Benefit of doubt If the evidence really raises a reasonable doubt in the mind of the Court regarding the participation in the crime by the first respondent, that doubt must be resolved in his favour. In this context, it is pertinent to quote the following observations in the decision in Himachal Pradesh Administration v. Om Prakash, (1972) 1 SCC 249 : “The benefit of doubt to which the accused is entitled is reasonable doubt¾the doubt which rational thinking men will reasonably, honestly and conscientiously entertain and not the doubt of a timid mind which fights shy¾though unwittingly it may be¾or is afraid of the logical consequences, if that benefit was not given ; or as one great Judge said it is not the doubt of a vacillating mind that has not the moral courage to decide but shelters itself in a vain an idle skepticism.” (State of U.P. v. Iftikhar Khan, (1973) 1 SCC 512 (523)