Supreme Court Upholds CBI Investigation in High-Profile Murder Case Involving Disputed Wills

The Supreme Court of India recently delivered a significant judgment in the case of Ramachandraiah & Anr. versus M. Manjula & Ors., upholding the Karnataka High Court’s direction for a CBI investigation into the mysterious death of businessman K. Raghunath. The case involved complex issues of alleged murder, disputed wills, and questions about the fairness of the initial police investigation. Below is a detailed narrative of the case, the arguments presented, and the court’s reasoning.

The dispute centered around the death of K. Raghunath, a successful realtor and close associate of former MP D.K. Adikeshavalu. Raghunath was found hanging in May 2019, initially declared a suicide. However, his wife Manjula later alleged murder, claiming her husband had executed a will in her favor in 2016, while another will dated 2018 (registered posthumously) surfaced favoring other parties. The case saw multiple FIRs, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe that filed a closure report, and eventually a High Court order directing CBI investigation.

The Supreme Court, comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Prashant Kumar Mishra, carefully examined the procedural history and legal arguments. The bench observed: “The matter for entrusting investigation to a particular agency is basically at the discretion of the Court.” This observation came while rejecting arguments that the Magistrate lacked jurisdiction to order FIR registration for sessions-triable offenses.

Read also: https://judgmentlibrary.com/supreme-court-upholds-acquittal-in-gruesome-murder-case-due-to-lack-of-evidence/

The court emphasized the extraordinary nature of CBI investigations, quoting precedent: “This extraordinary power must be exercised sparingly, cautiously and in exceptional situations where it becomes necessary to provide credibility and instil confidence in investigations.” However, the judges found this case met those standards, noting the deceased’s high-profile connections, disputed wills, and defects in the initial investigation.

The judgment provides important clarity on when higher courts can order CBI probes, especially when local investigations appear inadequate. The Supreme Court directed the CBI to complete its investigation within eight months, while cautioning that its observations shouldn’t prejudice the probe. This decision reinforces constitutional courts’ role in ensuring fair investigations, particularly in cases involving influential parties and complex financial motives.

Petitioner Name: Ramachandraiah & Anr..
Respondent Name: M. Manjula & Ors..
Judgment By: Justice DIPANKAR DATTA, Justice PRASHANT KUMAR MISHRA.
Place Of Incident: Bengaluru.
Judgment Date: 23-04-2025.
Result: dismissed.

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