New Delhi, Mar 21 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Thursday acquitted six persons from Gujarat in a case related to the post-Godhra riots, emphasizing that 'mere presence at the crime scene does not establish guilt', especially in large-scale riot situations.
A Bench comprising Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Manoj Misra ruled that courts must be cautious in such cases and avoid relying on witness testimonies that provide vague or generalized statements without clearly identifying the accused or their specific role in the incident.
“In cases of group clashes involving a large number of individuals, courts have an onerous duty to ensure that no innocent bystander is convicted. Courts must be reluctant to rely on testimonies that make broad statements without pinpointing the accused’s role,” the Bench observed.