Virtually forced to acquit the convicts: SC

New Delhi, Nov 18 (UNI) The Supreme Court has admitted it has virtually being forced to acquit the convicts, who had murdered three people in broad daylight in Bhopal district courts on July 10, 1996.

A bench comprising Justices B N Agrawal and G S Singhvi, while recording the acquittal of all the appellants including the two Mukhtiyar and Asif Mamu, who were sentenced to death by Madhya Pradesh High Court said ''We are unhappy to note that such a ghastly crime of brutal murder of three people in broad daylight in the temple of justice, which is the campus of district court in Bhopal, capital city of Madya Pradesh, is going unpunished because of laches on the part of prosecuting agency in conducting the investigation and trial, apart from uncooperative attitude of the private prosecutors, who appear to have connived with the culprits, leaving us with no other option but to painfully convert convictions of the appellants, some of whom were even condemned prisoners, into acquittal.'' One of those acquitted namely Rajiulla, who was an advocate, was also sentenced to life imprisonment by the High Court.

The trial court had acquitted all.

The deceased were Saleem Baba, Saleem Bucha and Umar Izhar.

The apex court set aside the judgment of the High Court and allowed the appeals of all the appellants.

UNI SC NY RP KN2007