Overview
- A division bench of Justices J.J. Munir and Sanjiv Kumar set aside the 1987 convictions in a December 18 order, freeing Amrit Lal, Harish Chandra and Kallu.
- The court said the post-mortem findings completely ruled out the eyewitness version, including the claim that a lathi was inserted into the deceased.
- Judges flagged unexplained gaps in the witnesses’ timeline and conduct, calling it implausible that 11 assailants would beat the victim for about an hour yet cause only 10 injuries.
- The trial court had convicted 11 men under IPC sections 147 and 302/149, but appeals for eight co-accused abated after their deaths during the prolonged proceedings.
- Finding the homicide occurred in dark hours away from habitation and was committed by an unknown person, the court ordered the trio’s immediate release subject to personal bonds for appearance if the state contests the acquittal.