In Brief
The deceased Mahesh Sahu was in a love relationship with Anita, sister of appellant No. 1. After Anita married another person, correspondence between her and the deceased angered the appellants. The prosecution relied on eyewitness evidence and forensic findings to prove the appellants murdered the deceased. The trial judge acquitted them, finding the prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt due to inconsistencies in witness testimony, hostile witnesses, and lack of reliable forensic evidence. The High Court reversed this acquittal and convicted both appellants. The Supreme Court allowed the appeal, holding the High Court had misapplied the principles governing appellate interference with acquittals and had relied on conjectures rather than substantive evidence. The trial judge's detailed, reasoned judgment was not perverse and was entitled to deference.
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