Summarize the following court judgment. : Criminal Appeal No. 17 of 1975. Appeal by Special Leave from the Judgment and Order dated 7 6 1974 of the Himachal Pradesh High Court in Criminal Appeal No. 40/73. Hardyal Hardy and P.P. Juneja for the Appellants. Badri Das Sharma and Miss A. Subhashini for the Respondent. The Judgment of the Court was delivered by SARKARIA	 J. This appeal by special leave is directed against a judgment	 dated June. 7. 1974	 of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh	 whereby it upheld the conviction of Rama Nand accused under Section 302	 Penal Code	 and that of the co accused Shish Ram and Kali Datt under Section 201	 Penal Code	 and also the sentences awarded to each of them by the learned Sessions Judge	 446 Mandi. The prosecution story	 as it emerged from the record	 was as follows: Sumitra deceased	 aged 19 years	 was the daughter of Som Krishan (P.W. 33). Rama Nand	 appellant is her husband and Shish Ram	 appellant 2	 is her father in law while Kali Datt appellant 3	 is the younger brother of Rama Nand. Sumitra 's father wished to see his daughter highly educated	 and employed in Government service and married to a suitable	 highly educated person	 settled in life. Sumitra had passed Higher Secondary Examination and wanted to pursue her studies further according to the wishes of her father. About two years before Sumitra 's reported death	 Shish Ram appellant approached Som Krishan (P.W. 33) and persuaded him to give Sumitra in marriage to his son	 Rama Nand. While negotiating this matrimonial alliance	 Shish Rama told Som Krishan that his son was suitably employed on a Government job in the Office of the Deputy Commissioner	 Kasumpti. He further falsely represented to Som Krishan that his son	 Rama Nand was a graduate. Believing this representation to be true	 Som Krishan about 1 1/2 or 2 years before Sumitra 's murder in question	 married her to Rama Nand; Before this marriage it was settled by Som Krishan with Shish Ram and Rama Nand accused that even after her marriage	 Sumitra would continue to pursue further studies and take up employment as a teacher. After the marriage	 her father got his daughter	 Sumitra	 employed as a teacher in Village Nursery School at Chanyana which was situated near her parents ' village. While teaching at Chnayana	 she continued to reside with her parents. She used to visit village Jherwin occasionally to be in the society of her husband who also used to come to Jherwin from Kasumpti. The accused persistently demanded that Sumitra should give up her employment at Chanyana	 and start residing permanently and continuously in her matrimonial home at Jherwin. Sumitra tenaciously refused to do so. Rama Nand wrote several letters to Sumitra urging her to give up her adamant attitude. These letters furnished evidence of a strong motive for Rama Nand to put an end to the life of Sumitra. Rama Nand was employed as a Clerk in the Office of the Deputy Commissioner Kasumpti. On May 12	 1972	 he came to Jherwin from Kasumpti. He had earlier written to his wife	 Sumitra	 strongly urging her to come to village Jherwin. On May 13	 1972	 Sumitra came to Rama Nand 's house at Jherwin and stayed with him in his room on the night between 13th and 14th May	 1972. The other 447 rooms of the house were in occupation of the other members of Shish Ram 's family. Thereafter	 on May 14	 1972	 she disappeared from the house of the accused. The accused gave out that Sumitra had gone towards the Sutlej river on the pretext of attending to the call of nature; that thereafter her Salwar and shoes were found on the bank of the river	 which indicated that she had jumped into the river and committed suicide. After pretending to make a search for her body in the river and nearabout	 Shish Ram on May 16	 1972	 went to Police Station Karsog at 5.30 p.m. and lodged a report (exhibit PAQ). It was recorded by Head Constable Nand Lal. After recording it in the Roznamacha	 the Head Constable read it in the presence of one Inder Pal to the informant	 who	 after hearing the same to be correct	 signed it in Hindi and his companion Inder Lal signed it in English. As this report	 according to the prosecution	 shows that an attempt was made by Shish Ram accused to lay a false trail and manufacture false clues as to the cause of the death of Sumitra and to screen the offence	 it is necessary to reproduce the material parts of that report (rendered into English)	 hereunder: . "my daughter in law Smt. Sumitra Devi aged about 18/19 years	 was married about 1 1/2 years ago	 to my son Rama Nand who is employed in the office of D.C. Kasumpti as a clerk. Sumitra Devi herself was employed as a Mistress in Nursery School	 Chanyana and was residing with her parents. Whenever my son used to come home on leave	 she also used to visit her house at such time. Similarly my son Rama Nand had come on leave to his house on 12 5 72 and in the evening of 13 5 72	 my daughter in law	 Smt. Sumitra Devi had also come