Supreme Court acquits man on death row after flawed trial in 2017 rape-murder case

The Supreme Court on Wednesday overturned the conviction and death sentence of a man found guilty in 2017 for the rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl. A three-judge bench, led by Justice Vikram Nath, determined the trial was flawed, citing violations of fair trial principles. The bench, which included Justices Sanjay Karol and Sandeep Mehta, criticized the trial court for bypassing mandatory procedures from charge framing to evidence recording. It also highlighted the lack of legal representation for the accused during critical stages and the failure to provide essential documents. The court acquitted the accused, noting serious lapses in the prosecution’s case and the trial process.