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Supreme Court Acquits Man After 22 Years in Prison
The Supreme Court acquitted a man who had spent 22 years in prison after conviction in a triple murder case. He received a life sentence under Section 302 and spent 12 years…
The Story in Brief
The Supreme Court acquitted a man who had spent 22 years in prison after conviction in a triple murder case. He received a life sentence under Section 302 and spent 12 years in custody before filing an appeal through the jail. The Odisha High Court rejected his plea to condone a 3,157-day delay and dismissed his appeal.
Justices J B Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran said the trial court had not properly assessed the evidence. The conviction relied on one eyewitness, whom the Supreme Court considered unreliable, and a confession allegedly obtained through third-degree methods. The court also criticised the High Court’s handling of the delayed appeal.
The Indian Opinion
The case highlights the serious consequences of delayed appeals and weak evidence assessment. The available account does not explain why the appeal was delayed or how the trial court examined all the evidence. It is therefore too early to draw broad conclusions about the criminal justice system. Timely legal assistance for prisoners and careful scrutiny of confessions remain important safeguards.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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