Supreme Court: How to appreciate evidence if sketch of accused prepared with the assistance of the victim was not produced on record?

The Investigating Officer further admitted that

the victim and her father were taken to Jaipur, and

that a sketch was prepared for the purpose of

identifying the accused. However, he admitted that

the said sketch was not available with him and had

not been produced before the trial Court. This

circumstance assumes considerable significance, as

the sketch, having been prepared with the assistance

of the victim at an early stage of the investigation,

constituted an important corroborative material for

ascertaining the identity and physical features of the

then unknown assailant. The non-production of the

said sketch deprives the Court of an opportunity to

examine whether the description furnished by the

victim at the earliest stage was consistent with the

physical features of the accused-appellant. {Para 31}

32. Hence, it is safe to conclude that the

Investigating Officer had no reliable evidence which

could point the finger of suspicion towards the

accused-appellant as being the perpetrator of the

crime. Thus, there remains a serious doubt regarding

the basis on which the accused-appellant came to be

arrested and his subsequent identification as the

assailant.

REPORTABLE

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CRIMINAL APPEAL NO(S). 135 OF 2026

DHANRAJ  Vs STATE OF RAJASTHAN 

Author: Mehta, J.

Dated: SEPTEMBER 07, 2026.

Citation: 2026 INSC 958.

Read full judgment here: Click here.

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