 'must' or
'should' and not 'may be' established; (2) the facts so
established should be consistent only with the
hypothesis of the guilt of the accused, that is to say, they
H
KRISHNA GHOSH v. STATE OF WEST BENGAL 335
'I
should not be explainable on any other hypothesis except A
that the accused is guilty; (3) the circumstances should
be of a conclusive nature and tendency; (4) they should
exclude every possible hypothesis except the one to be
proved; and (5)there must be a chain of evidence so
)
complete as not to leave any reasonable ground for the s
conclusion consistent with the innocence of the accused
and must show that in all human probability the act must
have been done by the accused. [Para 131 [341-G-H; 342-
A-D]
Hukam Singh v. State of Rajasthan AIR 1977 SC 1063; C
Eradu and Ors. v. State of Hyderabad AIR 1956 SC 316;
Earabhadrappa v. State of Kamataka AIR 1983 SC 446; State
of U.P. v. Sukhbasi and Ors. AIR 1985 SC 1224; Ba/winder
Singh v. State of Punjab AIR 1987 SC 350; Ashok Kumar
Chatterjee v. State of M.P. AIR 1989 SC 1890; Bhagat Ram D
v. State of Punjab AIR 1954 SC 621; C. Chenga Reddy and
Ors. v. State of A.P. 1996 (10) SCC 193; Padala Veera Reddy
v. State of A.P. and Ors. AIR 1990 SC 79; State of U.P. v.
Ashok Kumar Srivastava 1992 Crl.LJ 1104; Hanumant
Govind Nargundkar and Anr. v. State of Madhya Pradesh AIR E
1952 SC 343; Sharad Birdhichand Sarda v. State of
Maharashtra AIR 1984 SC 1622; State of Rajasthan v. Raja
Ram 2003 (8) SCC 180; State of Haryana v. Jagbir Singh and
Anr. 2003 (11) SCC 261; Kusuma Ankama Rao v. State of
A.P. 2008 (10) SCR 89 and Manive/ and Ors. v. State of Tamil F
Nadu 2009 (9) JT 31, relied on.
"Wills Circumstantial Evidence" by. Sir Alfred Wills
(Chapter VI), referred to.
Case Law Reference: G
AIR 1977 SC 1063 Relied on. Para 6
AIR 1956 SC 316 Relied on. Para 6
AIR 1983 SC 446 Relied on. Para 6 H
336 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2009] 5 S.C.R.
_,
A AIR 1985 SC 1224 Relied on. Para 6
AIR 1987 SC 350 Relied on. Para 6
AIR 1989 SC 1890 Relied on. Para 6
AIR 1954 SC 621 Relied on. Para 6
B
1996 (10) sec 193 Relied on. Para 7
AIR 1990 SC 79 Relied on. Para 8
1992 Crl. LJ 1104 Relied on. Para 9
c
AIR 1952 SC 343 Relied on. Para 12
AIR 1984 SC 1622 Relied on. Para 13
2003 (8) sec 180 Relied on. Para 14
+
D 2003 (11) sec 261 Relied on. Para 14
2008 (10) SCR 89 Relied on. Para 14
2009 (9) JT 31 Relied on. Para 14
E CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Criminal Appeal
No. 597 of 2009.
From the Judgment & Order dated 7.11.2006 of the High
Court at Calcutta, in Criminal Appeal No. 266 of 1998.
~
F Vijay Kumar (SCLSC) for the Appellant.
Avijit Bhattacharjee, SaurmyaKundu and Subrata Biswas
for the Respondents.
The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
G
DR. ARIJIT PASAYAT, J. 1. Leave granted.
