MUNIYELLAPPA vs STATE OF KARNATAKA — Crl.A. No. 1165/2003

Case Summary: Muniyellappa v. State of Karnataka (Crl.A. No. 1165/2003) The Supreme Court allowed the appeal on 23 March 2004, setting aside the High Court's conviction and restoring the trial court's acquittal. The appellant was originally charged under Section 302 IPC, acquitted by the trial court, but the High Court reversed this and convicted him under Section 304-II IPC with five years imprisonment and Rs. 1,000 fine. The Court found insufficient circumstantial evidence—the sole eyewitness turned hostile, and mere motive alone cannot sustain conviction without a complete chain of incriminating circumstances. The appellant was directed to be released forthwith unless required in another case. This case analysis is maintained by casestatus.in based on publicly available court records.