Supreme Court orders Uttar Pradesh to compensate man acquitted after six years

The Supreme Court of India has directed the State of Uttar Pradesh to pay Rs 6 lakh in reparation to a man who spent six years in custody as an undertrial before being acquitted in a kidnapping and murder case. The court described the individual as a “victim of the system” and characterized the investigation and prosecution as a “travesty of justice.”

The petitioner was arrested in November 2019 in Agra based on circumstantial evidence, including CCTV footage and an alleged confession from a co-accused who subsequently died. The court noted that the man was not named in the original FIR or complainant statements.

A bench comprising Justices J. B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran criticized the Uttar Pradesh Police for a “slipshod investigation” built on a “concocted story.” The court emphasized that investigating agencies must ensure justice for the accused and not merely seek convictions by any means. The state has been ordered to make the payment within one month, or face an interest rate of 18 per cent per annum. Additionally, the court directed that the decision be shared with the Director General of Police and the Home Secretary to ensure police officers are educated on proper investigative processes.