Law Judge And Justice Symbol
All 16 convicts appealed before the sessions court, which upheld the conviction of 15 persons and acquitted Gajakosh in Aug 2009. The 15 convicts served their sentence. Investigation revealed that he was the alleged kingpin.
Ahmedabad: Gujarat High Court has upheld the acquittal of Prabhakar Gajakosh, the alleged key conspirator in the lion poaching in Gir Sanctuary, who was convicted by a magisterial court and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment but later acquitted by a sessions court in Bhavnagar district. Gajakosh’s contact number was found on a slip recovered from one of the accused arrested.
The state govt challenged Gajakosh’s acquittal before the high court.
Therefore, the accused cannot be convicted on the evidence on record.”
Justice H M Prachchhak said, “The prosecution has miserably failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. After the hearing, HC rejected the state govt’s appeal, stating that the only evidence against Gajakosh was the slip bearing his landline and mobile numbers, and the piece of paper was recovered from another accused. Considering the entire evidence on record, it clearly appears that there is no credible evidence to connect the present accused with the alleged crime and the evidence on record is not so convincing to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the accused has committed the alleged crime.