Overview
- Raiyyan’s conviction was overturned in a March 31 ruling that set aside his death sentence and ordered his release if no other case holds him.
- The court said the prosecution case was full of doubts, citing witness statements recorded under duress and identifications made for the first time during trial.
- Judges noted police camped at the scene for months and detained several people yet found no reliable clue, which the court said could not support a capital verdict.
- The case had seen a split verdict at a Division Bench, which led the Chief Justice to assign it to a third judge; the judgment was sent to the trial court for compliance within a week.
- As of Thursday, his father said jail release formalities were still underway, while the victim’s family questioned who killed NIA officer Mohammad Tanzil and his wife and voiced new safety concerns.