Kautilya's Arthashastra 3.11.44

3.11.44

"sākṣibāliṣyeṣv eva pṛthaganuyoge deśakālakāryāṇāṃ pūrvamadhyamottamā daṇḍāḥ" ity auśanasāḥ //

"Only," say the followers of Usanas, "in those cases where witnesses prove themselves to have been stupid or senseless and where the investigation of the place, time or nature of the transaction is of no avail, the three amercements shall be levied."