In Brief
The appellant-brother of the murdered deceased and the State of Uttar Pradesh appealed against the High Court's acquittal of three accused charged with murder under Sections 302 and 120B IPC. The victim was shot dead allegedly by three accused near a flour mill on 17 November 1992. The Supreme Court affirmed the acquittal, finding material inconsistencies between eyewitness accounts regarding whether there was a scuffle, an unexplained fourth firearm injury inconsistent with the oral evidence, questionable presence of witnesses, and significant investigative lapses (non-recovery of cartridge empties and weapons). The combined defects created reasonable doubt and did not warrant interference with the High Court's acquittal order.
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