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Supreme Court Acquits UP Man After 10 Years Due to Lack of Evidence in Rape and Murder Case

A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court recently acquitted a man from Uttar Pradesh, Chotkau, who spent 10 years in jail for the 2012 rape and murder of a six-year-old girl. Despite being sentenced to death by the sessions court and having the verdict upheld by the Allahabad High Court, the apex court overturned the conviction, citing a complete lack of evidence.

The Supreme Court criticized both the police for their negligent investigation and the lower courts for convicting the accused without proper evidence. “While the crime is undoubtedly horrific, convicting an innocent man without substantial evidence cannot be justice,” observed the bench comprising Justices S Abdul Nazeer, AS Bopanna, and V Ramasubramanian.

Chotkau, a resident of Shravasti district, claimed he was falsely implicated by the village head’s husband, a relative, over a property dispute involving his mother. Due to his extreme poverty, Chotkau could not afford legal representation during the trial. He was provided a court-appointed lawyer only after multiple requests.

In March 2014, the trial court sentenced Chotkau to death, and the Allahabad High Court confirmed the decision in 2016. However, the Supreme Court identified major inconsistencies in the prosecution’s case. Witnesses provided contradictory statements about the FIR, the victim’s clothing, and the location of the body, raising serious doubts about the investigation.

The bench emphasized that a court cannot punish an innocent person to compensate for the injustice faced by the victim. It noted that the prosecution failed to present even basic evidence to establish Chotkau’s guilt.

Retired High Court Judge S Nagamuthu, who represented Chotkau in the Supreme Court, highlighted the flaws in the case. He exposed critical gaps in the investigation and prosecution, leading to the appellant’s acquittal.

“This case reflects the urgent need for reform in the justice system to ensure innocent individuals are not punished for crimes they did not commit,” the bench remarked. The court ordered Chotkau’s immediate release, overturning the death sentence and imprisonment.

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