Literal Translation
The act itself does not constitute guilt unless done with a guilty mind.
Definition
It is a Latin maxim, which means that for any act to be illegal in nature it must be done with a guilty mind. Hence, act done without any intention cannot be punished. Not only is the act of the accused important but also the intention of the accused to do the specific act is equally important to prove the guilt of the accused. Hence, it can be said that mere breach of law is not sufficient to constitute a crime.