In Brief
The State challenged the High Court's acquittal of Patchimala Vigneswarudu of murder charges in the death of his wife Pachimala Ganga. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence: the accused had strained marital relations with the victim, took her to a late-night movie on 5 August 2001, was seen returning alone after midnight, and subsequently absconded. The victim's body was found the next morning with ligature marks around the neck indicating homicidal strangulation. The Supreme Court held that the complete chain of circumstances—motive, opportunity, medical evidence of homicidal death, and flight—irresistibly pointed to the accused's guilt. The High Court erred in applying irrelevant considerations. The conviction was restored.
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