In Brief
Debapriya Pal was convicted for the double murder of Anusha Sarkar and her mother based on circumstantial evidence—alleged friendship with the actual perpetrator, recovery of blood-stained clothes, a laptop, and fingerprints. The Supreme Court allowed his appeal, finding the prosecution failed to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt. He had no personal motive; friendship alone was insufficient basis for conviction. The blood evidence lacked complete blood group reports; the recovered laptop was unconnected to the crime and inadmissible under Evidence Act Section 27; and critical fingerprint evidence had gone missing. Without clinching circumstances, he was entitled to benefit of doubt and released.
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