What flaws did the Court of Appeal find in the original conviction?

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Court of Appeal Identifies Critical Flaws Leading to Sanjeevan's Acquittal

The Court of Appeal overturned the conviction of R. Sri Sanjeevan, former chairman of MyWatch, by identifying significant procedural and evidential flaws in the original trial. These issues collectively led to the conclusion that Sanjeevan had been denied a fair trial, resulting in a miscarriage of justice. The appellate court's decision to quash his conviction for blackmail stemmed from multiple deficiencies in how the case was handled.
Denial of Fair Trial Due to Uncalled Witnesses

A primary ground for the Court of Appeal's decision was that Sanjeevan was denied a fair trial because the prosecution failed to call or offer seven witnesses present at the crime scene to the defence. This omission prevented the defence from having access to potentially crucial testimony, thereby compromising the fairness of the proceedings. The absence of these witnesses' accounts meant the defence could not fully explore all available evidence.
Miscarriage of Justice from Unrecorded Statement

Furthermore, the Court of Appeal found that a miscarriage of justice occurred because the investigating officer did not record Sanjeevan's statement. The failure to obtain and document a statement from the accused by the investigating officer represents a significant procedural lapse. Such statements are typically vital for understanding the accused's account of events and for ensuring a thorough investigation.
Magistrate's Misdirection on Identification and Burden of Proof

The appellate judges also highlighted that the magistrate had misdirected herself regarding the positive identification of Sanjeevan. Moreover, the decision to place a heavier burden of proof on Sanjeevan to establish his alibi defence was deemed fatal to the conviction. This improper allocation of the burden of proof, effectively requiring the accused to prove his innocence rather than the prosecution proving his guilt, is a fundamental flaw in legal proceedings.

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What flaws did the Court of Appeal find in the original conviction?

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