Breaking SUPREME COURT REAFFIRMS PUBLIC DOMAIN PROTECTION FOR DIGITAL LAWS
New Delhi · Sunday, 20 September 2026 9888666310 | [email protected]
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Supreme Court of India 2017-04-19 dismissed

Machindra vs Sajjan Galpha Rankhamb & Ors

Bench: 2 — Pinaki Chandra Ghose

In Brief

A father appealed the High Court's reversal of his sons' murder conviction under IPC Section 302 read with Section 34. The trial court had convicted both men based on eye-witness testimony and recovered weapons. The Supreme Court upheld the acquittal, holding that substantial and actual doubts existed regarding guilt: eye-witness evidence was contradictory and the witnesses were interested parties; key witnesses were not examined; there was unexplained delay in lodging the complaint; and the medical evidence lacked clear opinion on whether the accused inflicted the fatal injuries. Where such substantial doubts arise, the accused has a right to the benefit of doubt and acquittal. The appeal was dismissed.

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Criminal Law Evidence Murder Common Intention Burden of Proof Medical Evidence Eye-Witness Testimony

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