A sessions court in Kalyan, Maharashtra, has acquitted a couple who had been absconding for 37 years in a murder bid case. The case, originally filed in 1989, was transferred from the district court to the Kalyan sessions court in 1996 and remained pending for nearly three decades because the accused jumped bail and disappeared.
Case Background
The couple was charged with attempted murder under the Indian Penal Code. They were accused of attacking a person with a weapon in 1989. After being granted bail, they fled and could not be traced for years. The trial was delayed as the court issued multiple warrants and the police conducted searches, but the accused remained untraceable.
Court Proceedings
Recently, the couple surrendered before the Kalyan sessions court. During the trial, the prosecution failed to produce sufficient evidence to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. Witnesses turned hostile or could not identify the accused after such a long gap. The court observed that the delay of 37 years severely prejudiced the case and that the prosecution could not establish a strong case.
The judgment noted that the right to a speedy trial under Article 21 of the Constitution was violated due to the inordinate delay. The court acquitted the couple, giving them the benefit of the doubt.
Legal Implications
Legal experts say that such acquittals highlight the challenges in old cases where evidence deteriorates and witnesses become unavailable. They emphasize the need for efficient tracking of absconding accused to ensure justice. The couple's lawyers argued that their clients had reformed and were leading a normal life, which also influenced the court's leniency.
