Supreme Court Judgment.
Accused were not traceable. Such conduct by itself is not reflective of a guilty mind. The absence of the accused when the police discovered the body and initiated proceedings after filing the FIR might stem from the instinct for self-preservation rather than guilt, even if the accused were innocent. This instinct could prompt the accused to avoid arrest until advised better and eventually surrender. Such behaviour doesn’t necessarily indicate a guilty conscience. If the accused were truly innocent, this act of self-preservation could simply be a reflex action rather than a sign of culpability. The natural inclination to avoid immediate arrest might be influenced by prudence until the accused gets sound advice to surrender. Therefore, this conduct alone may not serve as evidence of a guilty mindset.