Manusmriti

siva.sh/manusmriti/9/249

यावानवध्यस्य वधे तावान् वध्यस्य मोक्षणे । अधर्मो नृपतेर्दृष्टो धर्मस्तु विनियच्छतः ॥ २४९ ॥

sanskrit

When a king punishes an innocent (man), his guilt is considered as great as when he sets free a guilty man; but (he acquires) merit when he punishes (justly).

english translation

yAvAnavadhyasya vadhe tAvAn vadhyasya mokSaNe | adharmo nRpaterdRSTo dharmastu viniyacchataH || 249 ||

hk transliteration by Sanscript