The Supreme Court of India delivered a landmark 22-Year Murder Acquittal by freeing an Odisha man who spent over two decades in prison for a murder the prosecution failed to prove. The Court ruled that the conviction relied on weak and highly improbable eyewitness testimony. It also criticized investigators and courts for procedural failures that denied the accused a fair trial.
Supreme Court Finds Trial Evidence Unreliable
A Division Bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran set aside the conviction of Arjun Jani under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The Bench observed that investigators detained him based on suspicion and relied on an inadmissible confession allegedly obtained through coercion. Moreover, it said the trial and appellate courts failed to examine the evidence carefully before convicting him.
Eyewitness Testimony Failed to Inspire Confidence
The case arose from the murder of three women—Kamala, Sonbari, and Ratanai—in Koraput, Odisha. However, the prosecution mainly relied on one eyewitness. She claimed she saw Jani attack Ratanai through a gap in her door at around 1:00 AM.
However, the witness did not immediately report the deaths of the other two women. Instead, she disclosed details about all three murders only the next morning. Therefore, the Supreme Court found her testimony inconsistent and unreliable.
High Court Dismissed Appeal Without Examining Merits
Jani appealed before the Orissa High Court after a delay of 3,157 days. However, the High Court refused to condone the delay and dismissed the appeal without considering its merits. At that point, Jani had already spent more than 12 years in prison.
Later, the Supreme Court condoned a further delay of 3,703 days in filing the appeal. It described the High Court’s approach as disturbing and emphasized that courts should adopt a practical and compassionate approach when dealing with jail appeals. The Court also granted Jani interim bail and directed the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Koraput, to assist him with a remission application.
Supreme Court Orders Complete Exoneration
After reviewing the entire trial record, the Supreme Court concluded that the prosecution had failed to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Consequently, the Bench quashed the judgments of both the trial court and the High Court. It acquitted Arjun Jani of all charges under Section 302 IPC and discharged him from his bail obligations, marking a significant 22-Year Murder Acquittal.
