Son involved in murder of father, stepmother acquitted for want of evidence

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 1: Principal Sessions Judge Kathua Sanjeev Gupta has acquitted one Mandeep Sharma alias Mani Baba of Deep Colony Pathankot, who had committed murder of his father and stepmother, for want of credible evidence.
While acquitting the accused, the Principal Sessions Judge observed, “I would like to say with deep pain and anguish that the dastardly act of violence remained unpunished for want of credible and admissible evidence”, adding “there are gaping holes in the prosecution evidence and an act of snuffing away lives of the deceased persons in a most inhumane manner remained unsolved”.
“After all a court of law is not supposed to proceed on predominant public perception and ultimately it has to appreciate the evidence on record and arise at a final conclusion on the basis of relevant statutory provisions and settled law applicable thereto”, the judge further said, adding “in the ultimate analysis and from the facts and circumstances of the case, the prosecution has failed to prove charges against the accused and to adduce evidence beyond reasonable doubt to make out the culpability of the accused, who deserves a benefit of doubt”.
Accordingly, prosecution case was dismissed and accused acquitted.