In Brief
A man was convicted of murdering another in a street altercation during a village festival. The trial and high court upheld convictions under IPC Sections 302 (murder) and 324 (voluntary hurt) based primarily on eyewitness testimony. However, the Supreme Court found critical gaps: the accused was also injured but the prosecution never examined his medical records or treating doctor; the alleged motive (a prior quarrel) was weakly established; and evidence showed both men fought with wooden logs, with the deceased hitting the accused first. The Court emphasized that suppression of the accused's injuries by police investigators fatally undermines prosecution credibility. Setting aside the convictions, the Court acquitted the appellant, ruling the prosecution had failed to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
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