RADHA KUMAR vs STATE OF BIHAR (NOW JHARKHAND) — Crl.A. No. 1480/2003

Summary: Crl.A. No. 1480/2003 - Radha Kumar v. State of Bihar (Now Jharkhand) Outcome: The Supreme Court allowed the appeal on July 14, 2004, setting aside Radha Kumar's conviction and 8-year sentence under Section 304 Part II IPC for firing shots that killed Salo Devi. The Court acquitted him and directed his immediate release. Reasoning: The Court found the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. Key witnesses who claimed to be eyewitnesses did not name the appellant in their police statements but disclosed his complicity only months later in Sessions Court, with no reasonable explanation for this delay. The informant, who was also an alleged eyewitness, turned hostile in court. Given these credibility gaps, the Court held it unsafe to rely on the evidence. Directions: Appellant to be released forthwith, if not required in connection with any other case. This case analysis is maintained by casestatus.in based on publicly available court records.