S.SRINIDHI

STUDENT AT SAVEETHA SCHOOL OF LAW,  SAVEETHA INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL AND TECHNICAL SCIENCES  (SIMATS), CHENNAI

ABSTRACT

The K.M. Nanavati case was a landmark case in the history of the Indian judiciary. The case received unprecedented media coverage and inspired several books and films. It was also the last case to be heard as a jury trial in India, since the Government abolished the jury system as a result of this case. The case involved Commander Kawas Manekshaw Nanavati, a Naval Commander, who was tried for the murder of Prem Ahuja, his wife’s lover. Commander Nanavati, accused under section 302, was initially declared not guilty by a jury, but the verdict was dismissed by the Bombay High Court and the case was retried as a bench trial¹. This paper aims to analyse the media’s influence on the K.M. Nanavati case and its modern Indian legacy. It’s organised as follows: Section 1 offers an overview of the case and its historical context. Section 2 reviews the case’s outcome. Section 3 assesses the media’s impact on contemporary India. Lastly, Section 4 discusses media’s implications for legal proceedings and public opinion. The case attracted unprecedented media attention and public interest, as it involved elements of love, betrayal, murder, and patriotism. The case also raised important legal and constitutional issues, such as the role of the jury system, the concept of grave and sudden provocation, and the power of the governor to grant pardon. The case had a significant impact on Indian society and culture, as it influenced the public perception of morality, justice, and gender roles to till date.