Manoj Pathak and Four Others Acquitted in Six-Year-Old Criminal Case

Shravasti: In a significant development, the District and Sessions Court has acquitted Lok Janshakti Party’s former state president for the farmers' wing, Manoj Kumar Pathak, his wife, and three others in a six-year-old criminal case. The court granted them the benefit of doubt due to insufficient evidence presented by the prosecution.

The case, registered under case number 124/2020, involved allegations that the then Station House Officer had altered a petition submitted by Pathak and subsequently filed serious charges against him, his family, and others. Following the registration of the case, the accused were also sent to jail. The charges were filed under sections 195, 182, and provisions of 3/4/5.

After years of judicial proceedings, the court concluded the hearing recently. During the trial, the prosecution failed to provide adequate evidence or witnesses to substantiate the allegations. The defense argued that the accusations could not be proven either directly or indirectly, leading the court to dismiss the charges and acquit all five accused.

Following the verdict, Pathak and his supporters expressed relief and called it a victory for justice. Speaking about the ordeal, Pathak stated that he and his family faced prolonged mental and social distress due to the case but maintained faith in the judiciary. He welcomed the judgment, saying it had brought much-needed relief to him and his family.

This decision highlights the importance of robust evidence in criminal cases and underscores the principle of granting the benefit of doubt when allegations cannot be conclusively proven.