Justice After Four Decades: Allahabad High Court Acquits 100-Year-Old Man in 42-Year-Old Murder Case
Taking a humane and balanced view of justice, the Allahabad High Court has acquitted a nearly 100-year-old man who had been convicted of murder more than four decades ago.
The case dates back to 1982 in the Hamirpur district. After the trial, a sessions court sentenced the accused,
Dhani Ram was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1984. However, he was released on bail the same year while his appeal remained pending in the High Court for nearly 40 years.
Now, after reviewing the case, the High Court has set aside the conviction and acquitted him.
Court Takes a Human Approach
In its judgment, the court observed that when a person reaches the final stage of life after spending decades under the burden of a criminal case, it would be unfair to insist on punishment after such an extraordinary delay.
The judges said that when the justice system itself takes an unreasonably long time to conclude, courts should adopt a compassionate and practical approach while deciding relief.
They also noted that the mental stress, social stigma, and uncertainty faced by the accused for so many years cannot be ignored.
Acquittal Based on Weak Evidence
Although the court acknowledged the long delay and the advanced age of the accused, the acquittal was mainly based on serious flaws in the prosecution’s case.
After carefully examining the evidence, the High Court found:
- Major contradictions in witness statements
- Doubts about how the incident actually happened
- Missing and unclear details in the FIR
- The behaviour of eyewitnesses seemed unnatural
- Overall lack of trustworthy proof
Because of these gaps, the court concluded that the prosecution failed to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. As a result, Dhani Ram was given the benefit of the doubt and acquitted.
What Happened in 1982
According to the prosecution, the victim and his brother were returning home when they met three men — one with a gun, one with a spear, and Dhani Ram with an axe.
It was alleged that Dhani Ram and another accused encouraged the man with the gun to shoot the victim due to an old rivalry over land and a seized pistol.
The gunshot hit the victim from behind, killing him on the spot.
Some villagers reportedly rushed to help after hearing the gunshot, but the accused fled.
Fate of Other Accused
The main shooter, Maiku, was never arrested and had absconded.
Another accused, Satti Din, died during the long appeal process.
This left Dhani Ram as the only surviving accused before the High Court.
Final Relief
Since Dhani Ram was already out on bail, the court ordered that his bail bond be cancelled, bringing the case to a formal close.
The judges also pointed out that he had lived almost 40 years under the shadow of this unresolved case — a punishment in itself in many ways.
