Srinagar, Sep 16: A 17-year-old criminal case registered at Police Station Saddar, Srinagar, has ended with the acquittal of four accused after a Special Court held that the prosecution failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt.
The judgment was pronounced on September 16 by Additional Sessions Judge and Special Judge under the NIA Act, Manjeet Rai, in connection with FIR No. 254/2009. The case involved allegations of Cross-LoC trade, criminal conspiracy and funding of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba.
The acquitted persons are Mushfiq Ahmad Lone, Vipin Kumar Sharma, Sanjeev Kumar Tandon and Zahoor Ahmad Dar. Proceedings against another accused, Suraj Prakash Badyal, had abated following his death in November 2024.
The prosecution alleged that money generated through Cross-LoC barter trade was being channelled for unlawful activities. Police claimed recovery of ₹13.85 lakh in cash, besides a grenade and other articles.
However, the Court found significant gaps in the evidence, including the absence of independent witnesses, deficiencies in the handling and sealing of recoveries, lack of a proven money trail and inconsistencies in witnesses’ accounts regarding arrests and recoveries.
The Court also found that the call-detail records did not meet the required evidentiary standards and noted that mandatory sanction under the UAPA had not been properly proved.
The prosecution further failed to establish a business connection between the accused or prove that the recovered money constituted unlawful funds.
Holding that the charges had not been proved beyond reasonable doubt, the Court acquitted all four surviving accused.
The Court also ordered release of the seized ₹13.85 lakh to the persons from whom it was recovered or their legal heirs, subject to the appeal period and any lawful restraint.
