Shoddy probe and protracted legal proceedings invariably lead to acquittals in high profile cases. From the latest acquittal of journalist Tarun Tejpal, the prosecution has lost its cases in the politically sensitive Babri Masjid demolition case, infamous 2G scam case, sensational Aarushi Talwar murder case, Salman Khan hit-and-run case, and coal scam case among several such instances.
Babri Demolition: In September last year, a special court in Lucknow acquitted all the 32 accused persons, including BJP veterans LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Kalyan Singh and Uma Bharti among others, in the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition case. The case relates to the razing of the disputed Ramjanmbhoomi-Babri Masjid structure in the temple town of Ayodhya.
2G Scam: Likewise, in the 2G spectrum cases, which had rocked the Manmohan Singh-led UPA-II Government, the prosecution failed to secure a single conviction and all the high-profile accused, including former Telecom Minister and prime accused A Raja and DMK leader Kanimozhi, were acquitted by a special court here in Delhi in December 2017.
The court ruled that the case was “baseless” and the scam was created by artfully arranging a few selected facts and exaggerating things beyond recognition to astronomical levels. Special CBI Judge OP Saini, who adjudicated all the 2G matters, had also let off the promoters of Essar Group and Loop Telecom.
Aarushi Talwar murder case: In October 2017, the Allahabad High Court acquitted dentist couple Nupur and Rajesh Talwar in the 2008 sensational murder of their teenage daughter Aarushi and domestic help Hemraj.
In its 263-page verdict of the High Court junked the trial court conviction, saying neither the circumstances nor the evidence was enough to hold them guilty.
The couple was sentenced to life by a Ghaziabad special court on November 28, 2013 for the double murder that shook the nation with its element of gruesome filicide. However, the CBI has challenged the acquittals and the matter is now pending before the Supreme Court.
Salman Khan hit- and- run case: The Bombay High Court had in December 2015 acquitted the actor of all criminal charges for lack of substantial evidence. He was acquitted seven months after the sessions court held him guilty. The actor was accused of running his car over some persons sleeping on the pavement in suburban Bandra in Mumbai in 2002. One person died in the mishap. The trial court had awarded him a five-year jail term.