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2026 Supreme(Mad) 1825
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
N.Anand Venkatesh, P.Dhanabal, JJ.
Navaneethakrishnan - Appellant
Versus
The Inspector of Police, Thalaiyuthu Police Station - Respondent
Crl. A(MD)No.1037 of 2023
Decided On : 18-03-2026
For the Appellant : Mr.Kathirvelu Senior Counsel for Mr.K. Prabhu
For the Respondent: Mr.A.Thiruvadi Kumar Additional Public Prosecutor
The court upheld the conviction for murder, affirming that eyewitness testimony can substantiate guilt even in the absence of corroborative evidence regarding motive.
Headnote:(A) Code of Criminal Procedure - Section 372 - Indian Penal Code - Sections 341, 294(b), and 302 - Criminal appeal against conviction - The appellant, accused of murdering Pooranavalli, appealed against conviction on grounds of insufficient motive and the credibility of eyewitnesses. The Court upheld the conviction noting that the prosecution proved the case beyond reasonable doubt through credible eyewitness testimony and exhibited evidence correlating injuries. The Court dismissed claims of provocation as the evidence did not support such a defense. (Paras 1, 3, 15, 26, 32)
(B) Eyewitness Testimony - The appellate court found the eyewitness accounts of the sons of the deceased credible despite challenges regarding their relationship to the victim, emphasizing that inconsistencies do not necessarily undermine their testimony. (Paras 18, 20, 25)
(C) Evaluating Motive - The argument regarding lack of motive was rejected, noting that even absent Usha's testimony, the psychological impact of the sister's suicide on the accused sufficed to establish motive. (Paras 24, 25)
JUDGMENT :
N.ANAND VENKATESH, J.
The sole accused has assailed the judgment of the learned Sesions Judge, Mahalir Neethimandram, Tirunelveli, in S.C.No.780 of 2017, dated 27.02.2023, wherein the accused has been convicted and sentenced in the following manner.
| Provision under which convicted | Sentence |
| Sec. 341 of IPC | One month rigorous imprisonment. |
| Sec. 302 of IPC | Life imprisonment and fine of Rs. 10,000/-, in default to undergo 6 months simple imprisonment. |
2. The case of the prosecution is that the deceased Pooranavalli had converted herself into a Christian and she along with her daughter Usha were participating in the prayer meetings conducted by one Joshua Immanuvel Raja. The said Usha got acquaintance with the sister of the accused, namely Anushya. The said Usha and Anushya are said to have attended the prayer meetings conducted by Pastor Joshua Immanuvel Raja. The said Joshua Immanuvel Raja is said to have sexually assaulted the said Anushya and Usha and had also cheated both of them by getting jewellery from them. Hence, the said Anushya gave a complaint to the police against the pastor. This issue became sensational and it was published in the newspaper and media and the said Anushya, not able to take the humiliation, committed suicide.
3. The further case of the prosecution is that the accused developed a motive to the effect that the deceased Pooranavalli, was responsible for the said Anushya ending her life and hence, on 28.05.2017 at about 10.50 hours, when the deceased completed the prayer meeting and was walking on the road, the accused person is said to have waylaid the deceased and attacked her with an aruval (MO1) and caused cut injuries as a result of which the said Pooranavalli died.
4. PW1, who is the son of the deceased and who is an eyewitness to the incident, gave a complaint (Ex.P1) and on receipt of the same, an FIR came to be registered in Crime No.145 of 2017 (Ex.P18). The printed FIR was handed over to the Judicial Magistrate No.3, Tirunelveli, on 28.05.2017 at about 13.00 hours.
5. PW14 took up the investigation and went to the scene of occurrence and prepared the observation mahazar (Ex.P5) and the rough sketch (Ex.P19). He also recovered the material objects under athatchi (Ex.A6) in the presence of witnesses. He proceeded further to the Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital and conducted the inquest in the presence of panchayatdars between 15.00 hours and 17.00 hours and prepared the inquest report (Ex.P20). The investigation officer had sent the body of the deceased through PW12 for postmortem and PW8 conducted the postmortem and the postmortem report was marked as Ex.P8 and the following injuries were recorded:
“THE FOLLOWING ANTE-MORTEM INJURIES WERE NOTED:
1.An oblique, gaping, heavy cut injury of size 8 × 3 cm × dura matter deep is seen over the right parietal region. It cuts underlying scalp and skull bone.
2.An oblique, gaping cut injury of size 5 × 1 × 1 cm is seen on the right side of the occipital region, lying 5 cm behind the right ear. It cuts underlying scalp.
3.An oblique, gaping cut injury of size 6 × 2 × 1 cm lies 5 cm below Injury No. 2. It cuts the underlying soft tissues.
4.A scratch abrasion of length 5 cm lies 1 cm below Injury No. 3.
5.A horizontal, heavy cut injury of size 4 × 1 × 1 cm lies 1 cm below and in front of Injury No. 3, on the right side of the neck. It cuts the underlying soft tissues. 6.A horizontal, gaping, heavy cut injury of size 10 × 3 × 3–5 cm is seen on the lower part of the right side of the neck, lying 3 cm below Injury No. 5. The depth is greater at the anterior end. It cuts underlying soft tissues, vessels, nerves, the 3rd cervical vertebra, and the spinal cord.
7.A horizontal, gaping, heavy cut injury of size 7 × 1 × 1–3 cm lies on the upper part of the right side of the back, 3 cm below Injury No. 6. It cuts underlying soft tissues and has a tail of size 4 cm in its medial end.
8.A horizontal, gaping, heavy cut injury of size 8 × 1 × 1–3 cm lies on the back
