State Of M.P vs Ashok & Ors

The Supreme Court overturned the acquittal of the respondents by the Madhya Pradesh High Court, emphasizing that the prosecution's evidence, including the dying declaration of the victim Tikaram under Section 32(1) of the Indian Evidence Act, was credible and sufficient to establish the guilt of the accused. The Court held that the dying declaration, corroborated by eyewitness accounts, demonstrated the involvement of the respondents in the heinous act of setting Tikaram on fire, thus warranting their conviction under Section 302 IPC. The judgment reinforced the principle that a dying declaration can be the sole basis for conviction if found reliable.