Arjun Patle v. State Of Chhattisgarh
CRIMINAL APPEAL – CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE – 'PANCHSHEEL' OF SHARAD BIRDHICHAND SARDA NOT SATISFIED
Case brief
What is this about?
Chhattisgarh High Court 2026 common judgment allowing CRA-1578-2017, CRA-1637-2017, CRA-1866-2017 against conviction dated 23.09.2017 in ST No.69/2017 (7th Addl. Sessions Judge, Raipur): acquittal on benefit of doubt; circumstantial-evidence case failing the five golden principles/'panchsheel' of Sharad Birdhichand Sarda (1984) 4 SCC 116; murder S. 302 IPC and robbery S. 392/398 IPC (Arjun Patle A-1); receiving/assisting concealment of looted property S. 414 IPC (Komal Banjare A-2) and S. 411 IPC (Harish Kumar Navrangye A-3); confessional part of Section 27 Evidence Act disclosure/memorandum statement inadmissible (Deoman Upadhyaya AIR 1960 SC 1125; Babu Sahebagouda Rudragoudar (2024) 8 SCC 149); co-accused confession not substantive evidence (Haricharan Kurmi AIR 1964 SC 1184); recovery of blood-stained axe/wallet without TIP or corroboration insufficient (Raja Nayka 2024 SCC Online SC 67; Mustkeen @ Sirajudeen (2011) 11 SCC 724; Digamber Vaishnav (2019) 4 SCC 522); mobile phone IMEI ownership unproved, SIM in third party's name; axe killing at Manikchouri railway station 04.10.2016; convictions and sentences set aside; bail bonds in force six months under S. 437A CrPC.