A Delhi court has acquitted all surviving accused in a long-standing case related to alleged record fabrication in the President’s Secretariat. The court ruled that the prosecution could not prove the creation of a forged representation or the existence of a criminal conspiracy beyond a reasonable doubt. The case, originating from Supreme Court directions in 1994, involved charges under various sections of the IPC against six accused individuals, both public officials and private persons.
The judgment, delivered by Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Jyoti Maheshwari of the Rouse Avenue Court, highlighted that the prosecution’s case centered on claims of a conspiracy to fabricate evidence in a representation submitted to the President in 1986. Despite a detailed analysis of evidence spanning decades, including witness testimonies and procedural history, the court found the prosecution lacking in establishing crucial facts to support the charges. The court emphasized that while there were suspicions and discrepancies presented, they did not amount to conclusive evidence linking the accused to the alleged forgery or conspiracy.
Witnesses from the President’s Secretariat testified on procedural matters, with some suggesting that the disputed entry in the Dak register may have been inserted later. The court also noted contradictions in witness testimonies, investigative deficiencies, and the delayed trial process. Ultimately, the court acquitted the accused, citing the failure of the prosecution to meet the burden of proof required in criminal trials.
The judgment concluded a protracted legal battle that began in the 1980s and culminated in criminal proceedings decades later. It underscored the principle that suspicion alone cannot substitute proof in criminal cases and reiterated the necessity for the prosecution to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