to his house. As usual	 because of Sunday holiday	 in the morning on 14 5 72	 myself	 my daughter in law and other members of the family were planting chilly seedlings in the fields near our house. My son (Rama Nand) was lying in bed on account of stomach trouble. After plantation work	 at about 9/10 a.m. my daughter in law	 Smt. Sumitra Devi along with Sheela Devi aged about 7 years	 who is daughter of my brother	 had gone downward on the pretext of easing herself. After some time	 Sheela returned home and reported that she had been turned back from the way by her aunt. Sumitra Devi	 who had gone ahead towards the river side. For some time it was believed that she might have gone to answer the call of nature. The river is about 2 furlongs from my house towards downside. When sufficient time passed and she did 448 not return home	 then calls were given hither and thither and search was also started but her whereabouts could not be known. After a thorough search on the Sutlej river bank	 the Salwar and shoes of Smt. Sumitra were found which Smt. Sumitra was wearing at the time of her going that side. This created a suspicion that she might have committed suicide by jumping into the river. She was searched at the river bank as also in the nearby villages. but her dead body was not found	 nor any clue of her going is available. Sumitra was married in a good family and her character was also good	 her relations with her husband were cordial. No quarrel on that day or prior to that	 took place between her and my son	 nor is there any reason for her disappearance. I have come to report	 which may be recorded. After locating her alive or dead	 separate report will be lodged. " Daulat Ram	 Station House Officer (P.W. 38) then visited the scene of occurrence on May 13	 1972. He was not satisfied about the correctness of the information given by Shish Ram accused. He	 therefore	 got a case under Section 364	 Penal Code	 registered. Shis Ram accused produced before him the Salwar (exhibit P 14) and shoes (exhibit P 15/12) which	 according to Shish Ram 's report	 belonged to Sumitra deceased and were found lying on the river bank. The investigator also prepared a rough sketch of the spot where these clothes and shoes were stated to have been found. Som Krishan upon receiving the information	 suspected that her daughter had been murdered at the instance of Rama Nand and others. Som Krishan reached the spot and made enquiries. Rama Nand and Shish Ram accused were arrested by the Investigating Officer on June 5	 1972. The Investigating Officer took into possession the Locket chain (exhibit P 1) and the watch (exhibit P 2) belonging to the deceased from the room which was in the occupation of Rama Nand	 in the deceased from the room which was in the occupation of Rama Nand	 in the presence of Kanshi Ram and Hira Mani and prepared the Memo (exhibit P A) in this behalf. Rama Nand accused	 whilst in police custody	 produced Sumitra 's clothes (exhibit P 5 to exhibit P 10) which were taken into possession by the Investigator in the presence of Mastu and Hari Ram	 witnesses (vide exhibit P Y). These clothes	 according to the prosecution	 were the same which Sumitra was wearing when she arrived at the house of Rama Nand accused on May 13	 1972. 449 On June 5	 1972	 a legless and armless dead body in a highly decomposed state was found at a distance of four kilometers down stream on the bank of the river Sutlej near village Randaul. Kali Datt appellant was found near that skeleton in the early hours or June 5	1972. He dragged the skeleton from the river upto some distance. It appeared that dogs etc. had eaten away the flesh. A part of the skull was found in tact	 while the remaining part of it was lying at some distance. On receiving information	 Som Krishan (P.W.33) and his brother 's wife	 Laxmi (P.W. 2)	 came and identified the skeleton to be that of Sumitra. There was some flesh on the buttock portion and there was a mark on it. According to these identifying witnesses	 this mark was that of a burn which Sumitra had received during her infancy. One of the teeth found in the inaudible was carious	 while another tooth was jutting out. Daulat Ram got the dead body measured from shoulder to the cut portion of the thies by Mehar Chand. The measurement came to 2 ' 4". Daulat Ram prepared the inquest report (exhibit P/F) which was attested by Kundan witness. He sent the dead body along with the inquest report (exhibit PF) to Simla for post mortem examination. The dead body reached the Hospital at 1 p.m on June 7	 1972. There	 they directed the police to take the dead body to Ripon Hospital. The post mortem examination. was conducted by Dr. J. R. Sharma (P.W. 14) on the following day. The post mortem report was handed over to the police by the Doctor on June 21	 1972. A few components of the skeleton	 including the mandible	 were sent to the Dental Surgeon	 Dr. R. section Pathania (P.W. 15) and Radiologist	 Dr. M. L. Ahuja (P.W. 16) for examination