23 Years Behind Bars: Allahabad High Court Acquits Man in Wife and Children’s Murder Case, Flags Serious Systemic Lapses

By Rajesh Pandey

In a deeply unsettling verdict, the Allahabad High Court has acquitted a man who spent nearly 23 years in prison after being convicted for the brutal killing of his wife and three minor children.

The court concluded that the prosecution failed to establish his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, describing the case as a troubling reflection on the state of the criminal justice system.

A Division Bench comprising Justice Siddharth and Justice Jai Krishna Upadhyay observed that the matter demands serious introspection.

The judges noted that systemic shortcomings—such as inadequate judicial strength, lack of sufficient support staff, and poor infrastructure—continue to hamper the effective delivery of justice.

They remarked that meaningful reform requires concrete structural changes, not merely seminars or discussions.

“The Real Ordeal Begins Now”

While ordering his acquittal, the court made a poignant observation: although the accused is being released, his suffering may not truly be over.

After more than two decades in incarceration, he faces an uncertain future. The judges reflected that his parents and siblings may no longer be alive.

His wife and three children are gone. Whether his surviving son—now believed to be in his mid-twenties—would accept him remains uncertain.

The court’s words underscored the human cost of prolonged imprisonment under a cloud of doubt.

Background of the Case

According to the prosecution, on the intervening night of August 29–30, 2003, the accused, Raees, allegedly murdered his wife and their three children by slitting their throats with a knife following a domestic dispute.

The First Information Report (FIR) was lodged by the deceased woman’s uncle.

A trial court later convicted Raees of four counts of murder and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

Appeal and Re-examination of Evidence

Hearing his appeal, the High Court carefully re-evaluated the evidence presented during the trial. Central to the prosecution’s case was the testimony of the couple’s surviving five-year-old son, Azim, who was projected as the sole eyewitness.

However, during cross-examination, the child admitted that he had been coached. He disclosed that his statements were made under pressure from the informant and a government lawyer.

Shockingly, he stated that he had been threatened with eviction from the informant’s house if he did not testify as instructed.

This revelation significantly weakened the prosecution’s case.

Motive and Doubt

The court also took into account an ongoing land dispute between the informant and the accused. The existence of prior enmity casts serious doubt on the objectivity and credibility of the allegations.

In addition, the High Court rejected the prosecution’s reliance on what it described as “weak” extra-judicial confessions allegedly made by the accused before two individuals. The Bench found these statements unreliable and insufficient to sustain a conviction in such a grave matter.

Benefit ofthe  Doubt

Though acknowledging the horrific nature of the crime—the murder of a mother and her three children most brutally—the court emphasized that moral suspicion cannot substitute for legal proof.

It held that the prosecution failed to conclusively demonstrate that the accused alone committed the offence.

Given these gaps and inconsistencies, the Bench extended the benefit of doubt to the accused.

By its order dated February 16, the High Court set aside the conviction and directed his immediate release, provided he is not required in connection with any other case.

A Stark Reminder

The judgment serves as a sobering reminder of the irreversible damage that can occur when evidence is unreliable and safeguards fail.

After nearly a quarter of a century in prison, the acquitted man now steps into a world vastly changed—his freedom restored, but his past irretrievably altered.

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