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G. R. SWAMINATHAN, R. POORNIMA
Vendaraja – Appellant
Versus
State Rep. by the Inspector of Police – Respondent
JUDGMENT
G.R. Swaminathan, J.—This appeal is directed against the Judgment dated 18.12.2021 made in S.C. No.73 of 2016 on the file of the Fast Track Mahila Court, Virudhunagar District, Srivilliputhur. By the impugned Judgment, the appellant was found guilty of the offences under Sections 302 of IPC & 498-A of IPC. The sentence particulars are as follows:—
| Section | Conviction and Sentence |
| 302 IPC | Life Imprisonment & pay a fine of Rs.5,000/-, in default to undergo 6 months Simple Imprisonment |
| 498-A IPC | 3 years Rigorous Imprisonment and pay a fine of Rs.1,000/- in default to undergo 1 month Simple Imprisonment |
2. The case of the prosecution is as follows:-
Kaleeswari/deceased was the wife of the appellant/accused. According to the defacto complainant/father of the deceased, the accused would often quarrel with the deceased for some reason or the other. He is said to have suspected her fidelity. Three months prior to the occurrence, the gold chain weighing four sovereigns went missing. The accused suspected that the deceased had given the chain to someone. He is even said to have assaulted her. On 25.08.2015, the child born to the accused and the deceased die
Murder and cruelty – There must be legally acceptable evidence to connect accused with crime.
The prosecution must establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt, with legally acceptable evidence linking the accused to the crime; marital conflict alone does not imply culpability.
The prosecution must prove charges beyond reasonable doubt; mere suspicion is insufficient for conviction.
The court established that circumstantial evidence and extrajudicial confessions can suffice for conviction when they form a complete chain pointing to the accused's guilt.
In circumstantial evidence cases, all links must cohesively establish guilt; doubts in identification and admissibility of evidence impact conviction validity.
A conviction based on circumstantial evidence requires an unbroken chain of evidence, and the prosecution must prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt, not merely suggest the accused may be guilty.
The main legal point established in the judgment is the importance of reliable and convincing evidence in proving the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt.
The court emphasized that convictions under IPC Sections 306 and 498A require proof of abetment or cruelty, upheld by consistent and reliable evidence, which was lacking in this case.
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