and opinion. These Doctors	 however	 opined that the mandible belonged to a child of not more than 10 years of age. The components of the skeleton were	 also	 sent to Dr. O. P. Bhargave (P.W. 31)	 Professor of Anatomy in the Medical College of simila. His opinion about the age of the deceased was also the same. The Doctor could not determine the sex of the skeleton. On August 24	 1972	 a Paranda (cotton headtail)	 alleged to be of Sumitra deceased was recovered from the jungle of Ghangar. Some human hair were found entangled in the Paranda. These hair were sent for comparison with the hair of the deceased found embedded in her Dupatta. The forensic expert opined that the two sets of hair belonged to one and the same person. After investigation	 the four accused	 namely	 Rama Nand	 his father Shish Ram	 his brother Kali Datt and Shish Ram 's brother Kesar Chand	 were sent up before a Magistrate who committed them 450 for trial to the Court of Session. At the trial	 in his examination under Section 342	 Rama Nand admitted that after her marriage	 Sumitra got employment as a teacher. He	 however	 denied the prosecution allegation that he and his father were opposed to her employment as a teacher. He expressed ignorance as to whether there was any settlement between his father	 Shish Ram	 and Som Krishan Shastri	 father of Sumitra that she would continue her studies even after the marriage and would be free to take up service as her career. He added that his matrimonial alliance with Sumitra was not negotiated and settled in his presence. He admitted that the letters dated December 13	 1971	 December 16	 1971 and May 9	 1972 (the English rendering of which is marked exhibit PAH	 exhibit PAB	 and exhibit PC	 respectively) were written by him to Sumitra	 and that the letter (exhibit PAJ) dated October 14	 1971	 was written by him to his father in law. Som Krishan Shastri (P.W. 33). He further admitted that on May 13	 1972	 Sumitra came to his house in village Jherwin from her parents ' place	 and that she was then wearing the golden chain (exhibit P 1)	 wrist watch (exhibit P 2)	 Dupatta (exhibit P 5)	 suit (exhibit P 6 and exhibit P 7)	 socks (Ex. P 8 and 9)	 banian (Ex. P 10) and was carrying the basket (exhibit P 11) and umbrella (exhibit P 12). He	 however	 added that when she (Sumitra) reached home on May 13	 1972 with the articles mentioned above	 she was wearing pink ribbon on her head and not any threadbunch like exhibit Question No.9 put to him was: "It is in prosecution evidence that on May 14	 1972 Sumitra was not seen at your house or in the village at Jherwin at all or thereafter. What have you to say?" He replied: "On 14 5 72 morning at about	 say upto 11 a.m.	 she was working in the field at Jherwin and thereafter she was not seen there and later on I was arrested and so I cannot say about her whereabouts." He admitted that his father Shish Ram had lodged the report (exhibit PAQ) in the Police Station	 Karsog. When the circumstance appearing in the prosecution evidence	 "that after the occurrence on May 16	 1972	 he (Rama Nand) went away to Simla from Jherwin and returned home three or four days thereafter" was put to Ramanand	 he replied: "It is wrong. I went to Simla on 17 5 72 evening and returned on 19th morning". He denied that he and his father implored Som Krishan Shastri that he should save them from the police at Jherwin. When the negative circumstance appearing in evidence	 to the effect that the Salwar (exhibit P 14) was not of Sumitra	 was put to him	 he asserted that the Salwar (exhibit P 14) was that of Sumitra; and that his father had shown the Salwar (exhibit P 14) indicating that his daughter in law	 Sumitra had gone in the river when the (Ramanand) was weeping. In reply to the last question	 Rama Nand narrated more or less the same story which was given by them (accused) to 451 the police in the Report	 PAQ. Among other things	 he stated: "It was found on the river side that her Salwar (exhibit P 14) and shoes (exhibit P 15) were lying by the river bank giving indication that she had jumped into the river. Then we were in mourning and the villagers also verified that Sumitra was seen going to the river". Shish Ram accused admitted that Sumitra had come to their house at Jherwin on May 13	 1972 and had disappeared on May 14	 1972. He admitted having lodged the report (exhibit PAQ) in the Police Station	 Karsog. He admitted that he had produced the Salwar (Ex. P 14) and shoes (exhibit P 15) before the police during investigation. He also maintained that the Salwar (exhibit P 14) belonged to Sumitra. He denied that he and his co accused were threatening to teach Sumitra and her father the lesson of life for keeping Sumitra employed against their wishes at Chanayana. He repeated the substance of the story which he had earlier stated in the report (exhibit PAQ)	 and reiterated that since Sumitra 's Salwar and shoes were found on the river bank	 she had either jumped into the river or run away