Conviction Overturned Due to Inconsistencies in Eyewitness and Medical Evidence, Appellants Released
In a significant legal ruling, the Meghalaya High Court has acquitted three individuals who were previously convicted of murder under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The appellants, Shri Tngen Muruh and two others, were sentenced to life imprisonment by the Sessions Judge, West Jaintia Hills, Jowai, in a judgment delivered on August 4, 2023. However, on April 29, 2026, the High Court overturned the conviction citing inconsistencies between eyewitness testimony and medical evidence, along with a failure to establish the prosecution's case beyond reasonable doubt.
The case dates back to an FIR filed on November 16, 1991, alleging the murder of Shri Sada Muruh by five individuals from Lumkhudung village. The prosecution's case was built on the testimony of two eyewitnesses, who claimed to have seen the accused assault the victim, resulting in his death. However, the High Court found that the eyewitness accounts were at odds with medical evidence regarding the nature of injuries and the cause of death.
The judgment highlighted the absence of clarity on several crucial aspects, such as the time of death and the means by which the injuries were inflicted. The Court noted that the post-mortem report did not specify the time of death and failed to connect the injuries to any weapon allegedly used by the accused. Furthermore, there was no evidence to suggest that the injuries described in the medical report could have been caused by bare hands, as claimed by the prosecution.
The Court also addressed procedural lapses, including a two-day delay in police investigation and the non-examination of key witnesses listed in the FIR. These factors contributed to the Court's decision to acquit the appellants, granting them the benefit of doubt.
The defense successfully argued that the prosecution failed to present a coherent and reliable narrative, raising significant questions about the integrity of the evidence. The appellants' acquittal underscores the importance of establishing guilt beyond reasonable doubt in criminal proceedings and highlights the judiciary's role in safeguarding the rights of the accused.
The Meghalaya High Court's decision marks the end of a decades-long legal battle for the appellants, who are now free after years of uncertainty surrounding their conviction.
Bottom line:-
Criminal law - Conviction under Section 302 IPC - Prosecution must prove beyond doubt the cause of death, time of death, and the connection of injuries with the accused's actions. Contradictions between medical evidence and eyewitness testimony can render the prosecution case doubtful.
Statutory provision(s): Indian Penal Code, 1860 Section 302, Indian Evidence Act, 1872 Section 134, Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 Section 313
Shri. Tngen Muruh v. State of Meghalaya, (Meghalaya)(DB) : Law Finder Doc id # 2890939
