Kaushambi, 23 May (HS): A 104-year-old man who had been

imprisoned for 43 years on accusations of murder and attempted murder was freed

from the Kaushambi district jail after being exonerated by a high court on

Friday, authorities said. Lakhan's release was enabled by the District Legal

Services Authority (DLSA) following his acquittal by the Allahabad High Court

earlier this month.

According to prison records, Lakhan, an inhabitant of Gauraye hamlet in the

Kaushambi district born on January 4, 1921, was arrested in 1977. Lakhan was

responsible for the killing of Prabhu Saroj, who was slain during a battle

between two factions on August 16, 1977.

In 1982, he and three other men were condemned to life in jail by Prayagraj's

District & Sessions Court.

He then appealed to the Allahabad High Court, which exonerated

him 43 years later on May 2, 2025. Three of the four prisoners who filed an

appeal with the high court against the trial court decision died while the case

was pending.

According to Additional District Judge Poornima Pranjal,

Secretary of the Kaushambi DLSA, Lakhan was freed from Kaushambi District Jail

on Tuesday in accordance with a court decision and with the assistance of the

District Jail Superintendent. He was subsequently securely transported to his

daughter's house in the district's Sharira police station neighborhood, where

he now resides.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi