In Brief
A man was fatally assaulted in a public place on 5 July 2011. Three accused were charged with murder under Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC (common intention). The trial court convicted one and acquitted two based partly on medical evidence. The High Court reversed both acquittals after reviewing eyewitness accounts. The Supreme Court upheld the convictions, holding: (1) the initial police phone note was an incomplete intimation, not a valid FIR; the formal FIR recorded later was proper; (2) credible, consistent eyewitnesses who saw all three accused participate in the attack and chase should not be discounted merely because medical evidence showed no injuries from their blows; (3) common intention can be inferred from simultaneous presence, active participation, coordinated flight—roles need not be identical; (4) the trial court's reasoning was irrational and perverted. Appeals dismissed.
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