2026 INSC 417 REPORTABLE IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1864 OF 2024 [Arising out of SLP (Crl.) No. 3788 of 2022]

ANAND JAKKAPPA PUJARI @GADDADAR …APPELLANT VERSUS THE STATE OF KARNATAKA …RESPONDENT WITH CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 2180 OF 2026 [Arising out of SLP (Crl.) No. 15426 of 2025]

MAHADEV SIDRAM HULLOLLI …APPELLANT VERSUS THE STATE OF KARNATAKA …RESPONDENT

J U D G M E N T

CHANDRESH Date: 2026.04.27 Reason:

J.B. PARDIWALA, J.

For the convenience of exposition, this judgment is divided into the following parts:-

INDEX I. CASE OF THE PROSECUTION ................................................... 2 II. IMPUGNED JUDGMENT .......................................................... 12 III. SUBMISSIONS ON BEHALF OF APPELLANTS ......................... 19 IV. SUBMISSIONS ON BEHALF OF THE RESPONDENT ................ 22 V. ISSUE FOR CONSIDERATION ................................................. 23 VI. ANALYSIS ............................................................................. 23 A. Last seen together with the deceased ................................................. 32 B. Discovery at the instance of the accused-appellants ...........