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Uttarakhand HC Overturns Murder Convictions
11 Apr
Summary
- Three men's 2014 murder convictions were set aside by the high court.
- The court cited the prosecution's failure to prove the case beyond doubt.
- A state appeal against one acquittal was also dismissed by the bench.
The Uttarakhand High Court has overturned the 2014 murder convictions of three men, acquitting them in a 2008 case where an elderly woman was fatally shot. The bench, comprising Justice Ravindra Maithani and Justice Siddhartha Sah, delivered the ruling on April 8, stating the prosecution failed to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case originated from an FIR filed on May 8, 2008, in Haridwar, concerning the murder of Vimla Devi, mother of a gangster. She was shot dead while en route to court, and her grandson sustained injuries. The trial court had sentenced Praveen Valmiki, Narendra Valmiki, and Pappu Gujjar to life imprisonment.
However, the high court noted fundamental inconsistencies in the prosecution's narrative, including a wavering statement from the grandson regarding the assailants' identity and number. The court found Praveen Valmiki's police confession inadmissible and the Arms Act conviction invalid due to unproven sanction. Evidence regarding threats and phone contact for Pappu Gujjar and Susheel was deemed insufficient to establish conspiracy.
