Supreme Court Relief For Man Facing Death Penalty In Rape And Murder Case

While allowing the appeals, the top court quashed the verdict convicting the accused and directed that he be set at liberty forthwith.

The Supreme Court has quashed the conviction and death penalty awarded to a man for the alleged rape and murder of a six-year-old girl in 2010, saying "multitudinous lapses" in the investigation have compromised the quest to punish the doer of such a barbaric act in absolute peril.

Referring to the manner in which probe into the case was undertaken by the Maharashtra Police, the top court said numerous lapses blot the entire map and there were "yawning gaps" in the chain of circumstances rendering it far from being established.

A bench headed by Justice B R Gavai delivered its verdict on the appeals filed by the accused against the October 2015 judgement of the Bombay High Court which had affirmed the conviction and death sentence awarded to him by a trial court.

While allowing the appeals, the top court quashed the verdict convicting the accused and directed that he be set at liberty forthwith, if not required in any other case.