'Trials' & Tribulations: UP Man Convicted Of Murder Freed At 104 After 48-Year Legal Battle
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News18 spoke to Lakhan Saroj and his five daughters, who stood firmly by his side as pillars of strength throughout his awe-inspiring journey to prove his innocence
If any list of the oldest people acquitted in Indian judicial history is compiled, Uttar Pradesh's Lakhan Saroj would very likely top it. A native of Uttar Pradesh's Kaushambi district, Saroj, who was convicted in a murder case dating back to 1977, fought a 48-year-long legal battle to prove his innocence and finally did so at the age of 104. News18 spoke to Saroj and his five daughters, who stood firmly by his side as pillars of strength throughout his awe-inspiring journey to prove his innocence.
Gauraye village in Kaushambi district has borne witness to many tales. Of these, the one of Lakhan Saroj stands out. Saroj was accused of murder in the aftermath of a village brawl in 1977. After nearly five decades of legal proceedings, on May 2, 2025, the Allahabad High Court acquitted him, citing insufficient prosecutorial evidence and multiple procedural irregularities.
'I never imagined I would live to see this day," Lakhan told News18, his frail voice barely rising above a whisper as he sat with his daughter Asha Devi on a charpoy. His legs, weakened by age and years of suffering, could barely support his weight. 'My daughters believed in my innocence, and they stood with me throughout my legal battle," he said while getting emotional. Though the court ordered his release on May 2, 2025, the process got further delayed for around 20 days over some formalities.
Village dispute turned fatal
The incident that changed the course of Lakhan's life unfolded on August 16, 1977. A long-standing enmity between two groups in the village culminated in a violent clash. 'They came to our house drunk and armed with sticks. In the fight that followed, Prabhu Saroj was injured and later died," recalled Lakhan Saroj when News18 asked about the incident, which he still remembers. The FIR named Lakhan and three others—Kaleshar, Kallu, and Deshraj—as the accused. Police arrested them and sent them to jail.
While Lakhan was granted bail after some time, the sessions court in Prayagraj sentenced him and the others to life imprisonment in 1982. The others—all co-accused—either died over the years or became too frail to move. Deshraj, now bedridden, never saw justice.
Lost in legal maze
After the 1982 conviction, Lakhan appealed to the Allahabad High Court. However, with little knowledge of the legal process and minimal resources, his case remained in limbo. 'We hired three to four lawyers over the years, but most of them took the money and disappeared," Saroj's daughter Asha said.
Meanwhile, Lakhan—illiterate and unaware of the nuances of judicial procedure—continued missing court dates. 'I didn't know what a date meant," he admitted. 'Sometimes I would go to the police station, and they'd say, 'Go home, nothing will happen now.' So, I did."
This ignorance led to multiple warrants being issued against him, but he was never found at his listed address. After his wife died, he lived alternately at his five daughters' homes, which made locating him harder. His son from his first marriage reportedly made no effort to help him legally or otherwise.
Daughters by his side
Throughout Lakhan Saroj's gruelling 48-year legal battle, his daughters stood as unwavering pillars of strength and support, shouldering the immense responsibility of fighting for their father's freedom.
While Lakhan himself remained largely unaware of the complexities of the judicial process, it was his daughters who tirelessly navigated the legal maze, hiring multiple lawyers, attending court hearings, and ensuring that his case stayed alive despite repeated setbacks. They bore the emotional and financial burdens when his son from the first marriage showed little interest in helping. As Lakhan moved between their homes to evade police warrants, it was their determination and resilience that kept hope alive, ultimately leading to his acquittal.
'We were tired of the taunts and of being labelled the children of a murderer. I couldn't bear the thought of my father dying with that stigma. As I grew older, proving his innocence became the sole purpose of our lives. All five of us sisters stood by him in every way we could, determined to clear his name," Asha Devi told News18.
Arrested again, at 94
In 2015, Lakhan was re-arrested following a non-bailable warrant (NBW) issued by the high court for violating bail conditions. He spent three years in Naini Central Jail before being released again on bail, not because of his son, but because of his daughters.
'My brother never cared. We were the ones who took care of him, who went to court, who paid the lawyers. This case started even before we were born. But it became our life," said Asha Devi.
Despite his frail health, Lakhan was returned to jail in December 2024 following another warrant—this time issued as the High Court required his physical presence to decide the pending appeal.
Misstep in system
Additional district judge Poornima Pranjal, who also serves as secretary of the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) in Kaushambi, explained the procedural breakdown. 'The High Court needed his presence to decide the long-pending appeal. So, a fresh warrant was issued, and we had him brought to Manjhanpur jail," she said.
The High Court, after re-evaluating the case, found that the evidence was weak and unreliable. Most of the original complainants had died, and key witnesses were no longer available. The case, which began as a dispute between villagers, eventually became 'Lakhan vs State" after the complainant party withdrew from the trial.
'Justice was long overdue. The FIR from 1977 claimed he was around 55 then, which would make him approximately 103 now. But his Aadhaar card and jail records mention his age as 104," said advocate Man Mohan Mishra, who acted as amicus curiae.
The High Court's verdict on May 2, 2025, acquitted Lakhan of all charges.
Despite being acquitted, Lakhan remained behind bars for another 20 days. 'The release order (parwana) did not reach the district jail in time," Judge Pranjal admitted. 'A prisoner cannot be released without it, regardless of the verdict."
Upon learning of the delay, officials moved quickly. The CJM Court in Prayagraj confirmed the acquittal and sent the signed documents. 'There was a technical error in uploading the papers," said Pranjal. 'That's why he remained in jail for nearly three weeks after the acquittal."
Eventually, the DLSA ensured his safe release and escorted him to his daughter's house in the Sharira area.
Legal expert speaks
S Mohammad Haider Rizvi, senior advocate at the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court, called Lakhan Saroj's case a grim reminder of the justice system's apathy. 'Despite the High Court clearly stating that the prosecution's case was weak, the trial court's conviction ignored vital aspects like the right to private defence. Lakhan suffered greatly due to procedural lapses and endless delays," he said.
Rizvi pointed out that Law Commission reports recommending reforms often remain unimplemented. 'This case highlights how undertrials can be forgotten, enduring prolonged incarceration while the system moves at a glacial pace. Even after acquittal, Lakhan's release was delayed by 18 days—a problem we lawyers constantly raise. It's not just a legal failure but a humanitarian one, demanding serious introspection and structural reform," he added.
A life lost in time
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When asked how he feels after the acquittal, Lakhan responded with a tired smile: 'It doesn't matter whether I am 80 or 104. I'm free now." His daughter Asha clasped his hand tightly. 'We fought because we knew he was innocent. The world may have forgotten him, but we never did," she said.
Lakhan now spends his days between his daughters' homes.
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tags :
court judiciary justice murder uttar pradesh
Location :
Lucknow, India, India
First Published:
May 25, 2025, 07:30 IST
News india 'Trials' & Tribulations: UP Man Convicted Of Murder Freed At 104 After 48-Year Legal Battle
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