Supreme Court Upholds Murder Conviction in Witchcraft Case, Condemns Witch-Hunting

The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal and upheld the life imprisonment sentence of a man convicted for murder in a case stemming from witchcraft allegations. A Division Bench led by Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra found the testimony of the sole eyewitness—the deceased's daughter—reliable and corroborated by medical evidence.

The Court strongly condemned witch-hunting as a practice that violates human dignity and constitutional principles. It noted that superstition and irrational beliefs continue to plague sections of society, often making vulnerable women targets of collective hostility when deaths or misfortunes occur.

The incident occurred in February 1998 in Village Gundibali Luhakera, when a young woman died and family members attributed her death to witchcraft. The accused subsequently assaulted the alleged practitioner, who died from injuries sustained during the attack. The trial court conviction was based on eyewitness testimony and corroborating medical evidence.