How does the antedating of FIR benefit the accused according to the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court states that the antedating of FIR gives the benefit of doubt in favour of the accused. Discuss the implications and reasoning behind this statement.
- In criminal cases, the prosecution has the burden of proving the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt.
- The FIR is considered an important piece of evidence and serves as the foundation for the investigation.
- If the FIR is antedated, i.e., filed later than the alleged incident, it raises questions about the authenticity and reliability of the prosecution's case.
- An antedated FIR implies a delayed response from the complainant, which may weaken the credibility of the allegations made against the accused.
- The delay can be exploited by the defense to argue that the complainant had ample time and opportunity to fabricate or manipulate evidence.
- Antedating of FIR also raises doubts about the veracity of the complainant's version of events and their motives behind lodging the complaint.
- The Supreme Court believes that granting the benefit of doubt in such cases safeguards the accused's constitutional right to a fair trial and ensures that they are not unfairly prejudiced.
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