In Brief
P. Eknath appealed against a High Court judgment that acquitted Yerraballi Amaranatha Reddy @ Babu Reddy of charges for the double murder of a 50-year-old man and his 12-year-old daughter, and attempted murder of two others in their home in September 2005. The Supreme Court reversed the High Court's acquittal, finding it perverse. The Court held that the trial court's conviction was well-founded, based on credible eyewitness testimony from injured witnesses, consistent autopsy findings showing sharp-edged weapon injuries, recovery of a blood-stained sickle at the accused's instance, the accused's motive (unpaid loan), and a dying declaration. The High Court had selectively ignored crucial evidence and relied on mere theoretical possibilities without factual support to acquit the accused.
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