26 years & 200 hearings later, labourer freed in UP theft case

Saleem Rajput, arrested in 1999 and accused of possessing stolen property, endured a 26-year trial, with over 200 hearings, before being acquitted due to lack of evidence. The false accusations disrupted his life and finances, affecting his family’s well-being. The court’s recent acquittal brought relief but underscored the high personal cost he paid.

​Saleem Rajput, arrested in 1999 and accused of possessing stolen property, endured a 26-year trial, with over 200 hearings, before being acquitted due to lack of evidence. The false accusations disrupted his life and finances, affecting his family’s well-being. The court’s recent acquittal brought relief but underscored the high personal cost he paid.