The Supreme Court has acquitted a man who served 22 years in prison after being convicted of murder based entirely on questionable eyewitness testimony. Setting aside the conviction on Tuesday, the apex court ruled that the prosecution had failed to establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Arjun Jani, also known as Tuntun, was initially accused of bludgeoning three women to death. However, the trial court convicted him in relation to only one of the fatalities. After the Odisha High Court rejected his appeal and refused to grant relief, Jani approached the Supreme Court.
A bench comprising Justice J. B. Pardiwala and Justice K. Vinod Chandran determined that the sole eyewitness account supporting the conviction was shaky and highly improbable. While acknowledging that a conviction may legally rely on a single witness, the bench emphasized that such testimony must be fully credible, consistent with broader circumstances, and capable of instilling total confidence in the court.
Flawed Investigation And Police Lapses
The court highlighted grave irregularities during the initial investigation, noting that law enforcement officers picked up Jani on mere suspicion. The bench observed that police subsequently employed third-degree methods to force a confession, which remained legally inadmissible.
Criticism Of Lower Judicial Decisions
The apex court expressed strong disapproval of the lower courts’ handling of the proceedings. The justices noted that the trial court failed to properly assess the evidence, while the High Court acted as a passive observer focused on case disposals. The bench remarked that these combined judicial failures resulted in 22 years being erased from an individual’s life without reliable evidence.
Orders For Rehabilitation
Overturning the previous judgments and granting a complete acquittal, the Supreme Court directed the District Legal Services Authority in Koraput, alongside the local district administration, to facilitate Jani’s resettlement and rehabilitation.
