In Brief
Kalaimani and four others were convicted of murdering Thoppaiah, who was coming to a police station to report as per bail conditions. The victim was stabbed with sharp weapons (Aruvals) by the five accused. While two eyewitnesses turned hostile, three police officials (a traffic constable and two police personnel) witnessed the daytime incident in front of the police station and testified consistently. The autopsy confirmed homicidal death from stab injuries causing massive blood loss. The High Court affirmed the conviction but changed the charge from Section 302 read with Section 149 to Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC. The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, finding the eyewitness evidence credible and reliable despite the witnesses being police officials, and holding the prosecution had proved the charge beyond reasonable doubt."
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