Former statements of witness may be proved to corroborate later testimony as to same fact.

What this section does

A witness's former statement relating to the same fact may be proved to corroborate his later testimony, provided the former statement was made at or about the time the fact occurred, or before a legally competent authority investigating the fact. This section enables prior consistent statements to be used for corroboration.

AI-generated plain-language summary. For the binding statutory text, see India Code (official).

The rule in one line

A prior statement of a witness made contemporaneously with the fact or before a competent authority may be proved to corroborate his present testimony.

When it applies

• A complaint lodged by a victim before the police shortly after the incident may be proved to corroborate the victim's testimony at trial.
• A statement made by a witness before a magistrate during investigation, consistent with his court testimony, may be proved to corroborate that testimony.

Derived from IEA s.157.