In Brief
Two appellants, Mihir and Prabhat Gope, were convicted of murder and assault arising from a land dispute where two men died and others were injured. The appellants' father Manohar inflicted fatal blows with an iron rod. The Supreme Court found the eye-witness accounts inconsistent and exaggerated regarding the appellants' specific roles. The number of injuries (three at most) did not match the number of strikes by all assailants. Medical evidence showed injuries to non-fatal victims were simple. The Court acquitted the appellants of murder, attempted murder, wrongful confinement, and grievous hurt, but convicted them of voluntarily causing hurt under Section 324 IPC, imposing three years rigorous imprisonment each.
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.