In a dramatic turn, the Supreme Court has set aside the conviction of three individuals accused in a gruesome murder case in Karnataka. The matter, which began with allegations of unpaid debt and spiraled into a charge of conspiracy and homicide, was finally resolved on September 22, 2025, when the top court gave the benefit of doubt to the accused. The verdict came from a bench of Justice K. Vinod Chandran and Justice K.V. Viswanathan.
Background
The case dates back to 2006 when a policeman was found dead in the house of a colleague's wife. According to the prosecution, the victim had lent ₹1 lakh to another policeman (A1). When repayment was delayed, tensions escalated. It was alleged that A1's wife (A2), along with her brother and brother-in-law (A3 and A4), lured the victim to her house under the pretext of repayment.
On the night of March 10, 2006, the victim was attacked with chili powder and then hacked to death with choppers. The next morning, A2 herself went to the police station and reportedly confessed. Police recovered the body from her house and seized weapons.
The trial court convicted A2 to A4 for murder under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced them to life imprisonment. The Karnataka High Court upheld the decision.
Court's Observations
The Supreme Court, however, took a different view. Justice K. Vinod Chandran, writing for the bench, carefully examined the evidence.
The court noted that almost all key prosecution witnesses including neighbours and even the victim's wife either turned hostile or contradicted earlier statements. Even the alleged motive of unpaid debt was shaky.
"We cannot find a motive in this case; of the financial transaction having led to the crime," the bench observed.
On the supposed confessions by A2, the judges stressed that statements made inside a police station cannot be relied upon as valid extra-judicial confessions.
"Section 25 of the Evidence Act is clear - confessions to a police officer are inadmissible," the bench pointed out.
Recovery of a chopper at the instance of A4 also failed to convince the udges. The court said the chain of evidence was incomplete and did not establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Importantly, the Judges reminded that even if a body is found in someone’s house, that alone does not create an automatic presumption of guilt unless corroborated with credible evidence.
Decision
Finally, the bench concluded that the prosecution's case was riddled with contradictions, unreliable witnesses, and weak circumstantial links.
"The motive projected and the crime itself has not at all been proved," the court said, adding that suspicion cannot substitute proof.
Accordingly, the Supreme Court acquitted all the accused. The order directed that if they were in custody, they must be released immediately unless required in another case. If out on bail, their bail bonds stand cancelled.
With this, a nearly two-decade-old case, which once shook the police fraternity in Karnataka, has reached its closure at the country's highest court.
Case Title: Nagamma @ Nagarathna & Ors. v. State of Karnataka
Case Number: Criminal Appeal No. 425 of 2014