Police Confession of Co-Accused Cannot be Basis for Conviction Without Independent Evidence: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has reiterated that a confession made to the police cannot be used to convict a co-accused unless it is supported by independent and substantive evidence. 

While acquitting an accused in a theft case, the Court held that reliance solely on the alleged confession of a co-accused recorded by the police is legally impermissible.

The Court emphasized that such confessions have limited evidentiary value and cannot form the foundation of a conviction in the absence of corroborative material linking the accused to the offence.

Observing serious lacunae in the prosecution’s case, the High Court set aside the conviction and reinforced safeguards against wrongful criminal liability.