RAMJI SURJYA & ANOTHER vs STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

The Supreme Court held that in cases with a sole eyewitness, a conviction may be upheld if the witness is deemed honest and truthful, but corroboration from other evidence is prudent, especially when the witness is closely related to the deceased. The Court found that the High Court's reversal of the trial court's acquittal was unjustified due to significant delays in reporting the incident and inconsistencies in the eyewitness's testimony. Consequently, the appeal was allowed, and the acquittal was restored, emphasizing the need for cogent reasons when overturning an acquittal.