In Brief
The widow of a murder witness sought transfer of two criminal cases from Hosur to Salem, Tamil Nadu, alleging that the accused—a former MLA with significant local influence—had intimidated witnesses into silence or hostility. The Court found that 16 of 21 witnesses in one case and 13 of 19 in another had turned hostile, including official witnesses. State affidavits confirmed the accused maintained an iron grip over 15 villages. Balancing fairness against trial delay, the Court held that transfer was necessary to ensure justice appears to be done, relying on the principle that witness tampering and local influence undermine the trial's integrity, even at an advanced stage. Both cases were transferred to Salem."
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