Chhattisgarh High Court Upholds Life Imprisonment for Suresh Sarkar in Murder Case

Conviction based on strong circumstantial evidence; appeal dismissed by High Court

In a significant judgment, the Chhattisgarh High Court has upheld the conviction and life imprisonment sentence of Suresh Sarkar alias Chhotu for the murder of Ram Niwas Markam, a constable, in 2019. The Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Shri Ramesh Sinha and Justice Bibhu Datta Guru, dismissed the appeal filed by Sarkar, affirming the trial court's decision.

The case, built on circumstantial evidence, demonstrated a meticulously established chain of events linking Sarkar to the crime. The prosecution's case highlighted that Sarkar orchestrated the murder due to personal animosities and subsequently attempted to destroy evidence to evade justice.

The court meticulously analyzed the evidence, including DNA profiling and fingerprint analysis, which linked Sarkar to the crime scene and the murder weapon. The DNA of hair found in the deceased's hand matched Sarkar's blood sample, and fingerprints from a water bottle in the victim's vehicle were identified as Sarkar's. These pieces of evidence formed a complete chain consistent with the accused's guilt, leading to the dismissal of the appeal.

The judgment reiterated the principles governing circumstantial evidence, emphasizing that the circumstances must be conclusive and exclude any hypothesis other than the guilt of the accused. The court found that the prosecution successfully established these criteria, and the appellant failed to provide any substantial explanation to prove his innocence.

The court's decision reaffirms the importance of thorough forensic analysis and the role of circumstantial evidence in securing convictions in complex criminal cases. The judgment also serves as a reminder of the judicial system's commitment to justice, ensuring that those guilty of heinous crimes are held accountable.

Bottom Line:

Circumstantial evidence - Conviction based solely on circumstantial evidence requires that the chain of circumstances must be fully established, conclusive, and consistent only with the guilt of the accused while excluding every possible hypothesis of innocence.

Statutory provision(s): Evidence Act, 1872 Sections 3, 114; Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 Section 313; Indian Penal Code, 1860 Sections 302, 201

Suresh Sarkar @ Chhotu v. State of Chhattisgarh, (Chhattisgarh)(DB) : Law Finder Doc Id # 2800073