Allahabad HC acquits man convicted of attempting to rape, murder 100-year-old woman

A case was filed against Punia on various charges, including murder, attempted rape and house trespass. Additionally, since the victim was a Dalit, the police invoked the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, against him.

Punia was arrested and sent to jail and on November 20, 2020, a Meerut court sentenced him to life imprisonment. He later filed an appeal against the order.

As per the high court order, during the hearing of the appeal, Punia’s lawyer argued that the woman’s grandson had falsely implicated his client to avoid repaying a loan and to secure financial assistance from the government. The lawyer also pointed out that there were no independent witnesses or eyewitnesses in the case.

The court stated in its order that the complainant admitted he was residing in Ghaziabad with his wife when the incident occurred, which meant he was not an eyewitness. Therefore, the statements from the complainant and his wife, who also served as a witness, were deemed unreliable.

The court, in its order, also highlighted the absence of independent witnesses in the case.

The alleged incident occurred at night with the accused reportedly fleeing the scene and leaving his clothes behind. The court order stated that the complainant, however, did not mention recovering any items from the scene. Additionally, no external injuries were found on the body, and doctors stated that there were no signs of force being used, the order further stated. Furthermore, no sperm was detected on the clothes, it added.

The victim, who had been ill, later died of septicemia, the order stated.