Pay scholar who lost 16 yrs in jail, court tells UP govt
Uttar Pradesh government has been directed by a court in Barabanki to compensate former Aligarh Muslim University scholar Gulzar Ahmed Wani, who was acquitted of terror charges after 16 years of incarceration in the 2000 Sabarmati Express blast case.
The court directed the Yogi Adityanath government to pay compensation to Wani in terms of the average income in accordance with his educational qualification for the time he spent in jail, saying he was a victim of “negligence” of officials in probing the case.
Wani was pursuing PhD in Arabic from Aligarh Muslim University when he was arrested from Delhi on July 30, 2001.
The court held the UP government responsible for the damage caused by its officials to the state exchequer for their negligence in probing the case leading to financial loss.
It said the officials had not obtained sanction to prosecute the accused and a charge sheet was filed in dereliction of their duty, violating Wani’s physical independence.
The court’s findings came as it acquitted Wani and Mohd Abdul Mobeen of the charge of having allegedly orchestrated the Sabarmati Express blast in 2000 that had claimed nine lives and left several others injured.
It said the police had not produced any evidence to prove that the two had conspired with others to cause a bomb blast in the train and wage a war against the country.
Additional Sessions Judge M A Khan, in his judgement written in Hindi, said if the government feels, it can recover the compensation amount from the concerned police officials.
It said if the government failed to pay the compensation, Wani would be at liberty to approach the Allahabad High Court. A total of 11 cases were lodged against Wani, of which he has been exonerated in 10 -- either acquitted or discharged.