In a significant ruling on criminal identification and evidentiary standards, the Supreme Court of India acquitted a Sri Lankan refugee accused of links with the banned LTTE organisation, holding that the prosecution failed to prove he was the same person named in the 2015 terror conspiracy case.
The Court found that the conviction was built largely on “belated and improved testimonies” of witnesses and observed that there was no reliable material connecting the appellant, known officially as “Ranjan,” with the absconding accused “Sri.”
Background of the Case
The appellant, a Sri Lankan national living in Tamil Nadu as a registered non-camp refugee since 2009, was arrested in December 2021 in connection with FIR Crime No. 1 of 2015 registered by the Q Branch Police, Ramanathapuram.
According to the prosecution, several persons allegedly conspired to revive the banned Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The case alleged that one accused identified as “Sri” had supplied cyanide capsules and chemicals to another accused for smuggling into Sri Lanka.
Trial proceedings against other accused had already concluded years earlier. The present appellant was arrested after police claimed that “Sri” and “Ranjan” were the same person.
The trial court convicted him in July 2024 under provisions of the IPC, UAPA, Passport Act and Foreigners Act. The Madras High Court later upheld the conviction.
Court Questions Witness Credibility
A Bench of Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice Vijay Bishnoi closely examined the testimony of two prosecution witnesses who claimed that the appellant was also known as “Sri.”
The Court noted that these witnesses had never previously mentioned the name “Ranjan” during earlier investigations or trials.
“The belated introduction of this name, years after the alleged incident, renders their testimonies highly suspect,” the bench observed.
The judges also pointed out that no Test Identification Parade was conducted after the appellant’s arrest, despite identity being the central issue in the case.
Supreme Court Finds No Documentary Link
The Court further found that no official record - including the FIR, chargesheet or earlier police documents - connected the name “Ranjan” with the accused “Sri” before the appellant’s arrest in 2021.
It also relied on evidence showing that the appellant had openly lived in Trichy for years, was registered with local police as a refugee, and was even pursuing visa formalities with the Swiss Embassy to join his wife and son in Switzerland.
“A person who is an absconding accused in a serious UAPA matter would not dare to apply to a foreign embassy for a visa and seek a police clearance certificate,” the bench remarked while questioning the prosecution’s theory.
Court’s Decision
Allowing the appeal, the Supreme Court held that the prosecution failed to establish the identity of the appellant beyond reasonable doubt and that he had been falsely implicated.
“It is clearly a case where the appellant has been falsely implicated by being assigned the identity of another person,” the Court said.
The Court set aside both the trial court and High Court judgments, acquitted the appellant of all charges, and directed that he be released from the Special Camp in Trichy immediately.
Case Details
Case Title: Sri v. State Rep. by the Inspector of Police, Q Branch, Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu
Case Number: Criminal Appeal No. 5141 of 2025
Judges: Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and Vijay Bishnoi
Decision Date: May 20, 2026
