Supreme Court Acquits Man After 22 Years in Prison in Odisha Murder Case
A man arrested in connection with a 2004 triple murder case in Hirlii village, Nabarangpur district, Odisha, has been acquitted by the Supreme Court after serving over 22 years in prison. A three-judge bench found that the prosecution failed to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt and that he was arrested primarily on suspicion based on an alleged eyewitness claim.
The court noted that police allegedly used coercive interrogation methods to extract a confession, which became the basis of the prosecution's case. Upon review of evidence and investigation circumstances, the bench concluded that reliable and legally admissible evidence was lacking to sustain the conviction.
The court expressed deep concern over the judicial failure, stating that depriving a person of liberty for over two decades without solid evidence represents a collective failure of the justice system. The bench acquitted the man of all charges and restored his freedom while criticising the investigation and judicial lapses that led to the loss of 22 years of his life.
