In Brief
Ranjit Kumar Haldar and Mamta Mohanta were convicted for the murder of Netai Mohanta. The deceased's body was discovered concealed beneath wooden flooring in premises rented by the appellant in Rabom, Sikkim. Mamta Mohanta's disclosure statement led to the recovery. The appellants challenged the conviction, arguing the FIR translation was defective, identity was not established without DNA testing, and they did not have possession of the premises. The Supreme Court upheld the conviction, holding that Section 106 of the Indian Evidence Act appropriately placed the burden on the appellants to explain how others could access the locked premises where the body was found. Witness identification of personal belongings and facial features was sufficient to establish the deceased's identity. Both courts' findings were affirmed.
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