Holding

A delayed extra‑judicial confession made to a person wholly unconnected with the police, lacking credible corroboration, cannot be relied upon to sustain a conviction.

Summary

The State of Punjab charged Gurdeep Singh with the rape and murder of a ten‑year‑old girl. The prosecution’s case rested on an extra‑judicial confession made by the accused to a taxi driver (PW‑7) after a delay of about 24 days, and on the testimony of an uncle (RS) who claimed to have seen the accused following the girl drunkenly. The trial court convicted the accused under IPC sections 302, 376 and 201, but the Punjab and Haryana High Court acquitted him, holding that the delayed confession to a person unrelated to the police was unreliable and uncorroborated. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined the admissibility and evidentiary value of extra‑judicial confessions, emphasizing the need for credibility and corroboration, especially when the confession is recorded after a long lapse and before a stranger. Finding the confession unreliable and the corroborative evidence weak, the Court held that the conviction could not be sustained and dismissed the appeal, upholding the High Court’s acquittal.

Issues considered

The admissibility and evidentiary value of an extra‑judicial confession recorded after a long delay.
Whether a conviction can be based solely on such a confession without reliable corroboration.
The credibility of the witness who recorded the confession.

Legislation cited

Indian Penal Code, 1860s. 201, s. 302, s. 376

Subjects

extra‑judicial confessionadmissibilitycorroborationcredibility of witnessrape of minormurderIPC sections 302, 376, 201circumstantial evidence

Judgment

STATE OF PUNJAB A
v.
GURDEEP SINGH

SEPTEMBER 8, 1999

[K.T. THOMAS, D.P. MOHAPATRA AND B
UMESH C. BANERJEE, JJ.]

Penal Code, 1860: Sections 302, 376 and 201-Deceased minor girl
raped and murdered-Complaint lodged with the police-Evidence of PW-
7 that the respondent, after 24 days of the incident, confessed of his raping C
and murdering the deceased-Respondent convicted by Trial Court under
Sections 302, 376 and 201-Evidence of PW-7 accepted by the Court as
being corroborated by the evidence of RS-Appeal to the High Court-
Allowed on the ground that the extra judicial confession after a long lapse
of time was inconsequent-Present appeal filed-Held-Delayed extra judicial D
confession before a person wholly unconnected with the police is gravely
doubtful-PW-7 known to the respondent casually-No cogent reason for
confessing before PW-7-Reaction ofRS to respondent'sfol/owing the deceased
at night not normal-RS 'S evidence not trustworthy for corroboration-
Nothing else available to point towards the guilt of the respondent.
E
Words & Phrases:

'Confession '-Meaning of

The deceased was a young girl of 10 years. On the day of occurrence,
the deceased had gone to the house of respondent along with her younger p
brother at around 7.30/8.00 P.M. to watch television. RS, an uncle of the
deceased also accompanied the children to the respondent's house. Later,
when the deceased left the house of the respondent to go back to her house,
the said RS also came out and found the respondent in a drunken state
following the deceased on her way home around 8'0 clock in the evening.
However, the deceased did not reach home but RS reached home and bad his G
meal alongwith the deceased's parents. The younger brother of the deceased
followed soon. The girl had returned back from the respondent's house; no
effort was made to search the missing girl. Only when the said RS left for
bis house after the meal, the father of the deceased tried to search for the
deceased and went to the house of respondent where be could not get much H
237
238 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1999] SUPP. 2 S.C.R.

A information about his daughter as the respondent was heavily drunk. Next
morning, PW-4 found the dead body of the deceased lying under the heap of
turi in her verandah. On this, she immediately called the father of the
deceased who went to the police station to lodge a complaint. According to
the post md,rtem report, the death was caused due to an injury in the front
B side of the neck and the deceased was found to be subjected to rape before
the murder. According to an extra judicial confession by the respondent to
PW-7 made after 24 days of the incident, the respondent had come to him
and told him that he had committed rape on the deceased and murdered her.

