PRAYAGRAJ: The Allahabad High Court has acquitted a nearly 100-year-old murder accused, noting more than four decades have passed since he challenged his life term sentence and observing that social consequences suffered by him cannot be ignored for granting the relief.
A division bench of Justices Chandra Dhari Singh and Justice Sanjiv Kumar also said that the prolonged pendency of the appeal and the age of the accused, Dhami Ram, were relevant while moulding relief.
The murder happened in 1982 over a land dispute, and three persons -- Maiku, Satti Din, and Dhani Ram were the accused in the case.
While Maiku had absconded, the Hamirpur sessions court sentenced Satti Din and Ram to life imprisonment in 1984.
Ram was released on bail the same year.
Satti Din passed away during the pendency of his appeal, leaving Ram as the sole surviving appellant in the case.
Noting that Ram has been on bail since then, the high court directed that his bail bond shall stand discharged and said the acquittal was based on the merits of the case, specifically the prosecution's failure to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
The division bench further pointed out that the anxiety, uncertainty and social consequences suffered by the accused over decades cannot be ignored while assessing what justice now demands.
Ram's counsel submitted that the appellant is about 100 years of age and that he had only exhorted Maiku to fire at the victim.