As per case facts, Ratnu Yadav was convicted by the Sessions Court under Section 302 IPC for the murder of his stepmother, Smt Hemwati Bai, receiving a life sentence. The ... High Court dismissed his appeal. The prosecution alleged that Yadav assaulted the deceased, dragged her by her hair to a village pond, and put her head in the water, causing death by drowning/suffocation. The prosecution relied on an extra-judicial confession made to PW-1 and "last seen together" evidence from PW-5. The appellant challenged the conviction, arguing that the death was due to drowning without proof of homicide, PW-1 was hostile, and PW-5's testimony lacked corroboration, especially given the absence of injuries on the deceased and non-examination of crucial witnesses. The question arose whether the prosecution had proven the appellant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt given the circumstantial evidence and hostile witnesses. Finally, the Supreme Court found the extra-judicial confession to PW-1 unreliable due to the witness being hostile and inconsistencies. The "last seen together" evidence from PW-5 was also deemed unworthy of acceptance due to the absence of injuries on the deceased's body, which contradicted the dragging story, and the non-examination of other material witnesses. Consequently, the Court held that the appellant's guilt was not proven beyond a reasonable doubt, set aside the lower court judgments, and acquitted him.