In Brief
Surajdeo Mahto and Prakash Mahto appealed against their conviction for the murder of Arun in 1987. The trial and High Court had relied on circumstantial evidence: the deceased was last seen alive with both appellants, they gave false statements about his whereabouts, and medical evidence confirmed the timing. The Supreme Court upheld the conviction of Appellant No. 1 (Surajdeo Mahto), finding a complete chain of circumstantial evidence including motive (illicit relationship between deceased and appellant's sister), false statements, and absconding behaviour. However, it acquitted Appellant No. 2 (Prakash Mahto), holding that mere presence with the deceased constituted suspicion rather than proof beyond reasonable doubt, lacking motive and post-occurrence evasive conduct. The plea of juvenility was rejected as documents bore a different name and were produced belatedly without cogent evidence.
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