Supreme Court Acquits Man in High-Profile Murder Case Due to Flawed Trial

The Supreme Court acquitted Dashwanth, who was on death row for the sexual assault and murder of a seven-year-old girl in 2017, citing a flawed trial process. The court highlighted significant lapses, including the failure of the prosecution to prove the accused's guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

The Supreme Court has overturned the conviction of Dashwanth, initially sentenced to death for the 2017 rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl. The court labeled the trial as 'lopsided' and criticized the police for treating him as a 'scapegoat.'

In a decisive verdict, Justices Vikram Nath, Sanjay Karol, and Sandeep Mehta determined that the prosecution failed to present conclusive evidence linking Dashwanth to the crime. A key failing was the absence of a defense lawyer for Dashwanth at crucial stages of the trial, which negated his right to a fair defense.

The bench remarked on the inadequate handling of evidence, including the dubious use of CCTV footage and inconsistencies in the case presented by the prosecution. As a result, Dashwanth's conviction has been annulled, and he is to be released immediately unless entangled in other legal issues.