In a dramatic turn of justice, the Supreme Court has acquitted Arjun Jani, who spent 22 years in prison after being convicted in a triple murder case in Nabarangpur.
The three-judge bench comprising Justice S.K. Singh, Justice J.B. Pardiwala, and Justice K. Vinod Chandran ruled that the conviction was based on weak and unreliable evidence, setting aside the earlier trial court verdict.
The apex court observed that the prosecution’s case relied almost entirely on the testimony of a single eyewitness, whose statements were inconsistent and insufficient to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The bench noted serious lapses in investigation, including contradictions in witness accounts, questionable recovery of the alleged weapon, and allegations of forced confession through police assault.
The court criticised the trial process as “unjust and against the principles of fairness,” stressing that no person should lose decades of life merely on suspicion. It further directed the Koraput District Legal Services Authority to assist in Arjun’s rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
Arjun, now released, faces a bleak future with no family, home, or livelihood. Local residents have urged authorities to provide him shelter and support to rebuild his life.
