Lucknow: An additional district judge’s court in Gonda has acquitted two men accused in a 2011 murder case, citing the benefit of the doubt after holding that the prosecution failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt. The court also directed proceedings against the complainant for making false allegations and giving false evidence.
Additional district judge Phoolchandra Kushwaha acquitted Inder Pasi and Kallu in the case related to the murder of Banshilal in Motiganj area of Gonda. Two accused died during the trial. Proceedings against another accused were transferred to the Juvenile Justice Board since he was a minor, leaving Inder Pasi and Kallu to face trial. The court noted that none of the prosecution witnesses claimed to have seen the murder and that their testimonies contained material contradictions. With the evidence not meeting the required standard of proof, the court acquitted the two.