In Brief
The Supreme Court dismissed a review petition challenging the death sentence of Manoharan for the brutal rape, attempted poisoning, and drowning murder of two schoolchildren aged 10 and 7. The Court held that the confessional statement was voluntarily made with statutory safeguards fully complied with, and though later retracted, was corroborated by extensive medical, forensic, and DNA evidence. Medical findings confirmed vaginal penetration and rape; the accused's pubic hair matched DNA found on the victim's underwear; and injuries on his genitals supported the prosecution's case. The Court found no glaring error warranting review and confirmed the crime fell squarely within the 'rarest of rare' category—premeditated, meticulously executed, with multiple opportunities to desist—thus warranting the death penalty."
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