In Brief
An accused was convicted of murder and causing hurt following a street brawl at a village festival. The prosecution alleged he attacked a man (Sakthivel) with a wooden log, causing death. The Supreme Court held that the conviction must be set aside because: (1) the prosecution failed to produce or examine the accused's medical records despite knowing he was injured during the incident; (2) eyewitness evidence suggested the deceased also wielded a weapon and struck the accused's head; (3) police suppressed facts and irregularly handled the investigation; and (4) the alleged motive was not properly established. The Court held that absence of the accused's medical evidence, combined with an alternative narrative from credible witnesses, meant the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. The accused was acquitted of all charges.
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