"From Accused to Acquitted: A 4.5-Year Fight for Freedom in Ghaziabad"

  

After spending over four-and-a-half years in Dasna jail, a 24-year-old man has finally walked free. Accused in 2020 of raping a minor, the man — then a 19-year-old helping his father run an e-rickshaw business — was recently acquitted by a special POCSO court in Ghaziabad.

The court found inconsistencies in the alleged victim’s account and cited a lack of supporting medical evidence. Most notably, the girl's statement that she proceeded to her tuition class shortly after the alleged assault raised eyebrows and doubt. With no physical injuries and contradictory witness statements, the court ruled that the prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

This verdict sheds light on a critical issue: how accusations, even unproven, can disrupt lives. The man’s family, impoverished and unable to afford legal aid, received free representation from lawyers moved by their plight. The defense lawyer revealed that the young man had been imprisoned for nearly five years without a conviction, a chilling reminder of how long legal processes can take.

This case highlights the importance of due diligence in investigation and swift trial processes. Allegations must be taken seriously — especially in cases involving minors — but justice should be grounded in evidence, not assumptions.

As the young man re-enters society, one hopes his lost years don’t define his future. His story is not just one of accusation and acquittal — it’s a testament to how justice, even when delayed, can still be served.