somewhere. The learned Additional Sessions Judge by his judgment	 dated December 1	 1973	 convicted Rama Nand under Section 302	 Penal Code	 and sentenced him to rigorous imprisonment for life. He further convicted Kali Datt and Shish Ram accused under Section 201	 Penal Code	 and sentenced each of them to one year 's rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 500/ . Keshar Chand accused was given the benefit of doubt and acquitted. The appeal by the convicted persons was dismissed by the High Court as per its judgment	 dated June 7	 1974. Hence this appeal by special leave. The conviction of the appellants is based entirely on circumstantial evidence. In convicting Rama Nand	 appellant under Section 302	 Penal Code	 for the murder of his wife	 Sumitra	 the courts below have concurrently relied upon these circumstances which	 according to them	 had been established by the prosecution. (1) Rama Nand accused had a strong motive to murder his wife	 Sumitra. (2) Sumitra was last seen alive with Rama Nand	 appellant in the family house at Jherwin on the night between 13th and 14th May	 1972. The other two co accused were also present in the same house (3) (a) Rama Nand and the other co accused falsely gave out that she had committed suicide by jumping into the river. They 'planted ' a Salwar and a pair of shoes on the bank of the Sutlej and gave out that they belonged to the deceased	 and Shish Ram lodged 452 a false report with the police to the effect that she had committed suicide by jumping into the river. The Salwar and the shoes	 which had been 'planted ' there to manufacture false clues by the accused	 did not belong to Sumitra	 and the accused have falsely asserted that these articles belong to the deceased. (b) The story given out by the accused persons that upto 11 a.m. on May 14	 1972	 Sumitra was planting chillies along with Sheela and other members of the family of the accused	 was false. (4) The gold chain (exhibit P 1) and the watch (exhibit P 2) which Sumitra used to wear on her person all the 24 hours	 and the clothes (exhibit P 5 to P 10) which she had on the person and the basket (exhibit P 11) and umbrella (exhibit P 12) which she was carrying when on the evening of May 13	 1972 she came to the house of the accused at Jherwin	 were recovered from the house of the accused. (5) Some days after the occurrence	 one Paranda was found from the jungle near this village. There was a bunch of hair in the plaited tail of this Paranda. The tail appeared to have been cut. These hair sticking in the Paranda and those found entangled in the Dupatta of the deceased were according to the Forensic Expert of one and the same person. (6) A legless decomposed corpse was recovered from the Sutlej near village Randol in a mutilated condition. From a burnt mark on the flesh sticking to the buttock of the corpse it was identified as that of Sumitra	 deceased. The High Court further held that even if any doubt remained with regard to the identity or recovery of the corpus delicti	 the telling circumstances otherwise complete the chain of evidence to establish beyond doubt that Sumitra had been murdered and the charges had been established against the accused as held by the trial court. In the result it dismissed the appeal of the accused respondents. Shri Hardayal Hardy	 learned counsel appearing for the appellants contents that these circumstances have not been satisfactorily established. He has placed great emphasis on the evidence of the medical experts	 according to which the mutilated corpse found at Randol was that of a child	 aged about 8 or 9 years. It is submitted that the dead body found was not that of Sumitra deceased	 and as a result	 the courts below were not justified in holding that the death of Sumitra had been established by the prosecution. On the other hand	 the learned counsel for the State has argued in support of the judgment of the High Court. 453 It is well settled that where the inference of guilt of an accused person is to be drawn from circumstantial evidence only	 those circumstances must	 in the first place	 be cogently established. Further	 those circumstances should be of a definite tendency pointing towards the guilt of the accused	 and in their totality	 must unerringly lead to the conclusion that within all human probability	 the offence was committed by the accused and none else. The first circumstance which has been found to be established by the courts below against the appellant is that he had "a very strong motive" to commit the murder of Sumitra. To substantiate this fact	 the prosecution produced four letters written by Rama Nand appellant. There are: exhibit PAJ	 exhibit PAH	 exhibit PAB/1 and exhibit PC. The accused also tendered in evidence the letter (exhibit DA) dated November 14	 1971 written by Som Krishan to Sumitra. As already mentioned	 Rama Nand accused has admitted that the letters (exhibit PAJ	 PAH	 PAB/1 and P.C.) were written by him. exhibit PAJ purports to have been