In a dramatic turn, the Supreme Court of India on Wednesday set aside the conviction of Thammineni Bhaskar, accused in the 2016 Nellore murder case. The bench, led by Justice Pankaj Mithal and Justice Prasanna B. Varale, noted that both the trial court and the Andhra Pradesh High Court had misread evidence while upholding his guilt.
Background
The case goes back to March 2016, when an auto driver named Bhoominadhan was found dead near Sarvepalli Reservoir in Nellore district. His family alleged that Bhaskar, who also ran an auto business and had prior disputes with them, kidnapped and killed Bhoominadhan.
Earlier that month, Bhoominadhan’s mother had filed a complaint against Bhaskar and his associates for passing obscene remarks. A counter-complaint was also filed by Bhaskar, setting the stage for hostility.
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On March 26, Bhoominadhan allegedly disappeared after being dragged into an auto near a banyan tree in Talpagiri Colony. His body, bearing multiple injuries, was discovered the following day. Police filed charges under kidnapping and murder, and the trial eventually led to Bhaskar being sentenced to life imprisonment. The High Court later confirmed this decision.
Court’s Observations
During the hearing, the Supreme Court carefully examined the testimonies of two key witnesses, referred to as PW-5 and PW-6. While their early police statements suggested they had seen Bhoominadhan being dragged into an auto, their testimony in court told a different story. They merely admitted to noticing some “galata” (commotion) under the banyan tree, but did not identify anyone.
“The prosecution has miserably failed to prove the commission of the offence at the hands of A-1,” the bench remarked. The judges added that there was no solid proof that Bhaskar was last seen with the deceased. The alleged motive, rooted in earlier animosity, could not on its own establish guilt.
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The Court stressed the importance of the five “golden principles” that govern circumstantial evidence, observing that none were satisfied in this case. “In the absence of credible last seen evidence or kidnapping proof, conviction cannot be sustained,” the bench observed.
Decision
Concluding that both the trial court and High Court had erred, the Supreme Court acquitted Bhaskar of all charges under Sections 302 (murder), 364 (kidnapping), and 201 (destruction of evidence) of the IPC. The Court ordered his immediate release, provided he is not wanted in any other case.
With this judgment, a nine-year-old criminal case that had gripped Nellore has finally reached closure-though many in the community may still debate whether justice was truly done.
Case Title: Thammineni Bhaskar v. State of Andhra Pradesh
Citation: 2025 INSC 1124
Case Number: Criminal Appeal No. 4623 of 2024
Date of Judgment: September 17, 2025