The Trial Court, accepting the evidence of PW-7 by reason of the fact
C that it had been corroborated by the evidence of RS who had stated that he
had found the respondent following the deceased in a drunken condition,
convicted the respondent under Sections 302, 376 and 201 IPC. Appeal to
the High Court was allowed on the ground that extra judicial confession after
long lapse of time is of no consequence. Hence the present appeal.
Dismissing the appeal, the Court
D
HELD : 1.1. Confession in common acceptation means and implies
acknowledgment of guilt- its evidentiary value and its acceptability, however,
shall have to be assessed by the Court having due regard to the credibility
of the witnesses. In the event, however, the Court is otherwise in a position
E having due regard to the attending circumstances believes the witness before
whom the confession is made and is otherwise satisfied that the confession
is infact voluntary and without there being any doubt in regard thereto, an
order of conviction can be founded on such evidence. (240-E-F]

1.2. Extra judicial confession by itself if otherwise in conformity with
F the law, can be treated as substantive evidence, and in appropriate cases it
can be used to punish an offender. However, this statement of law stands
qualified to the extent that the Court should insist on some assuring material
or circumstance to treat the same as piece of substantive evidence.
. [246-A-B]

G 1.3. Confession in the normal course of events is made to avoid
harassment by the police and to a person who could otherwise protect the
accused against such a harassment. The records in the present appeal do not
reflect any of these aspects. As such it is difficult to point to the accused
with, the crime on the basis of the evidence available in this case. The
incident did take place on 18th November, 1989 and the body was recovered'
H on 19th November. The extra judicial confession of the accused as regards
ST ATE OF PUNJAB v. GURDEEP SINGH 239
his involvement in the crime is said to have been effected to PW-7 on A
December 7,1989 thus a delay of more than 20 days without any explanation
whatsoever. The delay in ,recording extra:judicial confession before a person
wholly unconnected with the police is always a matter of great suspect.
[248-A-CJ

1.4. The person who spoke about the confession is a taxi driver and no B
part of evidence records that he has had a clout with the Police - It is not
in evidence as to the period of friendship between accused and the witness-
Indeed a very close friend may be taken into confidence and a confession
effected-Commission of an offence of rape on a minor child and thereafter
eliminating the victim girl from this world could not have been taken of or C
discussed with any or everybody so casually. There must be some cogent
reasons for making a confession of this nature. The only reason available
in evidence for affording an occasion to make the confession is that the
accused used to drive the car of a Sant and as such h.e used to park his car
in the same patking area where the witness was also parking the car. This
D
... piece of evidence does not inspire confidence as to the credibility of the
witness. [248-A-B]

State of Uttar Pradesh v. MK. Anthony, (1985) Cr. L.J. 493; Narayan
Singh & Ors. v. State of MP., AIR (1985) SC 1678; Baldev Raj v. State of
Haryana, AIR (1991) SC 37 and Kavita v. State of Tamil Nadu, (1998) 5 JT
SC 151, referred to. E
Makhan Singh v. State of Punjab, AIR (1998) SC 1705, relied on.

2. The reaction of a close relative cannot be as that of RS. A minor girl
of 10 years being followed by a drunken man and thereafter the girl does
not come back home till such time he finishes his meal. Even thereafter not F
a word to the father but he quietly went back to his own village. It is not a
trustworthy evidence to rely on for corroboration to the extra judicial
confession to complete the chain of circumstances. If the above pieces of

- evidence are kept aside - there is no other available evidence which can even
remotely connect or point towards the guilt of the accused. There is no
dispute that fhe deceased was raped and murdered but that would not be
G

enough for the prosecution to rope in the accused without some such evidence
depicting unmistakably to the guilt of the accused. [247-F-HJ

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Criminal Appeal No.
393 of 1992. H
240 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1999] SUPP. 2 S.C.R.

A From the Judgment and Order dated 1.11.91 of the Punjab and Haryana
High Court in Cr!. A. No. 305-DB of 1990.

