Actor acquitted of killing kathak dancer

The prosecution claimed Agnihotri had pinned hopes on Gautam to get him a break in films. Police alleged when Agnihotri found his hopes dashing,he killed Gautam.

The prosecution examined 18 witnesses to prove its case based on circumstantial evidence. Police claimed Agnihotri told them he was physically tortured by Gautam for months. However,the prosecution failed to prove this.

“The chain of circumstances could not be proved. The prosecution also failed to establish his (Agnihotri’s) presence at the spot. Call data records and tower readings did not support the prosecution case,” said his lawyer Anjali Patil.

The prosecution case was that on December 10,2009,Agnihotri went to Gautam’s residence and killed him. Gautam’s body was recovered the next day by his relatives and friends.

Police chargesheet claimed advances by Gautam pushed Agnihotri to strangle him to death. Agnihotri was arrested soon after and spent nearly six months behind bars.

Soon after the judgment Monday,Agnihotri broke down in court. “I was falsely implicated. My family has suffered a lot in the past three years,” he said.