Patna: Eleven Maoist leaders were on Friday acquitted by a Bihar court which took into consideration the decision to withdraw cases against them to help bolster bilateral ties between India and Nepal.
Additional District Judge(IX) Bashishtha Narain Singh ordered the acquittal of the Nepal Maoist leaders after holding a hearing on the state government’s petition to withdraw the cases against them.
Bihar government had on February 1 moved the court seeking to withdraw cases lodged against them apparently following a request from the Union Home Ministry. Public prosecutor Jai Prakash Singh said he had filed a petition in the court under section 321 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CRPC). Under the section, the public prosecutor or assistant public prosecutor in-charge of a case may with the consent of the court at any time before the judgement is pronounced withdraw from prosecution of any person either generally or in respect of anyone or more of the offences for which he is tried. (PTI)