Lokesh Kumar and R.S. Sodhi for the Appellant.

G.S. Grewal, (Harish Kumar) for Tej Pratap Singh Mann for the
B Respondent.
The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

BANERJEE, J. The short question involved in the matter in issue
before this Court is t~ justifiability of the order of acquittal passed by the
C High Court by reason of lack of probative value of an extra judicial confession,
as found by the High Court, in an appeal against conviction and sentence
1.
under section 376 read with sections 302 and 201 of the Indian Penal Code.

Admittedly, there is no direct evidence available on the record so as to
D attribute the commission of crime to the respondent herein but it is only on
the basis of an extra judicial confession that the learned Sessions Judge
thought it fit to pass the sentence for life imprisonment, which stands reversed
by the High Court.

Confession in common acceptation means and implies acknowledgment
E of guilt - its evidentiary value and its acceptability however shall have to be
assessed by the Court having due regard to the credibility of the witnesses.
In the event however, the Court :.s otherwise in a position having due regard
to the attending circumstances believes the witness before whom the
confession is made and is otherwise satisfied that the confession is in fact
F voluntary and without there being any doubt in regard thereto, an order of
conviction can be founded on such evidence.

The observations of this Court in the case of State of Uttar Pradesh
v. MK Anthony, (1985) Cr!. _Law Joim1_lll 493 seems to be rather apposite in

G.
this context.

· In paragraph 15 of the Report, this Court observed as below:
-
"There is neither any rule of law nor of prudence that evidence
furnished· by extra-judicial confessio~ cannot be relied upon unless
corroborated by some other credible evidence. The Courts have
H considered the evidence of extra judicial confession a weak piec~ of
STATE OF PUNJAB v. GURDEEP SINGH [BANERJEE, J.] 241
evidence. If the evidence about extra judicial confession comes from A
the mouth of witness/witnesses who appear to be unbiased, not even
remotely inimical to the accused, and in respect of whom nothing is
brought out which may tend to indicate that he may have a motive
for attributing an untruthful statement to the accused; the words
spoken to by the witness are clear, unambiguous and unmistakably·
convey that the accused is the perpetrator of the crime and nothing B
is omitted by the witness which may militate against it, then after
subjecting the evidence of the witness to a rigorous test on the
touchstone of credibility, if it passes the test, the extra judicial
confession can be accepted and be the basis of a conviction. In such
a situation, to go in search of corroboration itself tends to cast a C
shadow of doubt over the evidence. If the evidence of extra judicial
confession is reliable, trustworthy and beyond reproach the same can
be relied upon and a conviction can be founded thereon."

Incidentally, this Court in the case of Narayan Singh & Ors. v. State
of MP., AIR (1985) SC 1678 expressly observed that it is not open to any D
court to start with a presumption that extra judicial confession is a weak type
of evidence. In paragraph 7 of the report this Court observed:

"Apart from this there is the evidence of PWs 5 and 9 who state on
... oath that one of the accused admitted before them that he had murdered
the deceased. The learned Sessions Judge has brushed aside their E
evidence by presuming that their statements constituting an extra
judicial confession is a very weak type of evidence. This is a wrong
view of the law. It is not open to any court to start with a presumption
that extra judicial confession is a weak type of evidence. It would
depend on the nature of the circumstances, the time when the F
confession was made and the credibility of the witnesses who speak
to such a confession. In the instant case, after perusing the evidence
of PWs 5 and 9 we are unable to find anything which could lead to
the conclusion that these independent witnesses were not telling the
truth. The evidence of these two witnesses (PWs 5 and 9) which lends
support to the evidence of PW 11 . was sufficient to warrant the G
conviction of the accused. The Sessions Judge has committed a grave
error of law in analysing and appreciating the evidence of PWs 5 and
9 and brushing them aside on untenable grounds."

In Ba/dev Raj v. State ofHaryana, AIR (1991) SC 37 this Court further
stated the law as below: H
-.
242 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1999] SUPP. 2 s.c.R.

