Nainital, September 12, 2025 | Navin Samachar | (Supreme Court Acquits Convicts in Ladli Rape) In a historic ruling, the Supreme Court of India has acquitted Akhtar Ali alias Raja Ustad of Bihar and Prem Pal Verma of Haldwani, both previously convicted in the sensational 2014 Kathgodam ‘Ladli’ rape and murder case. The case had rocked Uttarakhand and the nation over a decade ago, when a little girl (name changed as ‘Ladli’) went missing from a wedding function and was later found dead in the nearby forest.
The three-judge bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Sanjay Karol, and Justice Sandeep Mehta overturned the death sentence and imprisonment, ruling that the prosecution had failed to establish a strong chain of circumstantial evidence.
Disappearance from a Wedding Function
On 20 November 2014, during a wedding ceremony at Sheeshmahal Ramleela Ground, Kathgodam, the victim, a minor girl, disappeared while playing with other children. Despite immediate complaints to the police, the child could not be traced that night.
Four days later, on 25 November 2014, her body was discovered not by police but by her relatives in the Gola River forest area, close to Sheeshmahal. The post-mortem confirmed sexual assault and injuries caused by blunt force trauma, which led to her death.
Police Investigation and Arrests
Police registered cases under IPC Sections 363, 376, 302, 201 and under POCSO Act provisions. Investigators claimed that three accused — Akhtar Ali, Prem Pal Verma, and Junior Masih alias Foxy — lured the child with chocolates, assaulted her, and dumped the body under leaves in the forest.
Akhtar Ali was later arrested from Ludhiana, and police claimed to have recovered a blanket allegedly used in the crime, a railway ticket, and a mobile phone. Prem Pal Verma, a local driver, was also taken into custody. Junior Masih, however, was acquitted during trial.
Fast-Track Court and High Court Verdicts
On 11 March 2016, the Fast Track POCSO Court in Haldwani sentenced Akhtar Ali to death penalty and Prem Pal Verma to seven years’ imprisonment. The judgment sparked anger and also relief in society, as local bar associations had vowed not to defend the accused, and women’s groups had demanded exemplary punishment.
In 2019, the Uttarakhand High Court upheld the lower court’s verdict. However, both accused challenged the conviction in the Supreme Court, claiming that the case was based on weak circumstantial evidence.
Supreme Court’s Observations
On 10 September 2025, the Supreme Court delivered its final verdict. The bench highlighted:
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Weak Circumstantial Evidence – The prosecution failed to establish a complete and unbroken chain linking the accused to the crime.
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Contradictions in Witness Testimonies – Local shopkeepers and witnesses did not provide consistent or conclusive accounts.
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Unreliable Confession – The so-called confession used against Prem Pal Verma was derivative and lacked independent corroboration.
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Forensic Gaps – Alleged scientific evidence was riddled with contradictions and inconsistencies.
The Court ruled that in cases where capital punishment is considered, the evidence must be “beyond all reasonable doubt” and not merely suspicious. “When two interpretations are possible, the one favoring the accused must be adopted,” the bench said.
As a result, both accused were acquitted of all charges and ordered to be released immediately.
Political and Social Uproar
Back in 2014, the disappearance of the girl had created massive uproar in Uttarakhand Assembly. Opposition leaders forced adjournments, demanding immediate action, while then Chief Minister Harish Rawat had promised forensic investigation and a special probe.
The public outcry had been so strong that local lawyers refused to defend the accused, and women’s groups demanded that culprits be handed over to them for punishment. The incident had deeply shaken Uttarakhand, much like the Nirbhaya case did at the national level.
Why the Case Matters (Supreme Court Acquits Convicts in Ladli Rape)
The Supreme Court’s ruling highlights:
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Importance of foolproof investigations in sensitive cases involving children.
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Dangers of weak prosecution leading to wrongful convictions.
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Judiciary’s stance on death penalty — it should be applied only in the “rarest of rare” cases with unquestionable evidence.
The acquittal after 11 years is a stark reminder of how flaws in investigation and prosecution can change the fate of high-profile cases.
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