Whether the confessional statement of the appellant given to the ...

Court Rules Confession to Customs Officers Inadmissible Without Corroboration; Miscarriage of Justice Averted.

February 23, 2024

Case Laws     Customs     HC

Whether the confessional statement of the appellant given to the Customs officers u/s 108 of the Customs Act, 1962 though retracted at a later stage, is admissible in evidence and could form basis for conviction? - The High Court held that, the admission that the appellant is a licensed dealer in red sander and he know the exporter John Alexander as Alex of Tutucorin is neither a fact to corroborate the incriminating statement of co-noticee, indicting the appellant. The principle of preponderance of probability been wrongly invoked by CESTAT without any fact either circumstantial or by way of corroboration relate the appellant to the Cargo seized by D.R.I. Not even a remote material available to believe the statement of a tainted person. - If statement of an accomplice accepted without material corroboration, it will be travesty of justice.

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