In Brief
Ajikumar and four co-accused were convicted of murdering two persons (Sudarsanan and Santhosh) during an unlawful assembly and assault in 1992. On appeal, the Supreme Court found that while medical evidence showed the victims suffered brutal injuries, the prosecution's case for murder rested largely on uncorroborated testimony from a single eyewitness (PW-1) that was contradicted by other witnesses. The Court held that grave suspicion cannot substitute for proof and conviction requires reliable evidence. It set aside the murder convictions but upheld convictions for attempted murder under Section 307 r/w Section 149 IPC for the assault on the complainant. Having spent nearly 11 years in custody, the appellants were ordered released on time served.
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