A "An extra judicial confession, if voluntary, can be relied upon by the
Court along with other e9'idence in convicting the accused. The value
of the evidence as to the confession depends upon the veracity of
the witnesses to whom it is made. It is true that the Court requires the
witness to give the actual words used by the accused as nearly as
possible but it is not an invariable rule that the Court should not
B accept the evidence, if not the actual words but the substance were
given. It is for the Court having regard to the credibility of the witness
to accept the evidence or not. When the· Court believes the witness
before whom the confession is made and it is satisfied that the
confession was voluntary, conviction can be founded on such
c evidence. Keeping these principles in mind, we find that the confession
has been properly accepted and acted upon by the Courts below and
there is no scope for any doubt regarding the complicity of the
appellant in the crime. The confession of the appellant was voluntary.
The testimony of PW 4 and PW 5 being responsible persons could
not be doubted in the absence of any material to show that they had
D been motivated to falsely implicate the appellant. The very presence
of the appellant and his father with the party of lshar Dass throughout
the operation up to lodging of complaint at the police station dispel
any suspicion against the· prosecution case and clearly point to the
truthfulness of the same. We are, therefore, unable to find any infirmity
E in the confession which has been accepted and relied upon by the
Courts below."

While it is true that in Narayan Singh 's case (supra) this Court expressly
observed that it is not open to any Court to start with a presumption that extra
judicial confession is a weak type of evidence, a later decision of this Court
F in Kavita v. State of Tamilnadu, (1998) 5 JT SC 151 stated that in the very .
nature of things it is a weak piece of evidence. In paragraph 4 of the Report
this Court in Kavita's case (supra) observed:

"There is no doubt that convictions can be based on extra judicial
confession but it is well settled that in the very nature of things, it
G is a weak piece of evidence. It is to be proved just like any other fact
and the value thereof depends upon the veracity of the witness to
whom it is made. It may not be necessary that the actual words used
by the accused must be given by the witness but it is for the Court
to decide on the acceptability of the evidence having regard to the
H credibility of the witnesses.
STATE OF PUNJAB v. GURDEEP SINGH [BANERJEE, J.] 243

Apparently there may seem to be some expression of divergence but on A
the totality of the situation, question of there being any difference of expression
of opinion does not arise, since Kavita's case (supra) in no uncertain terms
laid down that the evidentiary value of the extra judicial confession depends
upon the veracity of the witnesses to whom it is made and it is for the Court
to decide on the acceptability of the evidence having regard to the credibility B
of the witnesses.

Having dealt with the basics of the legal issue as regards evidentiary
value of extra judicial confession and adverting to the factual matrix of the
matter at this juncture, the prosecution case as made out is to the following
effect: c
The deceased being a young girl of I 0 years along with her brother
Sandeep had gone to the house of the accused around 7.30/8.00 p.m. on 18th
November, 1989 for the purpose of watching television. The evidence disclosed
that Rajinder Singh who happened to be father's sister's husband did also
come to pay a visit to the house of the deceased's father and it so happened D
and as the evidence records that Rajinder Singh also went to the house of
the accused for watching television along with the two little children: The
factual score depicts that the brother continued to watch the television but
the elder sister left the television room to go back to her house. Rajinder
Singh again as the evidence disclosed came out as well and found that the E
accused in a drunken state following the deceased on her way home around
8 O' clock in the evening.

The next piece of evidence is rather curious: the deceased girl does not
reach home but Rajinder Singh reaches home, had his meal along with the
parents of the deceased. The younger brother who also went out for television F
watching in the house of the accused, returned home and joined the parents
'and the uncle for the meal - there was, however, no anxiety for the missing
daughter of the family and it was only after Rajinder Singh left for his house
which is at the next village and around 10 to 15 k.m. away, the deceased's
father Jaswant Singh tried to effect a search about the daughter - Jaswant G
Singh, in a very natural way, went to the house of the accused and found
the accused and his brother to be very heavily drunk in the house itself and
thus had to come back without much information about the missing daughter.

