Question

In a criminal trial, Rajesh is accused of theft. During the investigation, the police recover a stolen laptop from a location known to be frequented by Rajesh. His fingerprints are found on the laptop. According to the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, how should the court interpret this piece of evidence?

• A. The evidence is inadmissible because the police did not obtain a search warrant before recovering the laptop.
• B. The fingerprints must be verified by at least two independent forensic experts before being presented in court.
• C. The recovered laptop and fingerprints are automatically considered conclusive proof of Rajesh's guilt.
• D. The recovered laptop and fingerprints are circumstantial evidence that can be considered along with other evidence, but do not by themselves prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

Hint:

Circumstantial evidence supports the prosecution but requires corroboration by other facts to prove guilt conclusively.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the nature of evidence.
Under the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), 2023, physical or material evidence like fingerprints and recovered items form part of “circumstantial evidence.”
Step 2: Application to the case.
Fingerprints on the recovered laptop connect Rajesh to the object but do not conclusively prove that he committed the theft. They are supportive pieces of evidence that must be corroborated with other evidence such as motive, witnesses, or recovery circumstances.
Step 3: Conclusion.
Hence, such evidence is circumstantial and helps establish a chain of events but cannot alone establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt.