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Allahabad HC convicts two men in 1984 murder case, overturns acquittal after 42 years
The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court convicted two surviving accused in a 1984 murder case, reversing a 1986 acquittal. The court held them guilty of culpable homicide not amounting to murder under Section 304 IPC and ordered their production on May 11 for sentencing, while noting that two other accused had died during the appeal process.
Why It Matters
The ruling overturns a decades-long acquittal, affirming that taking a life over a minor dispute cannot be justified as self-defence, and it sets a precedent for revisiting old cases.
Timeline
3 Events
May 5, 2026: Allahabad High Court convicts two remaining accused, overturns acquittal
May 5, 2026
The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court, while hearing the state's appeal, held two surviving accused guilty of culpable homicide not amounting to murder under Section 304 IPC and overturned the 1986 acquittal. The court directed that the two surviving accused be taken into custody and produced before it on May 11 for a hearing on the quantum of sentence. Two of the four original accused had died during pendency of the appeal.
1986: Trial court acquits all four accused
1986
The trial court acquitted all four accused in 1986, on the grounds of self-defence, noting that they had sustained injuries and the prosecution failed to explain the act.
June 15, 1984: Incident in Maakhi area leads to death of Jamuna Prasad
June 15, 1984
Jamuna Prasad was constructing a drain on the roof of his house in the Maakhi police station area of Unnao district when the accused objected, leading to an altercation. The accused allegedly attacked Jamuna Prasad and his brother Amrit Lal with sticks and spears; Jamuna Prasad died on the way to the hospital.