Evidence—Circumstantial Evidence—Basing conviction thereon— Permissibility

Evidence—Circumstantial Evidence—Basing conviction thereon— Permissibility—

It is well settled that in a case based on circumstantial evidence, the circumstances from which an inference of guilt is sought to be drawn must be cogently and firmly established and that those circumstances must be conclusive in nature unerringly pointing towards the guilt of the accused—Moreover all the circumstances taken cumulatively should form a complete chain and there should be no gap left in the chain of evidence—Further the proved circumstances must be consistent only with the hypothesis of the guilt of the accused and totally inconsistent with his innocence.

[State of Himachal Pradesh Versus Raj Kumar; Criminal Appeal No. 31 of 2018; Decided on 08th January, 2018.]