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NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Wednesday acquitted three accused in a 2009 acid attack case, citing a lack of evidence, 16 years after charges of criminal conspiracy were framed against them.Additional Sessions Judge Jagmohan Singh acquitted the trio — Yashvinder, his wife Bala, and Mandeep Mann — who were accused of conspiring with another accused, a juvenile at the time, to carry out the attack on an MBA student in Panipat, Haryana.Reacting to the acquittal, the victim’s lawyer said the decision would be challenged in a higher court.“Apart from insufficient evidence, the court cited a faulty and incomplete investigation and the absence of the victim’s evidence on record, though an inquiry has been ordered against the investigating officer,” advocate Madiah Shahjar told reporters.“While the court expressed sympathy, it said that justice — not sympathy — was sought after a 16-year legal battle. The verdict will be challenged in the Delhi high court and, if required, in the Supreme Court,” the lawyer added.A detailed order in the matter would be issued on December 26. On December 4, while hearing a PIL filed by the victim, the Supreme Court termed delayed trials in acid attack cases a “mockery of the system” and directed all high courts to submit details of such pending cases within four weeks. The top court also described the prolonged delay in the case as a “national shame” and ordered that the trial be conducted on a day-to-day basis. In 2013, the case was shifted from Haryana to Delhi’s Rohini court.(With PTI inputs)
