Why did Allahabad HC acquit 100-year-old man in a four-decade-old murder case

Prayagraj (UP): The Allahabad High Court has acquitted a nearly 100-year-old man in a murder case dating back to 1982, noting that more than 40 years have passed since he challenged his life sentence and that the long legal battle and its social impact could not be overlooked.

A division bench of Justice Chandra Dhari Singh and Justice Sanjiv Kumar observed that the extraordinary delay in deciding the appeal, along with the advanced age of the accused, Dhami Ram, were important factors while deciding the matter.

The case relates to a murder that took place in 1982 following a land dispute. Three persons — Maiku, Satti Din and Dhami Ram — were named as accused. Maiku had absconded, while a sessions court in Hamirpur sentenced Satti Din and Dhami Ram to life imprisonment in 1984.

Ram was granted bail the same year. During the pendency of the appeal, Satti Din died, leaving Ram as the only surviving appellant.

The high court noted that Ram had remained on bail for decades. It ordered that his bail bonds stand discharged and clarified that the acquittal was based on the merits of the case, as the prosecution had failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt.

The bench also remarked that the prolonged anxiety, uncertainty and social consequences faced by the accused over the years must be considered while determining what justice requires at this stage.

Ram’s counsel told the court that he is around 100 years old and had merely instigated co-accused Maiku to fire at the victim.

(with inputs from agencies)