Court dismisses State's appeal, affirming trial court's decision citing lack of evidence and delay in complaint.
In a significant ruling, the Punjab and Haryana High Court upheld the acquittal of Mohinder Singh and others in a high-profile murder case involving the alleged poisoning of Harpreet Singh. The State of Punjab's appeal against the trial court's decision was dismissed by the division bench comprising Justices Vinod S. Bhardwaj and Sukhvinder Kaur on July 8, 2026.
The case, which has been under legal scrutiny for several years, involved allegations that Harpreet Singh was murdered by administering Aluminium Phosphide in milk. The trial court had previously acquitted the accused due to insufficient corroborative evidence and significant delays in the filing of the complaint, a decision that the High Court has now affirmed.
The prosecution's case rested on the testimony of the complainant, Surjit Kaur, who alleged that the accused, including her husband Mohinder Singh, were involved in a conspiracy to murder her son. However, the appellate court found no error in the trial court's judgment, which was based on a comprehensive evaluation of the evidence.
Key to the trial court's decision was the lack of medical and forensic evidence supporting the prosecution's claims. The court noted the absence of any corroborative witnesses and emphasized the implausibility of administering Aluminium Phosphide, known for its strong pungent odor, without detection.
Additionally, the court highlighted the five-year delay in lodging the complaint, which cast further doubt on the prosecution's case. The appeal was also undermined by the absence of any effective counter-evidence to challenge the trial court's findings regarding the chemical properties of the poison.
The High Court, in its judgment, reiterated the principle that an appellate court should not substitute its opinion for that of the trial court if the latter's conclusions are based on objective reasoning and a plausible view of the evidence. Finding no infirmity in the trial court's decision, the High Court dismissed the appeal, affirming the acquittal of the respondents.
The case serves as a reminder of the critical importance of timely and corroborated evidence in criminal proceedings, especially in serious charges such as murder.
Bottom line:-
In an appeal against acquittal, the appellate court will not substitute its opinion for that of the trial court if the trial court's conclusions are based on objective reasoning and represent a plausible view from the evidence on record.
Statutory provision(s):
Indian Penal Code, 1860 Sections 302, 34, 120B; Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 Section 313; Evidence Act, 1872
State of Punjab v. Mohinder Singh, (Punjab And Haryana)(DB) : Law Finder Doc id # 2943846
