Former Gujarat Police Constable Dies After High Court Acquittal in 30-Year Corruption Case
In a tragic turn of events, a former police constable in Gujarat passed away merely a day after being acquitted by the Gujarat High Court in a corruption case that had persisted for nearly three decades. The deceased, identified as Babubhai Prajapati, was 64 years old.
Decades-Long Legal Battle Over Rs 20 Bribe Allegation
The case originated on November 20, 1996, when the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) set up a trap following a complaint. It was alleged that policemen were illegally collecting Rs 20 from truck drivers to permit their vehicles to enter Ahmedabad city. Three constables from the Vejalpur police station—Babubhai Prajapati, Sevenkumar Rathwa, and Nasrullah Khan—were formally charged with accepting bribes.
In 2004, a trial court found all three guilty and sentenced them to four years of imprisonment. Consequently, they lost their jobs as police constables. The trio then appealed the conviction in the Gujarat High Court, but their appeals languished for over two decades without resolution.
High Court Delivers Justice After 30 Years
On Wednesday, Justice S V Pinto of the Gujarat High Court finally delivered the judgment, acquitting all three former constables. This ruling came almost 30 years after the alleged incident occurred, marking the end of a protracted legal ordeal that had overshadowed their lives.
During the lengthy legal battle, Babubhai Prajapati had moved from Ahmedabad to his hometown in Patan district. On Thursday morning, after learning of his acquittal, Prajapati visited his lawyer, Nitin Gandhi, to discuss potential legal steps to recover service-related dues, as his employment had been terminated in 2004. However, Prajapati expressed reluctance to initiate further legal proceedings.
Tragic Demise Following Acquittal
That night, Prajapati stayed at his nephew's house. Tragically, on Friday morning, lawyer Nitin Gandhi received the news that Prajapati had died in his sleep. His passing came just one day after the high court's acquittal, adding a somber note to the long-awaited legal victory.
The other two former constables, Sevenkumar Rathwa and Nasrullah Khan, also saw their decades-long legal nightmare conclude with Wednesday's ruling. Their acquittal brings closure to a case that had dragged on for generations, highlighting the immense personal toll of prolonged judicial processes.
This incident underscores the severe impacts of extended legal battles on individuals' lives, even when justice is ultimately served. The case serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost associated with corruption allegations and the slow pace of the judicial system in India.
