Vinesh Shetty v. the State of Karnataka
Case brief
What is this about?
Murder (S.302 IPC) with unlawful assembly, rioting armed with deadly weapons, wrongful restraint and conspiracy (Ss.143, 147, 148, 341, 120B, 109 r/w 149 IPC); supari killing; double murder of Venugopal Nayak and Santhosh Shetty on 05.03.2003 at Mudipu-Mulur Road; split-up trial against absconding accused; credibility of chance witnesses P.W.4 and P.W.16; contradictory findings on identical evidence in main trial S.C.No.12/2004 versus split-up trial S.C.No.101/2013; benefit of doubt to co-accused acquitted on 22.04.2006; dock identification without Test Identification Parade worthless; Ex.D1-D3 contradictions and omissions; absence of ballistic report and failure to exhibit seized revolver; Mumbai Arms Act recovery (LAC No.20/2007) irrelevant; appeal under S.374(2) Cr.P.C allowed and conviction set aside; High Court of Karnataka, CRL.A No.219 of 2020, decided 07.01.2026, coram H.P.Sandesh and Venkatesh Naik T, JJ.