SC admits appeal against acquittal of murder accused

SHILLONG: The Supreme Court has admitted an appeal against the accused in a sensational murder case who was earlier acquitted by the High Court of Meghalaya.
Supreme Court lawyer and counsel for Meghalaya, Ranjan Mukherjee said on Tuesday over phone from Delhi that the accused, Rajesh Rabha stabbed to death a fellow worker, Bijoy Rabha at Flavours Restaurant in the city in March 2011.
The victim suffered as many as 26 cuts.
After the accused was taken into custody, he was convicted by the Sessions Judge, Shillong under Sections 302 and 326 IPC on May 1, 2014, based on the case filed at Laitumkhrah police station and was sentenced to life imprisonment.
“However, after the accused appealed before the High Court, he was acquitted of the charges in November 2016 since the dying declaration of the victim was oral and not in writing,” Mukherjee said.
However, the state appealed before the Supreme Court against the acquittal and Mukherjee also submitted the report of the forensic science laboratory before the court, which matched the blood sample of the accused with the dress worn by the victim.
Mukherjee said that with the submission of the forensic report, conviction of the accused would be the next course.
“On Monday, the Supreme Court admitted the government appeal and the case will be taken in the due course of time,” he said.