2. Challenge in this appeal is to the judgment of a Division
Bench of the Calcutta High Court upholding the conviction of
H
KRISHNA GHOSH v. STATE OF WEST BENGAL 337
[DR. ARIJIT PASAYAT, J.]
the appellant for offence punishable under Sections 498-A and A
'> 302 read with 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (in short the
'IPC'). The present appeal is filed by the appellant, husband of
Yogmaya (hereinafter referred to as the 'deceased'). A single
appeal was filed by the present appellant and his mother-Gita
~ )
Ghosh and unmarried sister Kalyani Ghosh A-3. B
3. Prosecution version in a nutshell is as follows:
One Jiten Ghosh happens to be the de facto complainant
of the instant case who lbdged one written complaint with the
local P.S. at Ranaghat on 24.07.1987 at 11.05 hours with a plea c
that his niece (sister's daughter) Yogmaya was married about
1 year 4 months ago with accused Krishna Ghosh after giving
proper dowry. Krishna Ghosh, his mother Gita Ghosh and sister
- ~
Kalyani Ghosh used to rebuke his niece on very trivial house-
hold affairs as they did not like his niece as his niece used to D
intimate her agony to her parents and to him. They went to
- Yogmaya's in-law's house and used to pacify the matter and
ameliorate the same for the benefit of the Yogmaya and thus
the conjugal life of Yogmaya was not so peaceful. On
24.07.1987 when he had been to his field one Tentul Mondhal E
intimated him that the woman folk were weeping at his house
and he came to learn from his daughter-in-law Asha Ghosh that
his niece Yogmaya had died. Then he proceeded to the house
of Yogmaya which was about one mile away from his house
and found the dead body of his niece Yogmaya at the verandah F
of the house of the accused covered with a cloth and the in-
laws of Yogmaya were absconding at the relevant time. He
came to learn from one Badli Ghosh, wife of Rishipada Ghosh,
' lo that on 23.07 .1987 at about 8 p.m. she heard about the assault
and crying and shouting of his niece Yogmaya but the persons G
of the locality could not enter into the house of the accused
persons. On the relevant day, the dead body ofYogmaya was
taken out by her mother-in-law and sister-in-law and one
Brijbala and they fled away after covering the dead body with
a cloth. After uncovering the cloth he found that Yogmaya
H
338 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2009] 5 S.C.R.
A sustained bleeding injuries on her ear, nose, left eye, back and
leg. Yogmaya died due to assault and torture of her in-laws by <
chain.
Upon such complaint, the instant case germinated against
B the accused persons and the criminal law was set in motion
after investigation and they came to the conclusion with the
submission of charge-sheet against all the three accused
persons under Sections 498A and 302 read with Section 34
IPC. Copies were duly supplied to the accused persons under
section 207 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (in short
c the 'Code') and the case was committed by the learned
Magistrate to the Court of Sessions and the cognizance of the
case was taken under Section 193 of Code and charges were
framed in terms of section 228 (1) (b) of Code on 9th February, __.
1993. Trial was held as the accused persons abjured guilt.
D Witnesse::; were examined and accused persons were ..
examined under Section 313 of Code
Learned Sessions Judge, Nadia held that the prosecution
has established the accusations and directed conviction as
E noted above. However, no separate sentence was imposed in
respect of offence relatable to Section 498-A.
In appeal, the High Court found that the same was without
merit and dismissed the same by the impugned judgment.
F 4. In support of the present appeal, learned counsel for the
appellant submitted that the case rests on circumstantial
evidence and the circumstances do not establish the guilt of
the accused.
.. '
G 5. Learned counsel for the respondent on the other hand
supported the judgment of the High Court.
6. It has been consistently laid down by this Court that
where a case rests squarely on circumstantial evidence, the
inference of guilt c(1n be justified only when all the incriminating
H facts and circumstances are found to be incompatible with the
KRISHNA GHOSH v. STATE OF WEST BENGAL 339
.... \ [DR. ARIJIT PASAYAT, J.]
innocence of the accused or the guilt of any other person. (See A
/
Hukam Singh v. State of Rajasthan AIR (1977 SC 1063);
Eradu and Ors. v. State of Hyderabad (AIR 1956 SC 316);
Earabhadrappa v. State of Karnataka (AIR 1983 SC 446);
State of U.P. v. Sukhbasi and Ors. (AIR 1985 SC 1224);
Ba/winder Singh v. State of Punjab (AIR 1987 SC 350); Ashok B
Kumar Chatterjee v. State of M.P. (AIR 1989 SC 1890). The
circumstances from which an inference as to the guilt of the
accused is drawn have to be proved beyond reasonable doubt
and have to be shown to be closely connected with the principal
fact sought to be inferred from those circumstances. In Bhagat c
Ram v. State of Punjab (AIR 1954 SC 621), it was laid down
that where the case depends upon the conclusion drawn from
circumstances the cumulative effect of the circumstances must
be such as to negative the innocence of the accused and bring
~ the offences home beyond any reasonable doubt.
