Wrongful Conviction: Judges and Police criticised by the Bombay High Court.
Last Updated on April 15, 2024 by News Desk
The recent casual approach of the police as well as judges while handling the evidence and conducting a trial, which led to the wrongful conviction of a person irked the Bombay HC.
Justice SM Modak had expressed his displeasure at how the conviction took place, whereby the absence of the important piece of evidence was overlooked.
He directed the Joint Director of the Maharashtra Judicial Academy to take these issues at the training level of the judges in the academy.
Directions were also issued to the joint director to inform the High Court regarding the steps taken to address the issue.
Anand Sakpal, a postmaster, was convicted of embezzling ₹28,834 between August 2006 and February 2007. His supervisor suspected foul play after inspecting deposit records, leading to a police complaint. Sakpal was charged with criminal breach of trust and forgery. Though acquitted of forgery, he received a three-year prison sentence for breach of trust. The verdict was upheld on appeal.
Later, he approached the High Court with an application for revision.
Justice Modak observed that the seizure of the relevant register based on which the complaint was filed was not done.
The high court was dissatisfied with the findings of both the magistrate as well as the session judge.
Sakpal’s immediate release from the prison was offered.
Written By:- Shianjany Pradhan (@SHIANJANYPRADHAN)
