In a significant legal development, the Allahabad High Court has overturned the conviction of Rajveer Singh, who had been serving a life sentence for murder, citing insufficient evidence and flawed legal reasoning.
A division bench consisting of Justice Rajiv Gupta and Justice Shiv Shankar Prasad delivered the verdict, accepting Singh’s appeal against the earlier decision of the lower court.
Overview:
The case originated from the tragic incident on the night of August 4, 1999, when someone murdered Nem Singh while he was asleep outside his residence during a power outage.
Following the incident, Dauki police station in Agra registered an FIR against unknown assailants.
Subsequently, the police filed a charge sheet, leading to Rajveer Singh’s conviction by the Sessions Court, Agra, with a sentence of life imprisonment and a fine of Rs 25,000.
The pivotal aspect of the High Court’s judgment centered on the argument that mere absconding from the village, especially during nighttime, cannot serve as substantial evidence to prove guilt in a murder case.
The bench underscored that suspicion alone cannot form the basis for convicting an individual of such a serious offense under Indian law.
Throughout the trial, the prosecution failed to convincingly substantiate its claims.
Despite the presence of two male members in Nem Singh’s house at the time of the murder, the evidence presented did not definitively establish Rajveer Singh’s involvement.
The discovery of bloodstains under the victim’s bed by his wife, Jamira Devi, around 5 AM further complicated the case.
The defense contended that Singh’s alleged absconding was a common behavior in the village, where villagers might fear wrongful implication.
The High Court supported this argument, emphasizing that such conduct, without substantial corroborative evidence linking it to the crime, cannot sustain a conviction.
In its ruling, the court pointed out procedural lapses and the prosecution’s failure to meet the burden of proof required under the law.
As a result, the Allahabad High Court acquitted Rajveer Singh, granting him the benefit of doubt and overturning the life sentence imposed by the lower court.
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