Meerut: Setting aside a trial court’s verdict sentencing four persons including a woman to death in 2017 Budaun double murder case, Allahabad high court has acquitted all of them stating that “prosecution’s evidence only pointed to suspicion, and did not prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt”.
Govind and Asha died in Budaun on May 14, 2017, according to the prosecution. An FIR was registered at Wazirganj on a complaint by Govind’s father, Pappu, under IPC 147, 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon) and 302 (murder). On Sept 17, 2022, the trial court in Budaun convicted them. Five days later, they were sentenced to death along with a fine of Rs 50,000.
Autopsy reports indicated six injuries on Govind and three on Asha, with shock and haemorrhage as the cause of death. Four accused Vijay Pal, Ramveer, Kishan Lal and his wife Jaldhara were tried in a Budaun court.
Citing the available evidence and reports, the HC bench of Justices Atul Sreedharan and Achal Sachdev, in the order on Sept 8, set aside the death reference. They are acquitted under IPC 302. It stated: “Court directs their release forthwith, if they’re not wanted in any other case.
The order was made available on Monday.