D
- 7. We may also make a reference to a decision of this
Court in C. Chenga Reddy and Ors. v. State of A.P. (1996)
10 sec 193, wherein it has been observed thus:
"In a case based on circumstantial evidence, the E
settled law is that the circumstances from which the
conclusion of guilt is drawn should be fully proved and such
circumstances must be conclusive in nature. Moreover, all
the circumstances should be complete and there should
.. --( be no gap left in the chain of evidence. Further the proved F
circumstances must be consistent only with the hypothesis
of the guilt of the accused and totally inconsistent with his
innocence .... ".
~
8. In Padala Veera Reddy v. State of A.P. and Ors. (AIR
1990 SC 79), it was laid down that when a case rests upon G
circumstantial evidence, such evidence must satisfy the
following tests:
"(1) the circumstances from which an inference of guilt is
sought to be drawn, must be cogently and firmly H
340 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2009] 5 S.C.R.
(
A established;
'
(2) those circumstances should be of a definite tendency
unerringly pointing towards guilt of the accused;
(3) the circumstances, taken cumulatively should form a
B chain so complete that there is no escape from the i '
conclusion that within all human probability the crime was
committed by the accused and none else; and
(4) the circumstantial evidence in order to sustain
c conviction must be complete and incapable of explanation
of any other hypothesis than that of the guilt of the accused
and such evidence should not only be consistent with the
guilt of the accused but should be inconsistent with his
innocence.
D 9. In State of U.P. v. Ashok Kumar Srivastava, (1992 •
Crl.LJ 1104), it was pointed out that great care must be taken
in evaluating circumstantial evidence and if the evidence relied
on is reasonably capable of two inferences, the one in favour
of the accused must be accepted. It was also pointed out that
E the circumstances relied upon must be found to have been fully
-
established and the cumulative effect of all the facts so
established must be consistent only with the hypothesis of guilt.
10. Sir Alfred Wills in his admirable book "Wills'
F Circumstantial Evidence" (Chapter VI) lays down the following t -.
rules specially to be observed in the case of circumstantial
evidence: (1) the facts alleged as the basis of any legal
inference must be clearly proved and beyond reasonable doubt
connected with the factum probandum; (2) the burden of proof
is always on the party who asserts the existence of any fact,
G
which infers legal accountability; (3) in all cases, whether of
direct or circumstantial evidence the best evidence must be
adduced which the nature of the case admits; (4) in order to
justify the inference of guilt, the inculpatory facts must be
incompatible with the innocence of the accused and incapable
H
KRISHNA GHOSH v. STATE OF WEST BENGAL 341
' I [DR. ARIJIT PASAYAT, J.]
of explanation, upon any other reasonable hypothesis than that A
of _his guilt, (5) if there be any reasonable doubt of the guilt of
the accused, he is entitled of the right to be acquitted".
11. There is no doubt that conviction can be based solely
-> on circumstantial evidence but it should be tested by the touch-
B
stone of law relating to circumstantial evidence laid down by
the this Court as far back as in 1952.
12. In Hanumant Govind Nargundkar and Anr. v. State
of Madhya Pradesh, (AIR 1952 SC 343), wherein it was
observed thus: c
"It is well to remember that in cases where the
evidence is of a circumstantial nature, the circumstances
from which the conclusion of guilt is to be drawn should
be in the first instance be fully established and all the facts D
so established should be consistent only with the
- hypothesis of the guilt of the accused. Again, the
circumstances should be of a conclusive nature and
tendency and they should be such as to exclude every
hypothesis but the one proposed to be proved. In other
E
words, there must be a chain of evidence so far complete
as not to leave any reasonable ground for a conclusion
consistent with the innocence of the accused and it must
be such as to show that within all human probability the act
must hav~ been done by the accused."