written by him from village Jherwin on October 14	 1971. In this letter	 Rama Nand very clearly informed his father in law that his father Shish Ram was not in favour of Sumitra taking up service and residing away from the accused 's house at Jherwin. In this letter	 Rama Nand urged his father in law that the latter should either come to Jherwin along with Sumitra or send her alone. This letter also indicates that Sumitra was persisting in taking up service elsewhere against the wishes of the accused persons. Chronologically	 the next letter is exhibit DA dated November 14	 1971. It is addressed by Som Krishan to his daughter	 Sumitra. In this letter	 the father informs the daughter that he had obtained her appointment letter and she would be required to join by the 17th to start the Nursing School at Balwari. He wanted her to come to his house to take up the appointment. In this letter	 he also wishes her daughter to convey to Rama Nand appellant and his brother	 Kesar Chand (acquitted accused) that they should agree to Sumitra 's taking up this employment and that they should further bring round Shish Ram by reminding him that they had earlier consented to her taking up Service. This letter further indicates that Sumitra was much distressed because of the hostile attitude adopted by her in laws towards her. To console her	 the father wrote: "Don 't worry. Whatever God does is good. Have self confidence and do not repent on any failure". The third letter	 dated December 13	 1971	 (exhibit PAH)	 written by Rama Nand to Sumitra	 shows that the opposition of the appellant	 454 his father Shish Ram and brothers to Sumitra 's taking up service away from the matrimonial home	 had passed from the serious to the sardonic stage. It starts with the words: "Wish you happy luxury !" Read in accord with the tenor of the letter	 it conveys a biting ironical taunt. These words were capable of being construed as conveying an innuendo that she was merry making de hors the matrimonial home in an extra marital way. May be	 the appellant was doubting her fidelity. He informs her that he had visited Jherwin in the hope that he would join her there	 but this hope did not materialise. He complains against this attitude of neglect on the part of his wife when he says: "Today you have not seen to my condition	 and have defamed me. To whom should I blame ? It is the wind and to which side it blows it must do something. I was thinking to save (you) from this wind. " He further reproaches and upbraids her: "You did not think over it seriously and you did not care for it nor others. You have taken it as a prestige issue. I cannot do anything so long I am not heartily happy and I weep to my fate. " He then warns her in a contemptuous and peremptory tone: "It would be better that you should resign your job now and come down here . If you intend to reside with me	 then you should agree to my words. otherwise it will be a dog 's life. You should either come to this place or to village Jherwin after resigning the job and from there you may come to Simla on any day. As you know	 a friend in need is a friend in deed. When this is lost	 one cannot take the shelter of others. " He reminds her that her marriage had been solemnised with him. "To do service entirely depends upon you and me and not upon (your) father. It is time to resign the Service. " He repeats: "It is against the respect of my family	 yourself and myself that I should allow you to serve at a monthly pay of Rs. 120/ and only for a tenure of six months and myself to stay at Simla in the Hotel." He then in stronger language demanded her to resign her job within 24 hours and come to his house direct without waiting for her resignation to be accepted. He closes the letter with an ominous threat veiled as a warning: "If you do not resign the job	 our relations will become strained." In the next letter (exhibit PC)	 dated December 16	 1971	 Rama Nand wrote to Sumitra that he did not understand why she did not "improve his (?) life ' and why she was acting at the beck and call of others. He urged her that it would be better to 'live for a more '. He added: "You obey me or not	 you yourself will understand the significance of this when you give place to it in your mind". He sternly repeated the warning: "I once again request you to keep in mind your as also my honour	 what you have to do	 as the time has come. There is no example in the history of world that a girl after marriage 455 should act on the advice of her father	 which may be harmful." He again urged her: "Do not think this letter as a mere piece of paper	 but each and every line in it will decide our future career. you should resign your post. " He again administered a warning	 coupled with a threat of resorting to violence in case she did not resign her job to live with the accused permanently: "The present is the condition of China 's wall as Lt. General Mr. Kaul was saying that on China Border there is no firing	 no firing	 no firing. But