The Allahabad High Court overturns the acquittal of two men accused in an 1984 murder case, decades after the original proceedings. According to reports, a Division Bench of Justices Rajneesh Kumar and Babita Rani allows the State Government’s appeal and holds the accused guilty of culpable homicide not amounting to murder under Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), rather than murder. The court’s decision comes after a delay of about 40–42 years, after which the earlier acquittal is set aside.
Following the conviction, the High Court directs that the two surviving accused be taken into custody. They are to be produced before the court on May 11 for further proceedings specifically related to the quantum of sentence. The reports describe the court’s ruling as a reversal of the earlier acquittal and indicate that sentencing is pending, with the case returning to court after the custody and production order. The outcome is therefore both a finding of guilt under Section 304 and a subsequent step toward determining punishment.
