Conviction valid even if witnesses en mass turn hostile: Supreme Court

An accused can be convicted even if all eye witnesses turn hostile if there are sufficient material evidence to back the prosecution's claim, the Supreme Court has ruled.

A bench of Justice P Sathasivam and Justice AR Dave said in a judgement that a prosecution's case cannot be dented as circumstances do not lie, though the witnesses may lie under influence or coercion.

"In the instant case, all the eye-witnesses examined on the prosecution side have en bloc turned hostile due to influence and pressure of the accused persons which included a sitting MLA of the ruling party.

"This aspect has been analysed by the trial court while convicting and awarding sentence on the accused/appellants. This court has noted and observed in a large number of cases that witnesses may lie but circumstances do not, "Justice Sathasivam writing the judgement observed.

The apex court passed the judgement while upholding the life sentence on Rameshbhai Mohanbhai Koli and two others for the murder of Prakashbhai Raveshia, chairman of Morbi Nagrik Bank, Morbi, Gujarat in September 16, 1999.