Kautilya's Arthashastra 4.8.9

4.8.9

śaṅkāniṣpannam upakaraṇamantrisahāyarūpavaiyāvṛtyakarān niṣpādayet //

Guilt against a suspected person shall be established by the production of such evidences as the instruments made use of by the accused, his accomplices or abettors, the stolen article, and any middlemen involved in selling or purchasing the stolen article. The validity of the above evidences shall also be tested with reference to both the scene of the theft and the circumstances connected with the possession and distribution of the stolen article.