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Journalism of Courage
In a case relating to the alleged murder of a pregnant woman by her husband, the Supreme Court has held that an accused cannot be convicted of murder merely if the victim has died an unnatural death.
“The mere fact that the deceased had died an unnatural death cannot by itself be circumstantial evidence against the accused, particularly when Section 498-A has been held to be inapplicable,” the Bench comprising Justice Arijit Pasayat and Justice S H Kapadia observed when setting aside the life imprisonment awarded to the accused. Manjunath Chennabasapa Madalli was convicted under Section 498-A (dowry harassment) and 302 (murder) by the sessions court for allegedly killing his wife Sumithra at her parents’ home in Karnataka. The conviction was based on various circumstantial evidence.
