Dayanidhi v. Dhanalakshmi
Case brief
What is this about?
Crl.A.No.500 of 2019, Madras High Court, decided 19-02-2026 by P. Velmurugan and M. Jothiraman JJ. (judgment by M. Jothiraman, J.). Appeal by Dayanidhi (PW1 / de facto complainant, brother of deceased Dinakaran) under Section 372 r/w 401(5) Cr.P.C. against acquittal dated 28.06.2012 in S.C.No.214 of 2010 (II Additional District and Sessions Court, Ranipet, arising from P.R.C.No.31 of 2009, charges under Sections 302 r/w 34 and 201 IPC) of Dhanalakshmi (A1/R1), Mallika (A2/R2) and Annamalai (A4/R4); appeal dismissed as abated against deceased R3 (Ravi) by order dated 12.02.2026. Prosecution story: Dinakaran last seen 13.09.2008 at A1's house (eyewitness PW5); dismembered male body found on railway track (Crime No.318 of 2008), man-missing FIR Crime No.1029 of 2008 under Section 174 Cr.P.C., alteration to Sections 301 and 201 IPC (Ex.P14), exhumation/inquest, skull/DNA/biology/serology examinations, second postmortem by PW19. Court upheld acquittal finding no perversity: motive unproved (PW1/PW2 contradiction; no witness to alleged immoral life), PW5 unreliable (ten-day silence, aunt Salama not examined, assault attributed to A1 alone), extrajudicial confessions Exs.P2/P3 police-recorded and inadmissible, recoveries M.Os.2-11 insignificant, autopsy Ex.P10 silent on antemortem/postmortem injuries. Search terms: confirmation of acquittal; de facto complainant appeal under Section 372 Cr.P.C.; extrajudicial confession inadmissible police-recorded; eyewitness credibility; Sections 302 r/w 34 and 201 IPC; benefit of doubt.