In Brief
In a politically-motivated clash between BJP and CPM sympathisers near Rosy School, Chozhiyamkod in September 2005, the appellant Mani fatally stabbed a member of the opposing group. The trial court convicted him and three others for murder with common intention, but the High Court acquitted the other three of the murder charge. The Supreme Court upheld the acquittal of the other three, finding no evidence of prior common intention to kill. It modified Mani's conviction from murder (Section 302) to culpable homicide (Section 304 Part I), finding the stabbing was a spontaneous act in heat of passion without intention to cause death. Given that Mani had already served over seven years in prison, his sentence was reduced to time served while maintaining the fine of Rs. 20,000.
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