In Brief
The Supreme Court reversed the High Court's conviction and restored the trial court's acquittal in a murder case. The appellants were accused of killing one person as part of a mob. The trial court had acquitted them, citing unreliable eyewitness identification, delay in the FIR, improper investigation (including failure to examine key witnesses and recover physical evidence), and previous enmity between parties. The High Court reversed the acquittal, treating the trial court's concerns as minor inconsistencies. The Supreme Court held that an appellate court cannot reverse an acquittal merely because another view is possible. Where two reasonable interpretations of evidence exist, the court must favour the accused. The appellate court failed to give proper weight to the trial court's findings and ignored principles protecting acquittals. The Court restored the acquittal and discharged bail bonds.
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