Pradeep Bhuiya v. State of Chhattisgarh
Case brief
What is this about?
Pradeep Bhuiya v. State of Chhattisgarh (through SHO, PS Ramchandrapur, Balrampur-Ramanujganj), Criminal Appeal No.533 of 2023, High Court of Chhattisgarh at Bilaspur; judgment reserved 11.03.2024, delivered 23.04.2024, per Ravindra Kumar Agrawal, J. (bench with Ramesh Sinha, CJ). Rape and murder (Sections 376 and 302 IPC) of a woman found dead and naked near Kalikapur village on 08.10.2019; conviction based solely on circumstantial evidence — last seen theory, memorandum statement and seizure (Ex.P/10, Ex.P/11, Ex.P/13), FSL Ambikapur report Ex.P/28 (matching 'AB' blood group on accused's underwear and victim's petticoat; semen and sperms on vaginal slides, underwear and petticoat), and unexplained 4-6 day old cheek injuries; Section 106 Evidence Act duty to explain; Section 27 Evidence Act discovery principles; Section 161 and Section 313 CrPC references; appeal dismissed, conviction and concurrent sentences affirmed.