Prayagraj: The Allahabad High Court has acquitted a nearly 100-year-old man convicted in a 1982 murder case, more than four decades after he was released on bail, noting that the prolonged pendency of the appeal and the social consequences suffered by him could not be ignored.
A division bench of Justices Chandra Dhari Singh and Sanjiv Kumar observed that the appellant’s advanced age and the extraordinary delay in disposal of the appeal were relevant factors while moulding relief. The court held that the prosecution failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt, highlighting inconsistencies in eyewitness testimonies and omissions in the FIR. The judges emphasised that the main assailant, Maiku who allegedly fired the fatal shot, had absconded since the incident, further weakening the evidence against Dhami Ram.
According to reports, the case pertains to a land dispute in 1982, in which Maiku, Satti Din and Dhami Ram were named as accused. While Maiku absconded, a sessions court in Hamirpur in 1984 sentenced Satti Din and Dhami Ram to life imprisonment. Dhami Ram was granted bail the same year.
Satti Din died during the pendency of the appeal, leaving Dhami Ram as the sole surviving appellant.
The high court noted that Dhami Ram had remained on bail for over 40 years and directed that his bail bonds stand discharged. The bench further observed that the anxiety, uncertainty and social stigma endured by the accused for decades could not be overlooked when determining what justice demanded at this stage.
Counsel for Dhami Ram submitted that the appellant was around 100 years old and had merely exhorted Maiku to fire at the victim.
