Attorney General vs Pujith Senadhi Bandara Jayasundara – SC TAB 03/2023-2024

Brief
In the case between the Attorney General (representing the State) and Pujith Senadhi Bandara Jayasundara, the Supreme Court addressed whether the High Court-at-Bar’s acquittal of the accused without calling for his defence under Section 200(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act was legally justified. The central question was whether the evidence presented—including multiple intelligence reports and the accused’s actions as Inspector General of Police—was sufficient to warrant proceeding to a defence, or if the elements of the alleged offence were not established, thereby requiring acquittal. The Court held that there was a misdirection in law by the High Court-at-Bar in not calling for the accused’s defence and determined that the prosecution’s case, if unrebutted, established a p