Ghaziabad Court Acquits Man After 8 Years in Jail, Cites Prosecution's Failure to Prove Victim's Identity
In a significant ruling, a Ghaziabad court has acquitted a man who spent almost eight years behind bars on allegations of murdering his wife and disposing of her remains in a drain. The court cited fundamental gaps in the prosecution's case, including its inability to conclusively establish the identity of the body claimed to be that of the missing woman.
Court Highlights Fundamental Flaws in Prosecution's Case
The additional sessions court in Ghaziabad, while acquitting Rajiv Poddar of culpable homicide and causing disappearance of evidence on January 22, stated that the prosecution had neither demonstrated a motive nor produced a coherent chain of circumstantial evidence that pointed solely to the accused. The court directed that Poddar be released immediately, bringing an end to his prolonged incarceration.
Rajiv Poddar, a resident of Bihar's Darbhanga district, was taken into custody on August 28, 2018, following the disappearance of his wife, Sanjana. He remained in jail throughout the trial after the Allahabad High Court declined to grant him bail, highlighting the severity of the allegations against him.
Defence Challenges Prosecution's Evidence and Witness Credibility
On behalf of the defence, advocates for the accused argued that the case was based entirely on circumstantial evidence with no direct substantial proof that the deceased was seen being murdered by any person. The court order noted decisive contradictions among the witnesses presented by the prosecution, undermining their reliability.
The defence also contended that the investigating officer submitted the charge sheet contrary to actual facts without understanding the core of the incident. Furthermore, they emphasized that there was no established motive or enmity for the alleged crime, raising serious questions about the prosecution's narrative.
Timeline of Events and Identification Issues
The case began when Poddar approached the Vijaynagar police station on August 19, 2018, to report his wife Sanjana missing. On August 25, 2018, police recovered the body of an unidentified woman from a drain. Sanjana's brother later claimed the body was hers and accused Poddar of being responsible, leading to a criminal case being registered on August 27, 2018, and Poddar's arrest the following day.
During the proceedings, the defence consistently challenged the prosecution's assertion regarding the identity of the deceased. Counsel for Poddar argued that the body was in a severely decomposed and mutilated condition, making identification unreliable. The prosecution failed to explain how the complainant recognised the body, and no independent evidence was presented to confirm that the remains were indeed Sanjana's.
Additional Findings and Court's Scepticism
Complicating matters further, another body of an unidentified child was later found at the same location. The failure to establish the child's identity, combined with the condition of both bodies, raised additional questions about the prosecution's version of events.
The defence also highlighted that the couple's three children were living with Poddar at the time, contradicting suggestions of domestic violence or foul play that might have motivated the alleged crime.
Court Points to Inconsistencies and Lack of Motive
In its detailed order, the court drew attention to inconsistencies between the physical details recorded during the inquest and post-mortem examination and the description of Sanjana provided by her family. These discrepancies significantly undermined the prosecution's claim that the recovered body belonged to the missing woman.
Investigators had submitted the chargesheet on November 6, 2018, and invoked provisions of the Arms Act, alleging recovery of a knife used in the offence. However, the court expressed scepticism about this alleged recovery, noting it was shown to have been made from a busy public road without the presence or testimony of any independent witnesses.
Benefit of Doubt Extended in Landmark Ruling
Ultimately, the court held that the prosecution had failed to prove motive, establish disposal of evidence, or link the accused to the alleged crime through reliable circumstances. Extending the benefit of doubt to Poddar, the court acquitted him of all charges, marking a crucial judicial intervention in a case marred by investigative shortcomings.
This ruling underscores the importance of robust evidence and proper investigative procedures in criminal cases, particularly those involving serious charges like murder. The Ghaziabad court's decision highlights how fundamental flaws in prosecution can lead to prolonged injustice, emphasizing the judiciary's role in safeguarding individual rights against inadequate legal processes.
