The most essential part of our judicial system is that it is based on the presumption that the accused is innocent unless proven guilty beyond doubt. Also it is better that ten guilty are held free than one innocent being falsely implicated in a case. Thus the burden of proof in a criminal case is very high.
Circumstantial evidence is basically the evidence which is furnished not by direct testimony of an eye witness to the fact to be proved, but by relying on the fact or other auxiliary facts which can be relied upon as incompatible with any result other than truth of principal fact. Circumstantial evidence can be fully apprehended if it is compared in context of direct evidence. It is a type of evidence which is simply direct evidence applied indirectly.
The whole discussion brings us back to the most fundamental question i.e. whether the circumstantial evidence can be used as sole basis of conviction or not. The fact cannot be denied that circumstantial evidence plays a pivotal role in a criminal case. It has helped the courts in administration of justice in so many landmark cases which heavily relied on circumstantial evidence.
Generally speaking, when a crime is planned and committed, the offenders try not leaving behind any direct evidences behind. They plan their acts in such a manner that no evidence can be construed against them. Thus it becomes quite essential to be able to link up all the events in such a manner so as to complete the chain of events.
Despite the