Court affirms life sentence for former engineering student in the murder of his classmate, emphasizing the reliability of the injured witness's testimony.
In a significant ruling, the Madras High Court has upheld the conviction and life sentence of Udayakumar, a former engineering student, for the murder of his classmate Sonali inside a classroom at Karur College of Engineering. The division bench, comprising Justices N. Anand Venkatesh and K.K. Ramakrishnan, delivered the judgment on June 15, 2026, affirming the trial court's decision.
The case revolved around the tragic events of August 30, 2016, when Udayakumar, armed with a wooden log, stormed into a classroom and fatally attacked Sonali, a third-year BE Civil Engineering student, in front of her peers. The attack, driven by personal animosity after Sonali ended their relationship, also left Assistant Professor PW1 injured when he attempted to intervene.
The prosecution's case heavily relied on the testimony of PW1, the injured witness, who identified Udayakumar as the assailant in court. The defense challenged the reliability of this identification, arguing that PW1 had no prior acquaintance with the accused and that no test identification parade was conducted. However, the court emphasized that the absence of a test identification parade did not undermine the credibility of PW1's testimony, especially given his status as an injured witness.
In its detailed judgment, the court highlighted the psychological aspects of memory, citing the Supreme Court's observations on how traumatic experiences can etch the memory of an assailant's face deeply. The bench noted that the vivid recollection of the attack by PW1, despite minor discrepancies in his testimony, was sufficient to uphold the conviction.
The court also expressed disappointment over the lack of support from other student witnesses, many of whom turned hostile. It criticized the student community's failure to uphold truth and justice, urging a reflection on the role of education in building character.
The judgment reaffirmed the trial court's sentencing, which included life imprisonment for murder under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code, along with additional sentences for criminal trespass, use of obscene language, causing hurt, and criminal intimidation. All sentences are to run concurrently.
The ruling underscores the judiciary's commitment to delivering justice in cases of gender-based violence and reinforces the importance of eyewitness testimony in securing convictions.
Bottom line:-
Criminal Law - Conviction based on eyewitness testimony and corroborative evidence - Injured witness identification in court upheld despite absence of test identification parade - Minor discrepancies in testimony not sufficient to discredit prosecution's case.
Statutory provision(s):
Indian Penal Code, 1860 Sections 449, 294(b), 324, 302, 506(II); Evidence Act, 1872; Criminal Procedure Code, Sections 161(3), 207, 209, 313(i)(b).
Udayakumar v. State, (Madras)(DB) : Law Finder Doc id # 2924711
