Journalist Prashant Rahi was acquitted by a Uttarakhand Court after 14 years of arrest under UAPA

Former journalist Prashant Rahi, accused of being Maoists, was recently acquitted by a Uttarakhand Court. Journalist Prashant Rahi was arrested in 2007 along with Gopal Datt Bhatt, Khim Singh Bora, and Devendra Chamyal for allegedly provoking riots and conspiracy. 

Rahi and the other three accused were accused of being a part of a "terrorist gang" and were charged under the Indian Penal code and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Rahi was released on bail in 2011 and was subsequently arrested by the Maharashtra Police in 2013 under UAPA, along with a few others in another case. They were convicted of being involved with Maoists by a Gadchiroli court in 2017. As a result, Rahi is currently serving a life sentence in Amravati jail.

Judge Prem Singh Khimal of the Udham Singh Nagar Sessions Court held that the prosecution failed to prove the crimes of Rahi and the other three accused beyond a reasonable doubt.  

The Court observed the Police failed to verify the local witnesses. The Police also failed to present 'banned literature' from Rahi, as no books seized from his possession were on the list of banned items. The Court said that the Uttarakhand Police had committed several lapses in the procedure, including a failure to operate a test identification parade and get permission from the government to prosecute the accused under the UAPA.

Author: Papiha Ghoshal