Direct and circumstantial evidence

DIRECT AND CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE 

As per the statute, The indian evidence act, Direct evidence is the testimony of a witness to the existence or non – existence of the fact or facts in issue. Direct evidence is given where the witness testifies directly of his knowledge as to the main fact or facts in dispute. It may be oral or documentary evidence. The evidence of the facts must be adduced before the court directly. For example A stabs B, C sees A stabbing B. c deposes in the court that he saw A stabbing B. Therefore C’s evidence is direct evidence.

Circumstantial evidence is that which relates to a series of other facts than the fact in issue, but by experience has been found so associated with the fact in issue in relation to cause and effect that it leads to a satisfactory conclusion. Example: A and B are wife and husband. B harasses A for dowry. A is murdered by B. It is a dowry death. The incidents of B’s harassment against A also become evidence.  The witnesses who depose such incidents are called circumstantial witnesses and their evidence is circumstantial evidence. Though their evidence is not directly connected with dowry death, but quite enough and satisfactory to prove B’s ill intention and conduct before A’s death.