Proof of the crime and connection to the accused

The prosecution must prove more than a death or suspicious burial. It must establish reliable circumstances connecting the accused to the offence. Exhumation of the body raised suspicion but did not itself prove murder by the appellants. The rope, possessions and mobile phone required a proven connection to the crime. The last-seen evidence also required proof of timing and proximity. The Court found these circumstances were not established as incriminating links. Neither individual items nor their combination proved guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The evidence could not sustain the convictions. (Bernard Lyngdoh Phawa v. The State of Meghalaya | 2026 INSC 85)