what was the result in the end	 you know better. . If you honour me	 your husband	 then you should tender your resignation from the job forthwith". He further sternly warned her: "If you still do not come round	 what would happen in future	 will entirely be your responsibility and I may not be blamed for that". He ended the letter with a hostile note	 repeating the threat: "I may write	 what will happen in future. Entire responsibility of future solely depends upon you. It is the question of life and not of service. . This is time of your test. Reply this letter. " The sentence	 'It is the question of life and not of service ' read in the context	 clearly conveys to the wife a threat that the choice open to her was between 'life ' and 'service '	 that is to say	 she would not be left alive if she did not give up the 'service '. This letter unmistakably reveals that Rama Nand had worked his feelings at his wife 's persistent refusal to give up service and live with him	 into such a frenzied resolve that if his wife did not	 as he desired	 'mend ' her ways	 he would 'end ' her life. Even after this letter	 there appears to have been no alleviation or change in this revengeful attitude of the husband towards his wife. This is discernible from Rama Nand 's last letter dated May 9	 1972 (exhibit PAB) addressed to Sumitra. In this letter also	 he cannot conceal his feeling of being "sick of you". He writes	 ". the difference in views can make life troubleful or as well can lead towards downfall as I already told you"	 that "to deceive any true person can only be a sin and nothing else". He appears to be giving her a last warning	 a last chance to come round and come home when he writes that "time is short I will again request you that if you try to come home on Saturday	 it will be good . I do not feel good. you definitely try to come	 if you cannot come on Saturday then come on Sunday	 otherwise. " These letters vividly reveal that despite the repeated persuasions	 warnings and threats proceeding from Rama Nand accused	 Sumitra intransigently and persistently refused to give up her service at Chanyana	 and residence with her parents	 and declined to come and live permanently in the matrimonial home at Jherwin	 and as a result	 how the husband 's feelings of tenderness towards his wife progressively 456 changing into regret	 persecution complex	 resentment	 exasperation and smouldering hostility	 ultimately hardened into a revengeful resolve in the mind of Rama Nand to end what he calls "a dog 's life" by putting an end to the life of his spouse. We agree with the High Court that these letters reveal that Rama Nand appellant had a strong motive to murder the deceased. The second circumstance was also well established. It had been admitted even by the appellant and his co accused. The courts below have found	 and rightly so	 that both the limbs of circumstance No. (3) had also been established by evidence produced by the prosecution. Som Krishan (P.W. 33)	 father of Sumitra	 had testified that when he went to Jherwin on receiving a message from the accused about the disappearance of his daughter	 he was shown the Salwar (exhibit P 14) and shoes (exhibit P 15/1 2) and told that these clothes were left behind on the bank of the Sutlej river when she disappeared. P.W. 33 further stated that this shabby Salwar (exhibit P 14) which had patches on it	 did not belong to Sumitra and she never wore such a Salwar; nor did the pair of shoes (exhibit P 15) belong to her. P.W. 33 further testified: "Then Rama Nand	 Shish Ram and Kesar Chand accused implored me that they may be saved from police remand. To this I said that I was not conversant with law but you may tell the truth". This testimony of P.W. 33 has been accepted by the courts below. We have no reason to take a different view. As rightly held by the courts below Sumitra was a sophisticated and educated girl. It was difficult to believe that she would do chilly plantation and wear such a patched and dirty Salwar as exhibit P 14. The very story given out by the accused persons and narrated by Shish Ram in the report (exhibit PAQ) made by him to the Police	 and repeated by him and Rama Nand in their examination under Section 342	 Cr. P.C.	 to effect that Sumitra had after undressing and leaving behind her shoes (exhibit P 15) and Salwar (exhibit P 14) on the bank of the Sutlej	 committed suicide by jumping into the river was improbable	 incredible and false. Thus	 circumstance 3(a) and (b) had also been clearly and cogently established. This piece of evidence was relevant under Section 8	 Evidence Act and was a definite pointer towards the guilt of the accused. Circumstance (4) appearing in the prosecution evidence	 was admitted by the accused persons. Circumstance (5) also stood established. Though a feeble pointer towards the guilt of the accused	 by itself it was not of a conclusive character. Circumstance (6) has been seriously controverted. The burden of the arguments of the