Legal Analysis: Mitesh @ T.V. Vaghela vs. State of Gujarat

Citation: 2026 INSC 469
Court: Supreme Court of India
Bench: Justice Aravind Kumar (Division Bench – the other judge’s name is not mentioned in the extract)
Date of Decision: May 11, 2026
Nature of Judgment: Criminal Appeal under Article 136 of the Constitution of India against the judgment of the Gujarat High Court dismissing the appeal against conviction and sentence.

Synopsis of the Judgment

The appellant was convicted for murder under Section 302 IPC and sentenced to life imprisonment, along with a separate sentence under Section 135 of the Bombay Police Act. The prosecution case rested on: (i) a prior quarrel and threat establishing motive; (ii) oral dying declarations made by the deceased to his brother (PW‑1) immediately after the incident and while being taken to the hospital; and (iii) the testimony of an eyewitness (PW‑12), a rickshaw driver who saw the appellant inflict a knife blow. Several panch witnesses and other alleged eyewitnesses turned hostile. The trial court and the High Court concurrently held the evidence of PW‑1 and PW‑12 reliable and sufficient to prove the guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The Supreme Court affirmed the conviction, holding that the testimony of a single credible eyewitness is sufficient under law, and that the oral dying declarations were truthful and corroborated. However, noting that the appellant had already undergone a substantial period of sentence, liberty was granted to apply for remission/commutation.

1. Basic Information of the Judgment

• Case Title: Mitesh @ T.V. Vaghela vs. The State of Gujarat

• Criminal Appeal No.: 212 of 2012

• Bench: Justice Aravind Kumar (Division Bench)

• Date of Decision: May 11, 2026

• Citation: 2026 INSC 469 

• Appeal From: Judgment of the High Court of Gujarat at Ahmedabad in Criminal Appeal No. 1129 of 2000, dated not specified.

2. Legal Framework

Laws and Provisions Involved

• Indian Penal Code, 1860: Section 302 (murder)

• Bombay Police Act, 1951 (applicable to Gujarat): Section 135 (possession of weapon, etc.)

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