In Brief
A 19-year-old man (Guddu) was assaulted and killed with sword blows by multiple attackers on 15 January 1998. The appellant (Accused No.1, Pappi) was convicted of murder (Section 302 IPC) by the trial court, a conviction upheld by the High Court. The High Court acquitted three co-accused despite identical eye-witness testimony. The Supreme Court dismissed the appellant's appeal, holding that the acquittal of co-accused does not undermine direct, credible eye-witness evidence (from injured witness and independent witness) establishing the appellant's guilt. The appellant gave the first blow and continued assaulting the deceased, causing 67 injuries that resulted in death.
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