In Brief
A victim of rape was attacked with acid by her alleged rapist and another man in 1998, suffering fatal burn injuries. The trial court convicted both accused under Section 302 IPC and imposed death sentence on one. The High Court acquitted them on technical grounds (delayed FIR and missing formal dying declaration). The Supreme Court found the delays fully explained by the victim's dire circumstances and held her written FIR with thumb impression, corroborated by witnesses, was a valid dying declaration. The conviction of the principal accused was reinstated but death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. The co-accused was acquitted for lack of motive. The judgment emphasized victim rights and criticized police and doctors for insensitivity in handling the case.">
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