In Brief
Two political party members clashed on 17 July 2002, after which 16 accused members of the opposing party armed with weapons attacked the deceased's residence on 18 July. The trial court convicted five accused (A-2, A-4, A-5, A-8, A-9) but acquitted A-10 to A-13 due to weak eyewitness identifications and dubious recoveries. The High Court reversed the acquittal of A-10 to A-13. The Supreme Court held that acquittals carry enhanced presumptions and can only be reversed if the trial court's view is not reasonably possible. Allowing the appeals of A-10 to A-13, the Court restored acquittals, finding contradictory eyewitness testimony, delays in recording statements, unreliable recoveries, and insufficient proof of common object under Section 149 IPC. The convictions of A-2, A-4, A-5, A-8, A-9 were upheld.
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