Latest news with #Lakhan
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Canada-U.S. trade war could spark an 'immediate crisis' in Ontario's landfills
Doug Ford's government is blaming U.S. tariffs for the expansion of a controversial landfill project in southwestern Ontario — but experts say the conflict should serve as a wake-up call that time is running out to find long-term solutions to the province's rapidly-filling landfills. Ford's government has repeatedly raised the spectre of the U.S. President Donald Trump tariffing, or cutting off, garbage shipments to the U.S. as the rationale to reopen the York1 landfill site near Dresden, Ont. While it's unclear if Trump has made such a threat publicly, or privately, the province has depended on the U.S. to take millions of tonnes of its trash for decades. "It's about being self-reliant when it comes to waste management and all matters economic," Ontario's Environment Minister Todd McCarthy said in question period recently while defending the York1 project. Ontario sent one-third of its waste to three American states between 2006 and 2022, with 40 million tonnes going to Michigan alone. Ontario generates between 12 and 15 million tonnes of trash annually and while the government's concerns are legitimate, one landfill will not solve the problem, said York University professor Calvin Lakhan. "If, for whatever reason, the U.S. administration decided to close their borders to Canadian waste … we would face an immediate crisis that we simply do not have the infrastructure to manage," Lakhan said. WATCH | Conservative MPP speaks out against proposed Dresden landfill: The province's auditor general and the association that represents the province's waste and recycling sector have warned for years that Ontario's landfill capacity will be exhausted over the next decade. A 2023 report from the Association of Municipalities of Ontario showed that while waste diversion rates increased in the preceding five years, so too did the amount of garbage generated by the province's growing population. Even before Trump took office, Ontario faced major challenges disposing of its own garbage, said Lakhan, who is director of York's Circular Innovation Hub. But, he says the Dresden landfill, which the company says will take only non-hazardous construction and demolition materials, won't be enough to solve the crunch. "Adding additional capacity to one landfill in the province is like putting a Band-Aid on a gaping wound," he said. "At best, it provides us a temporary reprieve." Late last month, NDP environment critic Peter Tabuns slammed the government for failing to take earlier action on the file. "In 2021, the Auditor General reported Ontario was facing a landfill crunch," he said. "This is not news, and the government did nothing about it." At the time, the then-auditor general Bonnie Lysyk issued a damning report which laid some of the blame for the landfill crunch at the feet of businesses and institutions provincewide. They generate 60 per cent of Ontario's waste — that's at least 7.2 million tonnes of waste annually — and 98 per cent don't recycle, she 2017, the previous Liberal government set a goal to divert half of all waste generated by the province's residential and business sectors by 2030, and 80 per cent by 2050. As of 2021, Lysyk said the province was not on track to hit those targets. As a result, she warned, "Ontario will be faced with questions about where to put all this waste and how to pay for it in the very near future." A follow up audit from Lysyk's office in 2023 showed the government had made little progress on her 2021 recommendations. Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner said the government has shown little interest in tackling the problem. "What this really shows is the Ford government's utter failure to bring forward a zero waste strategy for Ontario to hit waste diversion targets," he told CBC Toronto in a recent interview. Karen Wirsig, senior program manager for plastics with Environmental Defence, said she's concerned the government will use Trump's tariffs as an excuse to push ahead with new or expanded landfills and to loosen environmental assessment rules around their creation. "What worries me — and what it probably signals — is a broader intention by the government to use the sense of emergency to override local planning, local decision-making and local wishes," she said. Ontario should use this moment to build consensus on a variety of waste diversion strategies that prolong the life of its current landfills, Wirsig said. It could also create a plastic bottle deposit program to encourage recycling and get behind "right to repair" efforts to keep electronics in use for years, she added. "This is the low hanging fruit," Wirsig said, stressing that pursuing an organics diversion program amongst businesses, institutions and multi-unit residential properties would keep food waste out of landfills. Lakhan said the province may have to consider expansion of waste to energy facilities that burn trash to create electricity. While the technology remains controversial in Ontario, he said Europe, Japan and Southeast Asia are turning to it. "It's not necessarily considered a desirable end-of-life outcome," he said. "But the reality is that it's probably one of the only economically and technologically feasible short-term solutions that could potentially address this waste crisis." The association that represents Ontario's waste and recycling sector said it too is concerned about the spectre of tariffs on garbage shipments. It can take eight to 10 years for a new landfill to become operational, so enhanced disposal and diversion methods are needed, said Waste to Resource Ontario spokesperson Sophia Koukoulas. "Landfill continuation initiatives like expansions are the best short-term solutions to mitigate trade threats now, while preserving disposal capacity long-term," she said in a statement. A spokesperson for Minister McCarthy said the York1 project near Dresden is the landfill that can "mobilize the quickest" to reduce reliance on the U.S. "We have been clear, the project will still undergo extensive environmental processes and remain subject to strong provincial oversight and other regulatory requirements," Alexandru Cioban said in a statement.
