Patna High Court acquits 13 accused in 1996 Jehanabad quadruple murder case

On October 13, 2026, the Patna High Court overturned a 1996 conviction and acquitted 13 men accused in a quadruple murder case in Jehanabad. A bench led by Justices Rajeev Ranjan Prasad and Kumar Manish ruled out the convictions due to major flaws in police work, the lack of solid evidence, and the prosecution’s failure to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

The murders occurred on August 8-9, 1996 in the Karpi area, where a group of 30 to 40 armed men attacked a hut near the Keyal Aahar and killed four villagers. Initially, unknown extremists from the Mazdoor Kisan Sangram Parishad (MKSP) were named as suspects, but later residents from the Asadhi tola were implicated. In 2023, the Additional District and Sessions Judge-II sentenced the defendants to life imprisonment under various IPC and Arms Act sections.

However, the appellants’ lawyers argued the case was riddled with contradictions. Key points of contention included the fact that none of the accused were named in the initial FIR, crucial evidence like torches, blood residues, and cartridges were never seized, and no Test Identification Parade (TIP) was conducted. The High Court harshly criticized the investigating agency for a "lacklustre" investigation, noting that relying solely on poor identification after eight years violated legal standards.

The court ordered a three-member committee to investigate the police's negligence and demanded the Home Department review policies handling acquittals due to investigative errors. Consequently, the appellants were ordered released immediately unless wanted for other crimes.