In Brief
The appellant was convicted of murder (Section 302 IPC) with two co-accused for stabbing a man to death in 2005. The High Court upheld the conviction. The Supreme Court affirmed the conviction, holding that eyewitness testimony was credible despite minor discrepancies, and the delay in recording statements (2-3 days) was justified by communal riots. The Court rejected the defence that the killing was unpremeditated, finding the appellant carried a knife from the outset indicating prior intent. However, the Court permitted the appellant—after 14+ years imprisonment—to apply afresh for premature release under the remission policy applicable at conviction, requiring the State to pass a reasoned order within 3 months."
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