17 hours ago
- Business
Canada-U.S. trade war could spark an 'immediate crisis' in Ontario's landfills
Doug Ford's government is blaming U.S. tariffs for the expansion of a controversial landfill project in southwestern Ontario — but experts say the conflict should serve as a wake-up call that time is running out to find long-term solutions to the province's rapidly-filling landfills. Ford's government has repeatedly raised the spectre of the U.S. President Donald Trump tariffing, or cutting off, garbage shipments to the U.S. as the rationale to reopen the York1 landfill site near Dresden, Ont. While it's unclear if Trump has made such a threat publicly, or privately, the province has depended on the U.S. to take millions of tonnes of its trash for decades. It's about being self-reliant when it comes to waste management and all matters economic, Ontario's Environment Minister Todd McCarthy said in question period recently while defending the York1 project. Ontario sent one-third of its waste to three American states between 2006 and 2022, with 40 million tonnes going to Michigan alone. Ontario generates between 12 and 15 million tonnes of trash annually and while the government's concerns are legitimate, one landfill will not solve the problem, said York University professor Calvin Lakhan. If, for whatever reason, the U.S. administration decided to close their borders to Canadian waste … we would face an immediate crisis that we simply do not have the infrastructure to manage, Lakhan said. WATCH | Conservative MPP speaks out against proposed Dresden landfill: Début du widget Widget. Passer le widget ? Fin du widget Widget. Retourner au début du widget ? Conservative MPP speaks out against proposed Dresden landfill A Conservative MPP is speaking out against the proposed Dresden landfill, all while the premier is working to fast-track the process. CBC's Katerina Georgieva reports. Ontario will exhaust its landfill capacity over the next decade The province's auditor general and the association that represents the province's waste and recycling sector have warned for years that Ontario's landfill capacity will be exhausted over the next decade. A 2023 report from the Association of Municipalities of Ontario showed that while waste diversion rates increased in the preceding five years, so too did the amount of garbage generated by the province's growing population. Even before Trump took office, Ontario faced major challenges disposing of its own garbage, said Lakhan, who is director of York's Circular Innovation Hub. But, he says the Dresden landfill, which the company says will take only non-hazardous construction and demolition materials, won't be enough to solve the crunch. Adding additional capacity to one landfill in the province is like putting a Band-Aid on a gaping wound, he said. At best, it provides us a temporary reprieve. Late last month, NDP environment critic Peter Tabuns slammed the government for failing to take earlier action on the file. In 2021, the Auditor General reported Ontario was facing a landfill crunch, he said. "This is not news, and the government did nothing about it." AG warns businesses, institutions not doing enough to divert waste At the time, the then-auditor general Bonnie Lysyk issued a damning report which laid some of the blame for the landfill crunch at the feet of businesses and institutions provincewide. They generate 60 per cent of Ontario's waste — that's at least 7.2 million tonnes of waste annually — and 98 per cent don't recycle, she said. WATCH | Changes to who pays for recycling in Ontario: Début du widget Widget. Passer le widget ? Fin du widget Widget. Retourner au début du widget ? Who pays for recycling collection in Ontario is changing, and corporations aren't happy Ontario is in the process of shifting the cost burden of blue box recycling programs away from municipalities and onto companies that make and sell products that generate waste. As CBC's Mike Crawley explains, some of those companies are now asking Doug Ford's government to change the plan, saying it's too expensive. In 2017, the previous Liberal government set a goal to divert half of all waste generated by the province's residential and business sectors by 2030, and 80 per cent by 2050. As of 2021, Lysyk said the province was not on track to hit those targets. As a result, she warned, Ontario will be faced with questions about where to put all this waste and how to pay for it in the very near future. A follow up audit from Lysyk's office in 2023 showed the government had made little progress on her 2021 recommendations. Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner said the government has shown little interest in tackling the problem. What this really shows is the Ford government's utter failure to bring forward a zero waste strategy for Ontario to hit waste diversion targets, he told CBC Toronto in a recent interview. Trade war an excuse to loosen rules, says environmentalist Karen Wirsig, senior program manager for plastics with Environmental Defence, said she's concerned the government will use Trump's tariffs as an excuse to push ahead with new or expanded landfills and to loosen environmental assessment rules around their creation. What worries me — and what it probably signals — is a broader intention by the government to use the sense of emergency to override local planning, local decision-making and local wishes, she said. Ontario should use this moment to build consensus on a variety of waste