Court pulls up police for shoddy probe in murder case

NEW DELHI: Slamming Delhi Police for its poor investigation, a trial court has acquitted a man of murder charges saying it had carried out a “shoddy investigation”.
The court’s observations came while acquitting Jangpura resident Krishan of the charges of murder and under provisions of Arms Act, on the grounds that ocular evidence cannot be used to convict a person for such serious offences.
“It is unfortunate that senseless killing of a human being is going unpunished. But on the basis of such a shoddy investigation and unreliable testimony of the alleged eye witnesses, conviction cannot be brought on the accused,” additional sessions judge Girish Kathpalia said.
The court stated that the prosecution failed to establish its case. “First the alleged criminals were apprehended and then the entire investigation exercise was carried out in order to somehow connect them to the crime,” it said.
According to police, an FIR was lodged on March 11, 2009 on Bulandshahar resident Siraj Ahmad’s complaint alleging that four boys, who were playing Holi in south Delhi’s Khizrabad area, had an altercation over putting colour on him and his wife during which one of the boys stabbed his associate Raisuddin, leading to his death.
Police, on a tip-off, arrested Krishan and three juveniles. Krishan was charged for the offence of murder with common intention under section 302/34 of IPC and Arms Act. During the trial, Krishna pleaded innocence claiming he was falsely implicated.