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20 years after they were jailed, HC acquits 6 convicts in 2002 Haryana murder case

Citing contradictions in statements, unexplained injuries on the body of the deceased, and the delay in lodging the FIR, the Punjab and Haryana High Court set aside the conviction of the six individuals.

3 min readChandigarhUpdated: Sep 2, 2025 02:32 PM IST

The case dates back to August 2008, when a bag containing Rs 15 lakh was delivered to the residence of Justice Nirmaljit Kaur, then a judge of the high court, by the clerk of former Haryana Additional Advocate General Sanjeev Bansal. (File Photo)

The Punjab and Haryana High Court Monday acquitted six convicts in a 2002 murder case, calling the prosecution’s case “not trustworthy” and riddled with contradictions.

Noting that “the prosecution has projected a distorted version of events”, the division bench of Justices Manjari Nehru Kaul and H S Grewal overturned the July 19, 2004, verdict of a sessions court in Narnaul. The lower court had sentenced Madan Lal, Jagmal Singh, Lal Chand, Sunil Kumar, Sanjiv Kumar, and Munni Devi to life imprisonment under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), read with Section 34 (common intention), for the murder of Shadi Ram in Birawas village.

Assault and death

According to the prosecution, on the morning of September 11, 2002, complainant Surrender Singh, son of the deceased Shadi Ram, saw his father being attacked near Madan Lal’s house while on his way to the fields.

The First Information Report (FIR) alleged that Sunil Kumar hit Ram on the head with the back side of a kulhari (axe) while Lal Chand struck him with an iron rod. Ram succumbed to head injuries a day later at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS) in Rohtak.

Accepting the prosecution’s version, the trial court convicted all six. However, in their appeal, the accused argued that the case was fabricated and pointed to glaring lapses in the investigation and inconsistencies in statements.

Court raps prosecution

The High Court agreed. Citing medical reports, it noted that the accused had sustained multiple injuries, two of them grievous, which the prosecution had not explained. “The prosecution has not explained these injuries at all, which clearly shows that the genesis of the occurrence has been concealed…,” the bench observed.

The court also flagged the delay in lodging the FIR. While the incident allegedly occurred at 7.30 am, the complainant’s statement was recorded only at 3.10 pm. “The unexplained delay of nearly eight hours gives sufficient time for deliberation, consultation and embellishment,” the judgment said.

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Adding to the doubts, the accused had themselves gone to the police first. “The accused had lodged a daily diary entry at 10 am on the same day, which shows that they were the first to approach the police,” the ruling noted.

The bench also highlighted material contradictions in the statements of prosecution witnesses. The complainant first said that the attack occurred in front of Madan Lal’s house, but later shifted the location to near the Panchayat Ghar. Crucially, Virender Singh, another son of the deceased who witnessed the attack and took his father to the hospital, was never examined. “His non-examination suggests the true genesis of the occurrence was suppressed,” the court said.

In its concluding remarks, the court declared, “The prosecution story is not trustworthy. Consequently, the appeal is allowed and the judgment of conviction and order of sentence dated 19.07.2004 is hereby set aside.”

Manraj Grewal Sharma

Manraj Grewal Sharma is a senior journalist and the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Chandigarh, where she leads the newspaper’s coverage of north India’s most politically and institutionally significant regions. From Punjab and Haryana to Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, she oversees reporting at the intersection of governance, law, politics and society. She also reports on the diaspora, especially in Canada and the US. With a career spanning journalism across several countries, academia and international development, Manraj brings a rare depth of perspective to regional reporting. She is widely regarded as a leading chronicler of Punjab’s contemporary history and socio-political evolution, particularly its long shadow of militancy, federal tensions and identity politics. Her book, Dreams after Darkness, remains a definitive account of the militancy years and their enduring aftermath. Professional Background & Expertise A gold medalist in mass communication and a post-graduate in English literature, Manraj has a multifaceted career spanning journalism, academia, and international development. She was also awarded a fellowship by National Foundation of India and did several in-depth pieces on Manipur. Internationally, she has reported from Israel, US, UK, Myanmar, and Mauritius Her key focus areas include: Regional Politics, History, Agriculture, Diaspora, and Security. Of late, she has started focusing on Legal & Judicial Affairs: Much of her recent work involves reporting on high-stakes cases in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, ranging from environmental policy to civil rights. International Consulting: She previously served as a consulting editor for the Asia Pacific Adaptation Network and a publishing consultant for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila. Academia: For five years, she was the managing editor of Gender, Technology and Development, a peer-reviewed international journal at the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage focuses heavily on judicial interventions and regional governance: 1. Environment & Governance "‘NGT can’t test legality of policy’: HC hears challenge to Punjab’s ‘Green Habitat’ plan" (Dec 22, 2025): Covering a critical legal battle over whether the National Green Tribunal has the authority to strike down a state policy regularizing farmhouses on delisted forest land. "High court pulls up Punjab poll panel over audio clip probe" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on judicial concerns regarding the transparency and fairness of local body elections. 2. Legal Rights & Social Welfare "HC issues notice to Punjab, Haryana over delay in building old age homes" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on a contempt petition against top officials for failing to establish government-run homes for the elderly as promised in 2019. "Victims can appeal acquittals in sessions court without seeking special leave" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant procedural shift in criminal law following a Supreme Court ruling. "HC upholds benefits for Punjab FCI officer acquitted in 20-year-old bribery case" (Dec 19, 2025): A report on the concept of "honourable acquittal" and its impact on employee benefits. 3. Human Rights & Identity "As Punjab denies parole to MP Amritpal Singh, HC asks it to submit ‘foundational material’" (Dec 1, 2025): Covering the legal proceedings regarding the radical preacher and sitting MP's request to attend Parliament. "Protecting life paramount: HC backs Muslim woman in live-in after verbal divorce" (Nov 6, 2025): Analyzing judicial protections for personal liberty in the context of traditional practices. Signature Beats Manraj is recognized for her ability to decode complex judicial rulings and relate them to the everyday lives of citizens. Whether it is a 30-year-old land battle in Fazilka or the political implications of Kangana Ranaut’s candidacy in Mandi, her writing provides deep historical and regional context. Contact @grewal_sharma on X manrajgrewalsharma on Instagram ... Read More

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