The Allahabad High Court has acquitted Mahfooz, a man who spent 17 years imprisoned for murder, granting him the benefit of doubt in a case stemming from an incident in 2006.

A bench comprising Justices Arvind Singh Sangwan and Mohd. Azhar Husain Idrisi found significant inconsistencies in the prosecution's evidence, which ultimately led to the decision to overturn his conviction.

The case revolves around the events of October 19, 2006, in Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh, where a confrontation resulted in the deaths of Dinesh, a local fish seller, and Muddu, Mahfooz’s brother. The prosecution alleged that Mahfooz shot Dinesh with a country-made pistol, leading to a violent retaliation from a mob that killed Muddu on the spot.

In 2013, Mahfooz was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). However, he appealed the judgment, highlighting contradictions in witness testimonies and flaws in the investigation.

Key witnesses Subhash and Naresh presented conflicting narratives; Subhash claimed Mahfooz shot Dinesh at close range, while Naresh recounted a scuffle involving Dinesh and Muddu, without implicating Mahfooz. Notably, Naresh later admitted to fleeing the scene and relocating to Delhi shortly after the incident.

The defense also criticized the police for failing to file an FIR regarding Muddu's death, which raised concerns about investigative bias. Furthermore, post-mortem findings undermined the prosecution's case, revealing no blackening or tattooing around Dinesh's gunshot wound, which would typically indicate close-range firing. Additionally, the police did not recover a firearm or any forensic evidence linking Mahfooz to the crime.

Given these discrepancies, the high court concluded there was reasonable doubt about Mahfooz's involvement in the murder, resulting in his acquittal after nearly two decades of wrongful conviction.

Case Title: Mahfooz Vs. State of U.P