Overview
- The bench of Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justices Surya Kant and Vikram Nath allowed Koli’s curative petition, quashed the conviction, sentence and fines, and directed his immediate release.
- The court said leaving a lone conviction standing when 12 related cases on identical evidence ended in acquittals would be anomalous and a manifest miscarriage of justice.
- The judgment faulted the probe for serious lapses, including an unsecured crime scene, contradictory remand records, prolonged custody without timely medical examination, lost forensic opportunities, and failure to pursue an organ-trade lead.
- Reiterating that suspicion cannot replace proof beyond reasonable doubt, the court noted with regret that the identity of the actual perpetrator has not been legally established.
- Following the order, Koli walked out of Luksar Jail, as victims’ families expressed grief and disbelief and his lawyer argued the case exposes deep flaws and calls for rethinking the death penalty.