SC Acquits 6 in Murder Case After 71 Witnesses Turn Hostile

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India] May 09: On April 28, 2011, Ramkrishna went for a quiet evening walk with his son in Karnataka. But what happened next shook an entire community. Ramkrishna was brutally attacked and killed. The police said the murder happened because of a fight between two brothers. Ramkrishna had left one brother's work to join the other, which led to the murder plan.

A Long Road to Justice

This murder case dragged on for over 13 years. In that time, the trial saw many twists and turns. At first, 87 witnesses came forward. Everyone expected justice to be delivered. But slowly, one by one, people began to change their words in court. Out of the 87, 71 took back their statements. Even Ramkrishna’s son, who saw the attack, could not identify the killers.

What the Judges Said

The Supreme Court looked at everything closely. They said that while they were sad about Ramkrishna’s death, there was no proper proof to punish the accused. The judges felt that the Karnataka High Court had made a mistake. They said no one should be sent to jail just because the police say so. The law needs solid proof, not just guesses.

The Power of a Statement

In India, witnesses are very important in any case. But this case showed what happens when witnesses change their words. Some say it happens because of fear, pressure, or even money. Whatever the reason, once the witness takes a different stand, it becomes hard for the court to trust the case. The judges said that you cannot punish someone unless there is clear and strong evidence.

What This Means for Us

This case shows how weak our justice system becomes when people don’t speak the truth. It teaches us that being brave in court is not easy, but it is necessary. Even the judges said they felt helpless. The release of the accused was not because they were surely innocent, but because the truth could not be proved. This is a wake-up call for everyone—truth must be protected in every way.