learned counsel for the appellants is that the prosecution had miserably failed to establish that the legless decomposed 457 body found in the river was that of Smt. Sumitra	 and in such a situation	 the possibility of her being alive cannot be reasonably ruled out. Although the High Court has held that the body recovered was that of Sumitra deceased and that the bones sent to the medical experts were not parts of the decomposed body found	 but appeared to have been fraudulently replaced with the bones of a child during transmission to the medical experts	 we would assume that the identity of the body found in the river was not established beyond reasonable doubt. In other words	 we would take it that the corpus delicti	 i.e.	 the dead body of the victim was not found in this case. But even on that assumption	 the question remains whether the other circumstances established on record were sufficient to lead to the conclusion that within all human probability	 she had been murdered by Rama Nand appellant ? It is true that one of the essential ingredients of the offence of culpable homicide required to be proved by the prosecution is that the accused "caused the death" of the person alleged to have been killed. This means that before seeking to prove that the accused is the perpetrator of the murder	 it must be established that homicidal death has been caused. Ordinarily	 the recovery of the dead body of the victim or a vital part of it	 bearing marks of violence	 is sufficient proof of homicidal death of the victim. There was a time when under the old English Law	 the finding of the body of the deceased was held to be essential before a person was convicted of committing his culpable homicide. "I would never convict"	 said Sir Mathew Hale	 "a person of murder or manslaughter unless the fact were proved to be done	 or at least the body was found dead". This was merely a rule of caution	 and not of law. But in those times when execution was the only punishment for murder	 the need for adhering to this cautionary rule was greater. Discovery of the dead body of the victim bearing physical evidence of violence	 has never been considered as the only mode of proving the corpus delicti in murder. Indeed	 very many cases are of such a nature where the discovery of the dead body is impossible. A blind adherence to this old "body" doctrine would open the door wide open for many a heinous murderer to escape with impunity simply because they were cunning and clever enough to destroy the body of their victim. In the context of our law	 Hale 's enunciation has to be interpreted no more than emphasising that where the dead body of the victim in a murder case is not found	 other cogent and satisfactory proof of homicidal death of the victim must be adduced by the prosecution. Such proof may be by the direct ocular 458 account of an eye witness	 or by circumstantial evidence	 or by both. But where the fact of corpus delicti	 i.e. 'homicidal death ' is sought to be established by circumstantial evidence alone	 the circumstances must be of a clinching and definitive character unerringly leading to the inference that the victim concerned has met a homicidal death. Even so	 this principle of caution cannot be pushed too far as requiring absolute proof. Perfect proof is seldom to be had in this imperfect world	 and absolute certainty is a myth. That is why under Section 3	 Evidence Act	 a fact is said to be "proved"	 if the Court considering the matters before it	 considers its existence so probable that a prudent man ought	 under the circumstances of the particular case to act upon the supposition that it exists. The corpus delicti or the fact of homicidal death	 therefore	 can be proved by telling and inculpating circumstances which definitely lead to the conclusion that within all human probability	 the victim has been murdered by the accused concerned. In the instant case	 Circumstances (1) to (5)	 in their cumulative effect	 are not only inconsistent with the innocence of Rama Nand appellant	 but ineluctably and rationally compel the conclusion that Sumitra has died and it is Rama Nand appellant who has intentionally caused her death. Circumstance (3) involves an admission by Rama Nand and Shish Ram accused that Sumitra has met an unnatural death. The only difference between the prosecution version and the defence version is as to whether Sumitra committed suicide or had been killed by Rama Nand appellant. It has been found that the story of the suicide set up by the accused is false. The articles Salwar (exhibit P.14) and the shoes (exhibit P 15) do not belong to her. They were planted by the accused to lay a false trail and to mis direct the investigation. This circumstance taken in conjunction with the others	 irresistibly and rationally leads to the conclusion that she has been murdered by Rama Nand appellant and her dead body has been disposed of by the appellants Shish Ram and Kali Datt. For the foregoing reasons	 we dismiss this appeal and maintain the convictions and sentences of the appellants. S.R. Appeal dismissed.

