Hathras: lone convict to challenge trial court order in High Court

Lucknow: In the Hathras rape and murder case, where one of the accused was convicted by the trial court, the convict has decided to challenge the case at Allahabad High Court, IANS reported.

It was on March 2, a special court in Hathras convicted the prime accused in the case, Sandeep Sisoduia, of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Further, the court has acquitted him of the rape charges. It had acquitted three others in the case, too, of all charges.

The case was about an alleged rape and murder of a 19-year-old Dalit girl in Boolgarhi village under Chandapa police station limits on September 14, 2020. The girl was out to get cattle fodder, and the four accused allegedly raped her.

After the attack, the girl was left partially paralysed and was rushed to a nearby hospital in Aligarh town. Here her statement was recorded.

She died when she was shifted to Delhi for further treatment.

Sandeep Sisodia's lawyer, who also represented all the other three, said that the convict's family has decided to challenge the trial court verdict in the high court.

"Sandeep was also innocent, and his family has decided to appeal in the high court," he said.

He continued, "Charges against all four were the same. The court acquitted three and convicted only Sandeep Sisodia. We will approach the high court seeking acquittal of Sandeep under the same conditions in which the three others were acquitted."

"We have identified several legal points that will be raised in the high court," he said.