The evidence goes on to record that next morning the body of the
deceased was found in the open verandah of a building belonging to one Smt. H
244 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1999) SUPP. 2 S.C.R.

A Ajmer Kaur. In her evidence Smt. Ajmer Kaur, being PW 4 stated that when
she had gone to the verandah for taking 'turi' for the cattle, found the dead
body of the child lying under the heap of 'turi' and on such a find immediately
informed the girl's father Jaswant Singh. On this score the father of the
deceased stated that he on being informed cleared the 'turi' and saw the dead
B body of his daughter lying there fully naked and her salwar was lying near
her. The father stated that she was smeared with blood and was dead and
thereafter requested the son of the Sarpanch to keep a watch on the body
and went to the police station to lodge the report alongwith the Sarpanch.
The police arrived and the usual formalities were completed and FIR was
lodged and on completion of the inquest sent the body for post mortem
C examination.

Dr. H.N. Sharma, P.W.5 found the following injuries on the person of the
deceased:

"(l) In front aspect of the neck, 1 c.m. above the midline 2 abrasions
D ·with dimensions of 2X3 cm were seen. On disection underline tissues
were found to be swollen. Clotted blood was seen in tissues. The
thyroid cartrilige on right laminu was showing fracture line.

(2) The perennial area showed toori strawe. in the vulvel area blood
clot was seen, hymen found ruptured, the vagina admitted two fingers,
E posterior vaginal wall near commisuru showed lacaration. Vaginal walls
were congested. Labia minore were found congested and tom, two
swabs were taken each from vagina and cervix. They were smeared on
slides and sent to Chemical Examiner Govt. of Punjab Patiala.

The upper part of chest had prominent veins. The laryogal cavity
F showed clotted blood. Right side of heart found full of dark coloured
blood. Stomach was found empty, bladder contained around 20 ml. of
urine."

The post mortem Doctor opined that death was caused due to injury
G No. I. He also found that the deceased was subjected to rape before the
murder and the age of the deceased was between 7 to 11 years - the facts
above cannot but be ascribed to be not only serious but ghastly in nature.
While it is true that the social aberration which results from the offence is
devastating by reason of the nature of the offence committed on a very
young girl and the offenders cannot possibly obtain any support or mitigating
H effect from courts of law, we however, remind ourselves that the law of the
STATE OF PUNJAB v. GURDEEP SINGH [BANERJEE,_J.] 245
land shall have to be administered in accordance wjth the principles of A
criminal justice.

At this juncture, another aspect of the matter ought to be noted,
namely, an extra judicial confession by the accused Gurdeep Singh to one
Jaspal Singh (P. W. 7). The extra judicial confession runs as below:
B
"that 20 days ago I had committed a wrong act. Manpreet Kaur her
younger brother Sandeep Singh and their relation had come to see
television at our house. I came from outside after talcing liquor. Then
I was served rum by my brother who is in the army. When Manpreet
went out of the house, I followed'her. Then I caught hold of her took C
her in the veranda where grain husk was lying. I then untied string
of salwar, committed rape on her and when she raised alarm, I gagged
her mouth with her shawl. When I thought that she will narrate what
had happened to her, then I throttled her and killed and I concealed
her body in the heap of grain husk and then I ran away towards a
pond and since then I have been roaming about. You are known to D
Jaswant Singh, father of girl. I had committed this .act in the influence
of liquor and get me pardon from them as they are your relatives."

It is the evidence of Jaspal Singh (PW 7) that he is driving taxi at Ropar
and the accused was also driving the car of a Sant which was also being used E
as a taxi and used to park his car in the same parking space as used by Jaspal
Singh. It is the categorical evidence of Jaspal Singh that on 12th December,
1989 i.e., after about 24 days of the incident the accused came to him and told
him that he had committed rape on Manpreet Kaur and murdered her. The said
evidence of Jaspal Singh was accepted by the learned Sessions Judge by
reason of the fact that it was corroborated by the evidence of Rajinder Singh F
who had stated that he found the accused following the deceased in a
drunken condition. But that finding was negatived by the High Court on the
ground that extra judicial confession after long lapse of time is of no
consequence. The High Court reminded itself that circumstantial evidence
should not only be consistent with the guilt of the accused but should be
inconsistent with his innocence. The circumstances must be of such a nature G
and should form a complete chain as to be capable of supporting the exclusive
hypothesis that the accused is guilty of the crime of which he is charged.