diversion strategies that prolong the life of its current landfills, Wirsig said. It could also create a plastic bottle deposit program to encourage recycling and get behind "right to repair" (new window) efforts to keep electronics in use for years, she added. This is the low hanging fruit, Wirsig said, stressing that pursuing an organics diversion program amongst businesses, institutions and multi-unit residential properties would keep food waste out of landfills. Lakhan said the province may have to consider expansion of waste to energy facilities that burn trash to create electricity. While the technology remains controversial in Ontario, he said Europe, Japan and Southeast Asia are turning to it. It's not necessarily considered a desirable end-of-life outcome, he said. But the reality is that it's probably one of the only economically and technologically feasible short-term solutions that could potentially address this waste crisis. The association that represents Ontario's waste and recycling sector said it too is concerned about the spectre of tariffs on garbage shipments. It can take eight to 10 years for a new landfill to become operational, so enhanced disposal and diversion methods are needed, said Waste to Resource Ontario spokesperson Sophia Koukoulas. Landfill continuation initiatives like expansions are the best short-term solutions to mitigate trade threats now, while preserving disposal capacity long-term, she said in a statement. A spokesperson for Minister McCarthy said the York1 project near Dresden is the landfill that can mobilize the quickest to reduce reliance on the U.S. We have been clear, the project will still undergo extensive environmental processes and remain subject to strong provincial oversight and other regulatory requirements, Alexandru Cioban said in a statement. Shawn Jeffords (new window) · CBC News
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Prisoner until proven innocent: A five-decade ordeal
Lakhan Pasi was sleeping inside his thatched hut in Gourey village when his wife Pyari Devi woke him up. It was around 4pm on August 5, 1977. Pyari told him that 15-16 people in the neighbourhood were fighting near the village well with sticks and lathis. 'When I went, I saw Deshraj had attacked Prabhu, who was bleeding. They had an old enmity. Police came and took Prabhu to the hospital, where doctors declared him dead,' said Lakhan. Night was falling so Lakhan came home and narrated the gory story to his family of eight people. He then went to sleep, waking up the next morning to slip back into his mundane routine of watering his field. According to Lakhan, Deshraj (single name) was angry with Prabhu (single name), his neighbour, as the latter's cattle would stray into his farm and destroy crops. A day before the murder, on August 4, 1977, there was a scuffle between the two on the same issue. Deshraj's mother, who tried to intervene, suffered a fracture in her hand. This infuriated Deshraj and his family leading to Prabhu's murder the next day. The next night, police barged into Lakhan's humble household, and frogmarched the 56-year-old man to the police station along with three other accused including Deshraj, Kaleshwar and Kallu. 'Prabhu's brother, Rajaram (single name), had included my name also in the first information report and the police arrested me along with three others,' Lakhan said. Earlier that evening, the UP Police had lodged an FIR at the Sarai Aqil Police Station under Sections 323 and 308 of the Indian Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt and attempting to commit culpable homicide not amounting to murder against Deshraj, his brother and brother-in-law, Kaleshwar and Kallu,respectively, and Lakhan, on a complaint by Rajaram. The sordid saga that began on August 6, 1977 ended finally last week, when the Allahabad high court acquitted Lakhan and said in its order dated May 2, 2025: 'Appellant no.1 Lakhan and appellant no.2 Deshraj shall be set free, if they are in jail, and in the event, they are on bail, their bail bonds shall stand discharged subject to compliance of Section 437-A of the CrPC, provided they are not wanted in any other case.' The Dalit man walked out of jail on May 20,2025, at 104, having spent nearly five decades behind bars – his plight an indictment of police overreach, gaps in investigation, the problems faced by poor and marginised people in accessing justice, and endemic delays in the judicial system. Convicted in 1982 The FIR filed by Rajaram on August 6, 1977, alleged that on the previous night, at around 4pm, his cousin Pran was on his way to Vikrama Talab to bathe. The villagers, Lakhan, Deshraj, Kaleshwar and Kallu, armed with lathis, assaulted Pran, who then raised the alarm, the FIR said. Rajaram, along with his brothers Prabhu and Chandan, rushed to help him but they were also assaulted. Soon, witnesses Shukru, Gurudeen, Bhaiyalal also reached the spot to rescue the victims. Rajaram said Prabhu, who had received lathi blows on his neck, fell unconscious. According to court records, there was also an old enmity between Rajaram and Deshraj. After the FIR was lodged, the injured were referred to district hospital, Beli, Allahabad. The medical report said Prabhu sustained injuries to forehead, face, and chest. Prabhu died on August 7 at 10.05pm. The case was heard by the sessions court on August 17, 1980, which framed charges against the four on November 18, 1980, under sections 302/34 (for Prabhu's murder) and section 307/34 (Pran and Rajaram's assault). During the trial, Lakhan's counsel, hired by his wife Pyari, denied his involvement in the conflict. After further pleas, the four were convicted by the additional sessions judge of the Allahabad high court on November 2, 1982. The appeals made in the court after this remained pending for nearly five decades. They were sentenced to life imprisonment and four years rigorous imprisonment — both of which were to run concurrently. Two of the four accused, Kallu and Kaleshwar, died in 2013 and 2014, respectively. Their appeals were abated on September 17, 2015 and April 6, 2015, respectively, while Deshraj became and continues to be bedridden. The high court said in its May 2 order: 'The improbability of the prosecution regarding the genesis and events and the manner in which the incident were unfolded, created a doubt on the prosecution case, which has not been examined by the Court below. The defence has clearly probabilised its version, which cannot be overlooked. The findings of the Trial Court that prosecution had established its case beyond reasonable doubt, therefore, cannot be sustained. The accused appellants are clearly entitled to benefit of doubt in the matter.' Lakhan's family spent in lakhs and the family changed four counsel during the case. They sold most of their 13 bighas of land. Pyari Devi died in 2013. 'We were very young. I remember my mother selling everything to get my father acquitted. Till her last days, she kept on saying that my father was just standing and never hit anyone,' said Lakhan's daughter Asha Devi. Two jails, 48 years and countless delays later According to Lakhan, he was granted parole on three occasions, though he was unable to recollect the dates or the names of the counsel who appeared on his behalf. Lakhan spent his time in two jails. Soon after their arrest, the four of them were lodged in Naini Central Jail of Prayagraj (then Allahabad). The Kaushambi jail was established in 2014, after which they were moved to the district jail there. Things started moving last year, when the high court took suo motu cognisance of the case, while seeking to dispose of its pending cases. Kaushambi jail superintendent Ajitesh Kumar said the court appointed Manmohan Mishra as amicus curie in the case. Lakhan was finally acquitted on May 2, after the court gave its verdict stating the prosecution could not prove his involvement in the murder. 'For the forgoing reasons and discussion held above, the present appeal succeeds and is allowed. The Judgment and Order of conviction dated 02.11.1982 passed by learned Additional Sessions Judge IV, Allahabad in Sessions Trial No.162 of 1980, is hereby set-aside,' said the order by the bench comprising justices Vivek Kumar Birla and Nand Prabha Shukla. However, things did not end there. 'Two days after the verdict, Lakhan's daughter Asha Devi apprised us that she could not afford a counsel, to facilitate Lakhan's release, owing to poverty. I wrote a letter to DLSA (District Legal Services Authority), Kaushambi on May 4, which appointed advocate Ankit Maurya to expedite Lakhan's release,' Kumar said. The DLSA or the legal aid committee of high court do not directly step into the release process of a prisoner. The jailer, who after assessing the inability of a prisoner to hire a counsel owing to financial constraints, gets in touch with the DLSA through an application signed by the prisoner. Kumar added that even with a counsel, it took 18 days for Lakhan to step out of jail due to administrative delays. 'It took 18 days of struggle against these hurdles and we received his release order on the morning of May 20. He was released in the afternoon,' Kumar added. 'Several factors lead to cases pending in appeal for long durations in high courts. Lack of surety bonds, non-availability of adequate strength of judges, lack of resources deterring hiring of counsel by accused, the accused being out on bail for long periods, etc., could be some reasons,' said former Allahabad high court judge, justice Pankaj Naqvi. The same applies to delays in the filing of charge sheets. Retired IPS officer and former IG (Prayagraj Zone) KP Singh said there should be a provision to fix the transfer deadline of every police personnel so that new cases are not allocated to an officer nearing his transfer date. 'Presently, on transfer of an investigating officer, the probe is left in a lurch with the new incumbent unaware of the details of the case. The new officer sometimes begins the probe all over again, resulting in delay in filing of charge sheet,' Singh said. Helpless but indignant It's been almost two weeks since Lakhan was released. Lying on a cot under a roofed verandah of his daughter's one room, mud wall house in Pashchim Sharira area of Kaushambi, the 104-year-old has a shadow on his gaunt face. His family of five daughters and a son has withered – two have died. He barely knows his grandchildren, who were born when he was in jail. Asha Devi said her father does not talk much or interact with anyone. 'He keeps lying on the cot and stares at the roof most of the day. At times he remembers my mother and asks what happened to her in her last days,' she said, with tears in her eyes. She is helpless but indignant. 'Should any innocent person be kept behind bars for so long?' she asked. Lakhan appears resigned to his fate. 'What had I done? The officials didn't listen to me, and sent me to jail. Now what is left?' he asked. 'Everyone is dead. Only I am alive.'
