In Brief
The appellant was convicted of murder under Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC by the trial court and the conviction was upheld by the High Court. The Supreme Court dismissed his appeal. The case rested on circumstantial evidence: the appellant had a motive (his prior crop theft had been exposed by the victim and he was beaten as a result), he had previously threatened the victim with a sickle, he was found near the victim's dead body shortly after the murder, and he fled upon being questioned. The appellant failed to explain his presence or conduct. The Court found this chain of circumstances conclusively proved his guilt and that of his co-accused under the conspiracy provision."
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