Life Sentence for Murder Modified; Accused Convicted Based on Circumstantial Evidence
In a significant ruling, the Karnataka High Court upheld the conviction of Rudresh @ Rudraiah for the murder of a 3½-year-old child under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The Division Bench, comprising Justices H.P. Sandesh and Venkatesh Naik T., confirmed the conviction based on a complete chain of circumstantial evidence, including motive, preparation, recovery of the body, and scientific evidence. The original sentence of life imprisonment until natural death imposed by the Sessions Court was modified to life imprisonment.
The case revolved around the tragic murder of a young boy, Sujay, whose body was found in a stream near Moolegadde Mutt, where Rudresh worked. The prosecution established that Rudresh had a motive rooted in hatred against the victim's family due to personal grievances. The preparation involved purchasing sleeping tablets, which were found to have been administered to the child before his drowning. The recovery of the child's body and corroboration through scientific evidence further supported the prosecution's case.
The High Court meticulously analyzed the evidence, including the testimonies of various witnesses and the forensic reports, which confirmed the presence of Clonazepam in the child's body. Despite arguments from the defense questioning the reliability of circumstantial evidence, the court concluded that the prosecution had successfully established a complete chain linking Rudresh to the crime.
The court also deliberated on the sentencing powers of the Sessions Court, emphasizing that life imprisonment without remission is a prerogative reserved for Constitutional Courts, namely the Supreme Court and High Courts. Consequently, the sentence was modified to life imprisonment, allowing for the possibility of remission.
The judgment highlights the court's reliance on established legal principles concerning circumstantial evidence, ensuring that the conviction rests on a solid foundation of incontrovertible facts. This decision not only serves justice for the victim's family but also reaffirms the judiciary's role in meticulously evaluating evidence in serious criminal cases.
Bottom Line:
Circumstantial Evidence - Murder of a 3½-year-old child - Conviction under Section 302 IPC upheld. Motive, preparation, recovery of body, and scientific evidence adequately established chain of events leading to the accused's conviction. Sentence modified from life imprisonment until natural death to life imprisonment.
Statutory provision(s): 302 IPC, 364 IPC, 27 Evidence Act, 207 CrPC, 428 CrPC
Rudresh @ Rudraiah v. State of Karnataka, (Karnataka)(DB) : Law Finder Doc id # 2843204
