Forget murder bid, can’t even prove mango theft, says court while acquitting UP man

Lucknow, December 10: A defendant’s patience and faith in justice finally bore fruit, albeit after a long wait of 12 years when additional sessions judge PC Kushwaha absolved one Farid Pindari of the charges of theft of mangoes and attempt to murder.

In the judgment delivered here earlier this week, Kushwaha stated that the prosecution had failed to prove beyond doubt that Farid Pindari had forcibly stolen mangoes from the complainant Rashid Ali Beg’s orchard on June 7, 2008, and had tried to kill him, the Hindustan Times reported.

Rashid Ali Beg had lodged an FIR (first information report) at Malihabad police station in June 2008 alleging Farid Pindari and Hafiz Abdul Rais (both defendants) forcibly plucked mangoes from his orchard in Malihabad at around 9 pm on June 7, 2008.

When Beg tried to confront them, Farid Pindari provoked Hafiz Abdul Rais to kill him (Beg), the complainant had alleged. On being incited, Hafiz Abdul fired at Beg from a country made gun, but he missed the target, the complainant further claimed.

In the FIR, attempt to murder charges under Section 307 of the IPC (Indian Penal Code) were levelled against Farid Pindari and Hafiz Abdul Rais. During the course of investigation and legal battle, Hafiz Abdul Rais died. Thereafter, the case against him was closed.

“During the prolonged legal battle, the prosecution was not able to prove that Farid Pindari had tried to kill Rashid Ali Beg. Even the charge of stealing mangoes could not be proved against him,” said lawyers KK Mishra and Waqar Husain, who represented Farid Pindari and Hafiz Abdul Rais in court.

“The investigating officer’s (sub-inspector) report also pointed out that no gun shot was fired and no mangoes were stolen. Due to personal enmity, false allegations were levelled on Farid and Hafiz,” Mishra added.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/lucknow/forget-murder-bid-can-t-even-prove-mango-theft-says-court-acquits-up-man/story-ITlUQAylkboHBMPCTEVSNI.html