In Brief
This criminal appeal concerns the murder of a sand merchant during a recovery attempt in 1986. The Trial Court and High Court convicted all four accused under Sections 302/34 and 392/397 IPC, sentencing them to life imprisonment. On appeal, the Supreme Court upheld the convictions of Accused Nos. 1 and 2, whose role was striking the victim with a knife. However, it acquitted Accused No. 3, finding insufficient evidence that his role in restraining the complainant amounted to shared intention to cause death. Accused No. 4's appeal abated due to his death. Eyewitness evidence proved reliable despite minor discrepancies; the serious knife wounds corroborated the prosecution narrative."
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