News18
25-05-2025
- News18
'Trials' & Tribulations: UP Man Convicted Of Murder Freed At 104 After 48-Year Legal Battle
Last Updated: 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 top videos View all 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. Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! 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
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Time of India
Man aquitted 43 years after being convicted for murder
1 2 3 Lucknow: Convicted in a murder case in 1982, a Kaushambi resident walked out of jail early this week after being acquitted by Allahabad high court. His Aadhaar and jail records reveals that the accused, Lakhan Saroj, is 103-year-old, but advocate Man Mohan Mishra, who acted as an amicus curiae in the case, told TOI that Saroj could be approximately 80, going by his age mentioned in the FIR lodged in the case in 1977, just after the commission of alleged crime. Lakhan was acquitted by the high court on May 2, 2025 — a verdict that came decades after his arrest and conviction, and after three of his co-accused died waiting for justice. Saroj has been lodged in Kaushambi jail since 2015 after he was re-arrested on an NBW issued by the high court for defying bail terms. Lakhan, a resident of Gauraye village in Uttar Pradesh's Kaushambi district, was serving a life sentence for the killing of one Prabhu Saroj during a clash between two groups on August 16, 1977. He was arrested shortly after the incident and remained in judicial custody until 1982, when the district and sessions court in Prayagraj sentenced him and three others to life imprisonment. He moved high court after being convicted in 1982 and remained at large on bail till 2015, Mishra said, adding "his total period of incarceration could be around 11-12 years." His release was made possible through the efforts of the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), which pursued his case and ensured his safe release after the high court overturned his conviction. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo "Following the court order and with the cooperation of the jail superintendent, Lakhan was released from Kaushambi District Jail. We ensured he was safely escorted to his daughter's home in the Sharira police station area," said additional district judge Poornima Pranjal, Secretary of the DLSA. For his daughter, who received him at the prison gates with tears in her eyes, the reunion was bittersweet. Sources privy to the investigation said that Lakhan's arrest was part of a broader crackdown on a violent village feud that escalated during the 1970s. Over the years, questions arose about the reliability of witness testimonies and procedural lapses in the case. The high court, after re-evaluating the evidence, found no solid ground to uphold the conviction. Recalling his years behind bars, Lakhan said he was never forced to do any prison labour due to his age. "I was old, so they didn't assign me any work. I lived peacefully with the other inmates," he said. Lakhan spent three years in Naini Central Jail from 2015 onward. During this period, his son Surjabali made no effort to secure his release. It was his daughters who hired a lawyer and eventually got him bail. "I had no knowledge of the court process," Lakhan confessed, underscoring his complete lack of legal awareness. This lack of awareness often led to trouble. Lakhan missed several court dates simply because he did not understand the procedure. As a result, warrants were issued repeatedly, but police could not locate him as he was not living at his registered address. Initially, the case was between Lakhan and his rivals. However, after the Sessions Court trial, the other party gradually withdrew. Eventually, the case transformed into "Lakhan vs. State." Meanwhile, most of those who filed the original FIR passed away. Kallu and Kaleshar, two key individuals from the other side, died over the years, while Deshraj is now bedridden and unable to move. Even after being acquitted by the high court, Lakhan remained in jail for nearly 20 more days. When asked about the delay, judge Poornima Pranjal said, "The release order (parwana) didn't reach the district jail on time. A prisoner cannot be released without that document." As soon as they learned of the delay, officials intervened. Since Lakhan's trial was conducted at the CJM Court in Prayagraj, they coordinated with the court to confirm his acquittal. "The release order was signed, but due to a technical error, it wasn't uploaded in time. That's why he had to stay 20 more days in jail," she said. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Brother's Day wishes , messages and quotes !
