The apex bench, led by Justice J B Pardiwala and Justice K Vinod Chandran, slammed the Uttar Pradesh Police for a "slipshod investigation" that left a man in jail for six years. The case, registered in Agra in 2019, saw the petitioner denied bail by the Allahabad High Court on 23 March, a decision the Supreme Court later reversed when it directed the trial court to conclude the trial within three months.
The trial court acquitted the accused after finding no evidence to support the prosecution’s four alleged circumstances, none of which included the electronic data the police had claimed. “We cannot accept a haphazard prosecution that jeopardises a person’s liberty,” the bench said, citing the petitioner’s continuous detention since 14 November 2019.
In its judgment the court admonished the police, stating that investigating agencies exist to ensure justice, not merely to secure a conviction. It instructed the state to send copies of the decision to the Director General of Police and the Home Secretary, emphasizing the need for police training on proper investigative procedures.
The petitioner, described by the bench as a “victim of the system,” has endured the psychological toll of six years behind bars with no evidence against him. His experience underscores the court’s warning that investigative lapses can cripple innocent lives.
The court further ordered the state to pay ₹6 lakh to the petitioner within one month, a symbolic reparative amount, while mandating a detailed report on how the investigation will be reformed. The next step is a compliance filing by the state authorities, expected by the end of the month, as the Supreme Court keeps a close eye on implementation.