Direct Evidence - The Legal Chamber

Supreme Court Acquits Accused in Murder Case, Cites Lack of Evidence and Hostile Witnesses

7Nov

By The Legal ChamberNo Comments

Supreme Court

Supreme Court Acquits Accused in Murder Case, Cites Lack of Evidence and Hostile Witnesses

The Supreme Court acquitted the accused, holding that the prosecution failed to prove guilt based on circumstantial evidence. Key eyewitnesses turned hostile and their testimonies did not establish kidnapping or the 'last seen' theory. The Court emphasized that the foundational principles for convicting on circumstantial evidence were not satisfied, rendering the conviction unsustainable. Facts Of The Case: The case concerns the kidnapping and murder of Bhoominadhan, an auto-rickshaw driver from Nellore. The prosecution's case was that on the evening of 26th March 2016, the appellant-accused, Thammineni Bhaskar (A-1), along with his associates, forcibly dragged the deceased from his auto-rickshaw near a banyan tree in Talpagiri Colony and kidnapped him. The incident was allegedly witness...

Supreme Court Acquits Village Assistant: Merely Accepting Bribe Isn’t Enough

The Supreme Court upheld the conviction of the main accused under Sections 7 and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as demand and acceptance of illegal gratification were proven. However, the conviction of the co-accused was set aside due to the absence of a specific charge of abetment and lack of evidence proving his connivance or independent demand for the bribe. Facts Of The Case: The case involved two government officials, A. Karunanithi (A-1), the Village Administrative Officer, and P. Karunanithi (A-2), the Village Assistant. The complainant approached A-1 to obtain a necessary community certificate for a government job. On two separate occasions, A-1 demanded a bribe of Rs. 500 from the complainant to process the application. The complainant subsequently lodged a formal...

No Set Formula for Human Reaction: Supreme Court Backs Parents Who Fled Fire That Killed Kids

The Supreme Court ruled that the High Court erred in its appreciation of evidence, particularly witness testimony and circumstantial evidence. It upheld the trial court's conviction, establishing that the prosecution successfully proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt and that witness conduct cannot be judged by a uniform standard of reaction. Facts Of The Case: The case stems from a tragic incident on the intervening night of April 1-2, 1992, in Khunti, where the informant, Santosh Kumar Singh, his wife, and their two infant daughters were asleep. The prosecution's case was that accused persons Nilu Ganjhu and Md. Mahboob Ansari, motivated by a business rivalry with the informant over his bus agency operation, threatened him weeks prior. That night, an explosive substance was used, c...