In Brief
The appellants, Babu Lal and Devi Lal, were convicted of murder and criminal conspiracy in the death of Dharam Chand and sentenced to life imprisonment. The Supreme Court allowed their appeals and acquitted them. The Court held that the prosecution's case, based entirely on circumstantial evidence, failed to meet the rigorous legal standards required for conviction. Although the circumstances created suspicion, they did not form a complete and coherent chain proving guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The torn documents and extra-judicial confession lacked sufficient corroboration. The Court reiterated that suspicion, however grave, cannot substitute legal proof, and when two views are possible, the accused must receive the benefit of doubt.
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