RAM NATH MAHTO vs STATE OF BIHAR

The Supreme Court upheld the conviction of the appellant under Section 396 IPC for dacoity resulting in murder, initially sentenced to life imprisonment, later reduced to ten years by the High Court. The Court emphasized that the identification parade conducted by the Magistrate, P.W.7, was valid evidence despite the victim's reluctance to identify the appellant during the trial. The Court distinguished the case from Budhsen & Anr. vs. State of U.P., affirming that oral evidence can be substantive even if the identification parade is not considered reliable by itself.