Bernard Lyngdoh Phawa vs The State Of Meghalaya

The Supreme Court examined the sufficiency of evidence in a criminal appeal arising from a missing person complaint that led to the discovery of the victim's body and related incriminating materials. The Trial Court acquitted the accused due to insufficient evidence, but the High Court reversed the acquittal, applying the five golden principles from Sharad Birdhichand Sarda v. State of Maharashtra to uphold the prosecution's case. The Supreme Court granted leave to appeal and considered whether the evidence met the threshold for conviction, emphasizing the importance of corroboration and the last seen theory. Ultimately, the Court's decision clarified the application of evidentiary standards in homicide cases involving circumstantial evidence.