... i F
13. A reference may be made to a later decision in
Sharad Birdhichand Sarda v. State of Maharashtra, (AIR 1984
- SC 1622). Therein, while dealing with circumstantial evidence,
it has been held that onus was on the prosecution to prove that
the chain is complete and the infirmity of lacuna in prosecution G
cannot be cured by false defence or plea. The conditions
precedent in the words of this Court, before conviction could
be based on circumstantial evidence, must be fully established.
They are:
H
342 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2009] 5 S.C.R.
A (1) the circumstances from which the conclusion of guilt is
to be drawn should be fully established. The circumstances
concerned 'must' or 'should' and not 'may be' established;
(2) the facts so established should be consistent only with
-
the hypothesis of the guilt of the accused, that is to say,
B
they should not be explainable on any other hypothesis
except that the accused is guilty;
(3) the circumstances should be of a conclusive nature and
tendency;
c
(4) they should exclude every possible hypothesis except
the one to be proved; and
(5) there must be a chain of evidence so complete as not
to leave any reasonable ground for the conclusion
D consistent with the innocence of the accused and must
show that in all human probability the act must have been
done by the accused.
14. These aspects were highlighted in State of Rajasthan
E v. Raja Ram (2003 (8) SCC 180), State of Haryana v. Jagbir
-
Singh and Anr. (2003 (11) SCC 261), Kusuma Ankama Rao
v. State of A.P. (Criminal Appeal No.185/2005 disposed of on
7.7.2008) and Manivel and Ors. v. State of Tami Nadu
(Criminal Appeal No.473 of 2001 disposed of on 8.8.2008).
F
15. The evidence of PWs 1, 2, 4, 7, 8 and 14 clearly
establish that the body was found in the matrimonial home of
the deceased with injuries noticed by them which fit in with the
evidence of the Autopsy Surgeon (PW-15). The evidence of
PWs 2, 4, 7 and 8 throw considerable light on the controversy.
G The death took place within one year and four months of the
marriage in the house of the accused persons and the dead
body was found with injuries. At the relevant time the accused
persons were absconding which is of considerable importance. -
The plea of alibi set up by the present appellant has been
H discarded because there was no material to substantiate such
_j
KRISHNA GHOSH v. STATE OF WEST BENGAL 343
~~ [DR. ARIJIT PASAYAT, J.]
__,,.
.,
plea. The trial Court and the High Court have analysed this A
-~ aspect in great detail. From the evidence of PWs 2, 4, 7 and
8 it is seen that the accused persons were absconding since
the date of incident when the dead body of the deceased lay
-> in her matrimonial home. PW-14 the Investigating Officer's
evidence was to that effect. The High Court has rightly noted B
that the conduct of the accused appellants before it had a
---!_ striking feature in the absence of any reasonable explanation
and is an inculpating circumstance against them. The injuries
on the dead body were noticed by several witnesses e.g. PWs
1, 2, 4, 7 and 8. The autopsy examination on the dead body of c
the deceased revealed the following injuries:
-<
1. Nail marks (illegible) in shape four in numbers over left
side of the neck placed one below the other and extended
laterally and other marks over the right side of the neck,
~
aclymorsis over the front of the neck. On direction D
extravagation of the blood found in the muscles of the neck
and fractures of the (illegible) cartilage found.
-
2. Multiple abrasion and aclynorsis of the varying sizes are
seen over the back and different parts of the body both E
appear and lower (illegible).
<
16. According to the doctor the death was due to asphyxia
resulting from throttling which was ante mortem and homicidal
in nature.
-i F
17. Above being the position we find no merit in this appeal
which is accordingly dismissed.
K.K.T. Appeal dismissed.
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