The Supreme Court has acquitted Kusumlal Sao of murder and destruction-of-evidence charges, finding that disputed WhatsApp messages and inconclusive recoveries did not complete the prosecution’s circumstantial chain.
Judge / Bench — Justices Manoj Misra and Vijay Bishnoi; judgment by Justice Manoj Misra.
The 13 October 2026 judgment found no substantive evidence that the deceased was last seen with Sao. The alleged message sender denied sending it, and both relevant witnesses denied witnessing the incident. Extraction of messages did not establish the author’s personal knowledge or prove an assault.
Bloodstains were not connected to the deceased through matching forensic evidence, and recovery witnesses differed. An accidental fall from a motorcycle also remained a reasonable possibility. Setting aside the trial and High Court judgments, the court ordered Sao’s immediate release unless required in another case.
Advocates appearing — For the appellant — Yasharth Kant. For the respondent State — Ankita Sharma.