Supreme Court upholds life sentence in witch-hunting murder case

This case involves a criminal appeal by Balku Oram against his conviction and life sentence for the murder of Puni Naik, which the prosecution alleged was committed due to witchcraft accusations. The Supreme Court examined whether the concurrent findings of the Trial Court and High Court regarding the eyewitness testimony and the nature of the offense were correct.

Petitioner/Appellant: Balku Oram; Respondent: State of Odisha; Bench: Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra.

• The Court analyzed the scope of its power under Article 136 of the Constitution to interfere with concurrent findings of fact in criminal appeals.
• The Court noted that it generally does not interfere with concurrent findings save in exceptional circumstances, such as when the High Court acted perversely or the evidence is highly unsafe.
• The Court evaluated the testimony of P.W.3, the sole eyewitness and daughter of the deceased, finding her account unshaken in chief and cross-examination regarding the identity of the assailants.
• The Court affirmed the principle that direct ocular evidence, if natural, cogent, and trustworthy, constitutes the best form of evidence.

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