BABU @ KARITHIKEYAN Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is an appeal filed by the accused in SC No.231/2009 of the Sessions Court, Palakkad by which he was convicted and sentenced to suffer imprisonment for life and to pay a fine of Rs. 1 lakh, on failure of which to suffer imprisonment for one year.

(2.) Prosecution alleged that a person named Sanal was murdered by the accused on 25/10/2008 at about 5.30 p.m. by inflicting 16 cut injuries with a chopper. The motive for the crime, according to the prosecution, was the enmity accused had against Sanal, who was having an affair with his sister and eloped together. In order to prove the aforesaid allegation, prosecution examined PW1 to PW33 and placed reliance upon Exts.P1 to P52. Other than marking a few contradictions, no other evidence was adduced by the defence.

(3.) The learned counsel for the appellant argued that the evidence adduced by the prosecution was not enough to implicate the accused and the Court below committed serious error in convicting the accused. The counsel also placed reliance upon the following judgments :-