The incident took place on 27th September 2018, when the appellant attacked the deceased with an iron pipe, striking his head while the latter was cutting grass in a field. A witness present at the scene fled after being chased by the appellant. The appellant was charged under Sections 302 (murder), 352 (assault), and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence) of the Indian Penal Code. He was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by the Trial Court, a decision later upheld by the High Court. However, a medical examination conducted in December 2023—over five years after the incident—was found to have little evidentiary value. Witness statements raised substantial doubt regarding the appellant’s mental condition at the time of the offense. Given the uncertainty, the Court ruled that the benefit of doubt must be given to the accused. The Supreme Court allowed the appeal, set aside the convictions, and ordered the appellant to be released immediately.