A retracted confession is a statement made by an accused person before the trial begins, by which he / she admits to have committed the offence, but which he/she repudiate at the trial. A confession is said to be retracted only where the accused admits that he/she made the confession and then denies the truth to what is stated therein. There is no concrete distinction between a retracted confession and unretracted confession, both are equally admissible and may be taken into consideration against the accused though it may be that less weight would be attached to a retracted confession.

A retracted confession, if believed to be true, may form the basis of conviction but as a rule of caution it is unsafe to base a conviction even of the maker on a retracted confession alone without some independent corroboration. The corroboration must be in material particulars so as to satisfy the court that the confession, even though retracted, may be acted upon.

It is well settled that a person can be convicted on retracted confession alone, if it is found voluntary and true though as a matter of prudence some corroboration may be asked for. [Abdul Jalil & others vs State; 1985 BLD (HC) 137]

Retracted confession of an accused implicating a co-accused cannot be relied upon without corroboration in material particulars by independent evidence. [Ali Asgar vs State, 1986 BLD (HC) 436(c)]