Mere suspicion cannot take the place of proof: Court

Mere suspicion cannot replace legal proof and the state is duty bound to prove its case beyond all reasonable doubts, a Delhi court has observed while acquitting a man in a murder case.
"Court has onerous duty to ensure that mere conjectures or suspicion do not take the place of legal proof. State is duty-bound to prove its case beyond shadow of doubt," Additional Sessions Judge Manoj Jain said while acquitting a Bihar-native, Veeru Kumar, facing trial for allegedly murdering a youth.
According to the prosecution, the police had recovered the body of Pintoo, an employee in Veeru's shoe business, from Rama Vihar area in North West Delhi in March 2014 on the basis of telephonic information.

The police said the accused was arrested on the basis of the testimony of Umesh, who was Veeru's roommate. It said Pintoo had threatened to quit his job as Veeru had refused to assist him financially and also asked him to settle the outstanding dues. This had led to a quarrel between the two and the victim's family members had even beaten up Veeru.
During the trial, the accused had denied the allegations.
The court, in its judgement, observed that the prosecution's story was filled with "infirmities and unexplained links".
"Recovery of weapon of offence is not of unimpeachable and unassailable character. Motive aspect does not seem to be credible and compelling enough. Electronic evidence also does not come to the rescue of prosecution either," the court said.

"I am persuaded to extend benefit of doubt to accused. Resultantly, accused is acquitted of all the charges levelled against him in the present case," the judge said.