SETH GULABCHAND vs SETH KUDILAL AND OTHERS

The Supreme Court held that the standard of proof in civil cases, including those involving allegations of bribery, is governed by Section 3 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, which does not differentiate between civil and criminal cases. The Court found that the Full Bench of the High Court did not rely on mere surmises in its findings regarding bribery, and that the appellant's claims lacked sufficient evidence to overturn the decision. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed, affirming the lower court's ruling that the agreement was indeed a bribe under Section 23 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872.