Supreme Court of India

GAUTAM SATNAMI versus STATE OF CHHATTISGARH

2026 INSC 325

Case number
CRIMINAL APPEAL No. 1782/2026
Judgment date
2026-04-07
Petitioner / appellant
GAUTAM SATNAMI
Respondent
STATE OF CHHATTISGARH
Neutral citation
2026 INSC 325
Other citation
[2026] 4 S.C.R. 417
CNR
ESCR010001202026
Bench / judges
PRASHANT KUMAR MISHRA
Author judge
PRASHANT KUMAR MISHRA
Bench size
2 Judges
Disposal nature
Appeal(s) allowed
Judgment year
2026

Issue for consideration

Whether in the facts and circumstances of the case, the appellant is entitled to the benefit of doubt and ought to be acquitted of the charge u/s.302 IPC.

Headnote excerpt

Circumstantial evidence – Suspicion howsoever strong, cannot take the place of proof – on inter alia the ‘last-seen’ testimony of PW-4; recovery of a blood-stained axe and clothes pursuant to disclosure u/s.27; and recovery of the driving licence of the appellant from the spot – Interference with: Held: The ‘last-seen’ testimony of PW-4 does not

Full Judgement details :

of —

Loading judgment PDF…

of —