- There is no denial of the fact that extra judicial confession is admissible
in evidence and the court in appropriate cases can rely thereon to the extent H
246 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1999] SUPP. 2 S.C.R.

A of even basing conviction of the accused. In a long catena of decisions of
this Court, the settled position of the present day is that the extra judicial
confession by itself if, otherwise in conformity with the law, can be treated
as substantive evidence, and in appropriate cases it can be used to punish
an offender. We, however, hasten to add here that this statement of law·
B stands qualified to the extent that the Court should insist on some assuring
material or circumstance to treat the same as piece of substantive evidence.

Having thus stated the law and general principles as to the extent of
reliance to be placed on the circumstantial evidence, let us at this juncture
tum on to the factual score in a little bit greater detail for the purposes of
C the assessment of the entire situation as to whether extra judicial confession
noticed above can have any credence or evidentiary value. But before so
doing certain basic features in the matter in issue ought to be noted. The
features being:

(i) the deceased, a young girl of 7 to 10 years along with her
D brother had gone to the house of the accused in the evening for
television viewing;
(ii) Rajinder Singh who happened to be the brother-in-law of the
deceased's father, also deemed it fit to go and watch the television
programme rather than stay with the relatives and have some
E chit chat with the brother-in-law;
(iii) Rajinder Singh also went out of the Television Room shortly
after the deceased left the house of the accused and found that
the deceased was being followed by a drunken man - it is a
definite piece of evidence in the matter that the house of the
F deceased and that of the accused is not very far from each other
( may be two or three houses in between);
(iv) Rajinder Singh being an elderly man - at least not a teen ager
- allowed a girl of 7 to 10 years, being a close relative, to be
followed by a drunken man and quietly went back to the
G deceased's house without any utterance as regards the event
witnessed by him - had his meal witli the brother-in-law and
went back to the village.

The facts above, have been very strongly criticised by the High Court
and we find sufficient justification in that regard since normal reaction of a
-
H relative, would be to take the girl home or bring the father on to the sight
STATE OF PUNJAB v. GURDEEP SINGH [BANERJEE, J.] 247
immediately or even after going back to the deceased's house narrate the A
event of the girl being followed by a drunken man as also to go out with the
father in search of the girl afterwards alongwith the deceased's father. It is
difficult to treat it as a conduct in consonance with the normal human behaviour
of a relative having seen the. young girl of 10 years being followed by a
drunken person. Human relationship cannot possibly have the same kind of
reaction as has been depicted by Shri Rajinder Singh and it is on this score B
that the learned Advocate for the respondent herein also strongly commented
upon the introduction of this particular witness in order to have a semblem
of corroboration at best so far as the extra-judicial confession is concerned.

The recovery of the body of the deceased by itself does not find any C
link or in any way connect the accused with the commission of the offence.
Records depict that Sandeep being the younger brother was not examined
and the learned Advocate in support of the appeal, also has no answer.
\
Turning attention on to the issue of probative value and total evidenciary
impact in the matter, one cannot but return a verdict of non- credit worthiness D
of such a piece of circumstantial evidence: 24 long days have elapsed - and
it is only then the investigating officer was able to locate a fellow Taxi driver,
who appears to be the brother-in-law of the father of the deceased. The
evidence of Rajinder Singh thus becomes important - but is it worthy of such
an importance - The Sessions Court has exaggerated its effect, whereas the E
High Court has completely over-turned it and described the same as a wholly
unreliable and untrust-worthy evidence.

