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Allahabad High Court Acquits Woman in Children’s Death Case
The Allahabad High Court reviewed a case involving the deaths of three children.
Their bodies were found in the Sengur river in June 2024.
The children’s mother, Priyanka, had been sentenced to death by a trial court.
Ashish, who was accused of helping her, had received a life sentence.
The prosecution said the two adults took four children to a bridge and tried to drown them.
One child survived.
The high court said the surviving child’s evidence had serious contradictions and signs of tutoring.
Because the evidence did not prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, both people were acquitted and ordered released unless wanted in another case.
The Allahabad High Court acquitted Priyanka and Ashish in the deaths of three children.
Priyanka’s death sentence and Ashish’s life sentence were set aside.
The court said the prosecution failed to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
It found contradictions and signs of tutoring in the surviving eight-year-old child’s testimony.
The three children’s bodies were recovered from the Sengur river in Auraiya on June 27, 2024.
- Who
- Priyanka and Ashish, who were convicted in connection with the deaths of three children.
- What
- The Allahabad High Court acquitted both accused and overturned their convictions and sentences.
- Where
- The bodies were recovered from the Sengur river in Auraiya, and the alleged incident occurred near a bridge over the river.
- When
- The bodies were recovered on June 27, 2024; the high court issued its acquittal order on Tuesday.
- Why
- The court found that the prosecution had not proved guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, citing contradictions and apparent tutoring in the surviving child’s testimony.
Prosecution Allegations
High Court Findings
Account of the incident
Prosecution Allegations
The prosecution alleged that Priyanka took her four sons to a bridge around 5 a.m. in collusion with Ashish and that they attempted to drown all four children.
High Court Findings
The court acquitted both accused after finding that the prosecution evidence did not establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Surviving child’s testimony
Prosecution Allegations
The case relied in part on the testimony of the eight-year-old surviving child, Sonu.
High Court Findings
The court found the testimony contained irreconcilable contradictions and clear indications of tutoring.
Key facts
- Court
- Allahabad High Court
- Accused
- Priyanka and Ashish, also known as Daini
- Trial-court sentences
- Death sentence for Priyanka; life imprisonment for Ashish
- Victims
- Madhav, 6; Aditya, 5; and Mangal, 4
- Surviving witness
- The children’s eight-year-old brother, Sonu
- Recovery date
- June 27, 2024
- Recovery location
- Sengur river in Auraiya
Sources
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