In Brief
A man convicted of murder (Section 302 IPC), rape (Section 376(2)(f)), and wrongful confinement (Section 342) under circumstantial evidence was awarded death sentence. On appeal, the Supreme Court upheld the conviction based on an unbroken chain of incriminating circumstances (the victim's body found in his house, his lies to her mother, recovered clothing, DNA evidence). However, it held the case did not qualify as 'rarest of rare' for capital punishment. The Court commuted the death sentence to life imprisonment capped at 20 years minimum, emphasizing that death sentence cases require reasoned orders and that Special Leave Petitions cannot be dismissed in limine without explaining the sentencing decision.
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.