*SC Upholds Innocence of Gulzar Peer, Others in 2013 Budgam Rape Case
New Delhi, May 18 (JKNS): The Supreme Court of India upheld the acquittal of Gulzar Ahmad Bhat alias Gulzar Peer and three others in a 2013 rape case from Budgam, dismissing the Jammu and Kashmir government’s criminal appeal against their exoneration.
Details available with news agency JKNS stated that a division bench comprising Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma affirmed the February 23, 2017 judgment of the J&K High Court, which had upheld the earlier acquittal by the Sessions Court Budgam delivered on February 12, 2015 in Sessions Case No. 142/S.
The case, linked to FIR No. 40/2013 under Sections 376 and 109 RPC at Khansahib Police Station, had accused the individuals of rape and criminal conspiracy.
While hearing the matter, the apex court found no legal infirmity in the lower court findings and noted that the prosecution failed to demonstrate any glaring errors or contradictions warranting reversal of the acquittal.
Referring to settled law and past judgments including Yashwant vs. State of Maharashtra (2019) and Rajesh Prasad vs. State of Bihar (2022), the court stated there was no reason to disturb the conclusion already arrived at by two courts.
The bench emphasized that unless a serious miscarriage of justice is evident, acquittals cannot be easily overturned. The judgment marks the final legal closure in the high-profile case, reinforcing the acquitted individuals’ innocence. (JKNS)