BHAGWAN DASS vs STATE OF HARYANA

The Supreme Court upheld the conviction of Bhagwan Dass under Section 302 IPC for the murder of his wife, Shanno Devi, emphasizing that the prosecution established a clear motive of dowry demand and ill-treatment. The Court noted that the absence of direct eyewitnesses was compensated by circumstantial evidence, including an extra-judicial confession and the recovery of the murder weapon. The Court confirmed the lower courts' findings, reinforcing the principle that circumstantial evidence can suffice for a conviction when it forms a complete chain leading to the accused's guilt.