Dismissing the appeal and maintaining the conviction and sentences of the appellants	 the Court ^ HELD:(1) It is well settled that where the inference of guilt of an accused person is to be drawn from circumstantial evidence only	 those circumstances must	 in the first place	 be cogently established. Further	 those circumstances should be of a definite tendency pointing towards the guilt of the accused	 and in their totality	 must unerringly lead to the conclusion that within all human probability	 the offence was committed by the accused and none else. In the instant case	 the following circumstances had been correctly found to have been established by the prosecution: (i) Rama Nand accused had a strong motive to murder his wife	 Sumitra. (ii) Sumitra was last seen alive with Rama Nand	 appellant in the family house at Jherwin on the night between 13th and 14th May	 1972. (iii) (a) Rama Nand and the other co accused falsely gave out that she had committed suicide by jumping into the river. They 'planted ' a Salwar and a pair of shoes on the bank of the Sutlaj and gave out that they belonged to the deceased	 and Shish Ram lodged a false report with the police to the effect that she had committed suicide by jumping into the river. The Salwar and the shoes	 which had been 'planted ' there to manufacture false clues by the accused	 did not belong to Sumitra	 and the accused falsely asserted that whose articles belong to the deceased. (b) The story given out by the accused persons that upto 11 a.m. on May 14	 1972	 Sumitra was planting chillies along with Sheela and other members of the family of the accused	 was false. (iv) The gold chain (exhibit P 1) and the watch (exhibit P 2) which Sumitra used to wear on her person all the 24 hours	 and the clothes (exhibit P 5 to P 10) which she had on her person and the basket (exhibit P 11) and umbrella (exhibit P 12) which she was carrying when on the evening of May 13	 1972 she came to house of the accused at Jherwin	 were recovered from the house of the accused. (v) Some days after the occurrence	 one Paranda was found from the jungle near this village. There was a bunch of hair in the plated tail of this Paranda. The tail appeared to have been cut. These hair sticking in the paranda and those found entangled in the Dupatta of the deceased were according to the Forensic Expert of one and the same person. (vi) A legless decomposed corpse was recovered from the Sutlej near village Randol in a mutilated condition. But its identity [451G H	 452A E	 453A B] (2) Even on the assumption that the dead body of the victim was not found	 circumstances (i) to (v) mentioned above in their cumulative effect includably and rationally compel the conclusion that Sumitra had died and it was Rama 445 Nand accused who had intentionally caused her death. Ordinarily	 the recovery of the dead body of the victim or a vital part of it	 bearing marks of violence is sufficient proof of homicidal death of the victim. Even so	 discovery of the dead body of the victim bearing physical evidence of violence	 has never been considered as the only mode of proving the corpus delicti in murder. Indeed very many cases are of such a nature where the discovery of the dead body is impossible. A blind adherence to this old doctrine of Sir Mathew Hale that "for a conviction of murder atleast the body was found dead" would open the door wide open for many a heinous murderer to escape with impunity simply because they were a cunning and clever enough to destroy the body of their victim. In the context of our law	 Hale 's enunciation has to be interpreted no more than emphasising that where the dead body of the victim in a murder case is not found	 other cogent and satisfactory proof of homicidal death of the victim must be adduced by the prosecution. Such proof may be the direct ocular account of an eye witness	 or by circumstantial evidence	 or by both. But where the fact of corpus delicti	 i.e. 'homicidal death ' is sought to be established by circumstantial evidence alone	 the circumstances must be of a clinching and definitive character unerringly leading to the inference that the victim concerned has met a homicidal death. Even so	 this principle of caution cannot be pushed too far as requiring absolute proof. Perfect proof is seldom to be had in this imperfect world	 and absolute certainty is a myth. That is why under Section 3	 Evidence Act	 a fact is said to be "proved"	 if the Court considering the matters before it	 considers its existence so probable that a prudent man ought. under the circumstances of the particular case	 to act upon the supposition that it exists. The corpus delicti or the fact of homicidal death	 therefore	 can be proved by telling and inculpating circumstances which definitely lead to the conclusion that within all human probability	 the victim has been murdered by the accused concerned. [457 D H	 458A D]