We have herein before dealt with this particular piece of evidence - Can
the reaction of a close relative be in the manner as Rajinder Singh had - The
answer cannot but be in the negative - where is the anxiety to look for the F
girl - where is the desire to see that nothing untoward should happen - a
minor girl of 10 years being followed by a drunken man and thereafter the girl
does not come back home till such time he finishes the meal: Even thereafter
not a word to the father but he quietly went back to his own village: It is not
a trust-worthy evidence to rely on for corroboration to the extra-judicial G
confession to complete the chain of circumstances. If the above pieces of
evidence are kept aside - there is no other available evidence which can even
remotely connect or point towards the guilt of the accused. There is no
dispute that the deceased was raped and murdered but that would not be
enough for the prosecution to rope in the accused without some such evidence
depfoting unmistakably to the guilt of the accused. H
248 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1999] SUPP. 2 S.C.R.

A The next important aspect is the credibility of the person who spoke
about the confession. He is a taxi driver and no part of evidence records that
he has had a clout with the Police - It is not in evidence as to the period of
friendship between accused and the witness - Indeed a very close friend may
be taken into confidence and a confession effected - Commission of an
B offence of rape on a minor child and thereafter eliminating the victim girl from
this world could not have been talked of or discussed with any or everybody
so casually. There must be some cogent reasons for making a confession of
/
this nature. The only reason available in evidence for affording an occasion f
to make the confession is that the accused used to drive the car of a Sant
and, as such, he used to park his car in the same parking area where the
C witness was also parking the car.

In our view this piece of evidence does not inspire confidence as to the
credibility: of the witness. The choice of a person to confess cannot be
effected just like·that.

D In this ,context strong reliance was also placed by the High Court on
the decision of this Court in the case of Makhan Singh v. State of Punjab,
AIR (1988) SC 1705. This Court while dealing with more or less similar situation
in paragragh 11 observed:

"On 10th August, 1985 FIR was lodged by Nihal Singh (PW2) and on
E
13.8.1985 the appellant went to Amrik Singh (PW 3) to make an extra
judicial confession. Amrik Singh (PW 3) to make an extra - judicial
confession. Amrik Singh says that the appellant told him that as the
police was after him he had come and confessed the fact so that he
might not 'be unnecessarily harassed. There is nothing to indicate
F that, this Amrik Singh was a person having some influence with the
police or a person of some status to protect the appellant from
harassment. In his cross-examination he admits that he is neither the
Lambardar or Sarpanch nor a person who is frequently visiting the
police station. He further admits that when he produced the appellant
there was a crowd of 10 to 12 persons. There is no other corroborative
eviCience about the extra-judicial confession. As rightly conceded by
the learned counsel for the State that extra-judicial confession is a
very weak piece of evidence and is hardly of any consequence. The
Council, however, mainly relied on motive, the evidence of last seen,
the evidence of recovery of dead bodies and the conduct of the
H appellant in not making a report about the missing father and son."
STATE OF PUNJAB v. GURDEEP SINGH [BANERJEE, J.] 249

The confession in the normal course of events are made to avoid A
- harassment by the police and to a person who could otherwise protect the
accused against such a harassment. The records in the present appeal do not
reflect any one of these aspects. As such it is difficult to point to the accused
with the crime on the basis of the evidence available in this case. The incident
did take place on 18th November, 1989 and the body was recovered on 19th
November. The extra-judicial confession of the accused as regards his B
involvement in the crime is said to have been effected to Jaspal Singh PW
7 on December 7, 1989 - thus a delay of more than 20 days without any
explanation whatsoever. The delay in recording extra-judicial confession before
a person wholly unconnected with the police is always a matter ·of great
suspect. In our view the High Court was right in rejecting the confessional C
statement. .

. In view of want of sufficient circumstances, we record our concurrence
with the findings of the High Court that the charge against the respondent
has not been pro~ed beyond all reasonable doubt and his conviction therefore
cannot be sustained. The appe~l is hence dismissed. D
RC.K. Appeal dismissed.