Overview

• Justices Vikram Nath, Sanjay Karol and Sandeep Mehta set aside the conviction on October 8 and ordered immediate release if he is not wanted in any other case.
• The bench held the trial was lopsided, noting the accused had no lawyer when charges were framed and was denied timely access to key documents.
• Investigators did not retrieve primary DVR data for alleged CCTV evidence, prompting an adverse inference as the court said police made the appellant a scapegoat.
• Core planks of the case—last-seen testimony, supposed confessional disclosures and recoveries, and DNA/forensic links—were found unreliable or inadmissible.
• The court chose not to remand for a fresh trial after nearly eight years of custody and decided the appeal on merits; the appellant received pro bono help from NALSAR’s Square Circle Clinic.