20 hrs ago
Allahabad High Court Acquits Four in Budaun Double Murder Case
Four people were sentenced to death for killing Govind and Asha in Budaun.
They appealed that decision to the Allahabad High Court.
The High Court reviewed the evidence presented by prosecutors.
It found that some evidence created suspicion, but was not strong enough to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
The judges questioned the eyewitness statements.
They also noted that nearby residents and seizure witnesses had not been examined.
The weapon descriptions were inconsistent, and a blood sample could not be matched to a blood group.
The court therefore acquitted all four people and ordered their release unless they faced another case.
The Allahabad High Court acquitted Vijay Pal, Ramveer, Kishan Lal and Jaldhara, overturning their death sentences.
The four had been convicted and sentenced to death by a Budaun trial court in the 2017 murders of Govind and Asha.
The High Court said prosecution evidence raised suspicion but did not establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
It questioned doubtful eyewitness accounts, inconsistencies over the weapon and the failure to examine neighbours and seizure witnesses.
The court ordered the accused released immediately unless they were wanted in another case.
- Who
- Vijay Pal, Ramveer, Kishan Lal and Jaldhara were acquitted; Govind and Asha were the murder victims.
- What
- The Allahabad High Court overturned the four accused persons’ convictions and death sentences in the double murder case.
- Where
- The murders and trial proceedings were associated with Budaun, Uttar Pradesh; the appeal was decided by the Allahabad High Court.
- When
- The murders occurred on May 14, 2017; the trial court convicted the accused on September 17, 2022 and sentenced them five days later. The High Court order was dated September 8 and was made available on September 28.
- Why
- The High Court found that the prosecution evidence did not prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Prosecution’s Case
High Court’s Assessment
Alleged motive and killings
Prosecution’s Case
The prosecution alleged that Govind’s relationship with Kishan Lal’s daughter Asha was opposed by the accused, and that Govind was invited to discuss their marriage before both victims were killed.
High Court’s Assessment
The High Court did not find the prosecution evidence sufficient to establish the accused persons’ guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Reliability of evidence
Prosecution’s Case
The prosecution relied on eyewitness accounts, medical evidence and other case materials to support the convictions.
High Court’s Assessment
The court found the eyewitness accounts doubtful, noted inconsistencies regarding the weapon, and criticized the failure to examine immediate neighbours and seizure witnesses.
Forensic evidence
Prosecution’s Case
The prosecution case included forensic findings that human blood was present on submitted material.
High Court’s Assessment
The court noted that the forensic laboratory could not determine the blood group, limiting the evidentiary value of that finding.
Key facts
- Victims
- Govind and Asha
- Accused acquitted
- Vijay Pal, Ramveer, Kishan Lal and Jaldhara
- Date of murders
- May 14, 2017
- Trial-court sentence
- Death sentence and a Rs 50,000 fine for each accused
- High Court finding
- Evidence raised suspicion but did not prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt
- Key evidentiary concerns
- Doubtful eyewitness accounts, unexamined neighbours and seizure witnesses, weapon inconsistencies, and an undetermined blood group
- Release direction
- Release forthwith unless wanted in another case
Sources
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