The Supreme Court, while dismissing an appeal by the State of Uttarakhand, delivered a sharp rebuke over custodial violence after evidence emerged that the accused in a murder case had been assaulted while in police custody.
The Court upheld the acquittal of the accused, reinforcing the High Court’s earlier ruling, which found the prosecution’s case inadequate. Noting that the accused suffered a fractured leg due to an assault involving heavy objects, the Supreme Court directed the local District Magistrate to investigate the matter and initiate proceedings against the responsible officers.
During the proceedings, the Supreme Court highlighted significant gaps in the prosecution’s narrative, particularly regarding the last-seen theory, a cornerstone of the State’s argument. A key prosecution witness admitted under examination that they could not confirm the accused’s identity or their presence with the deceased, undermining the case entirely.
The bench questioned the State’s decision to pursue the appeal despite the High Court’s findings and the implausibility of an alternative interpretation of the evidence. “The view taken by the High Court is certainly a plausible one. In fact, this is a case where no other view was possible. We wonder why the State preferred this appeal,” the Court observed.
Although dismissing the appeal, the Court scheduled a follow-up for April 2025 to review the District Magistrate’s report on the custodial violence inquiry. This marks a significant move toward addressing abuse within the justice system while underlining the necessity of evidence-driven prosecution.
This case continues to shed light on systemic flaws in law enforcement and judicial processes, calling for greater accountability and adherence to the rule of law.
