State of Uttarakhand vs Unknown Accused — 2015 POCSO rape and murder case

Updates

1. Judgment13 Sep 2025

   Supreme Court acquits two in 2015 rape and murder case of 7-year-old girl

   The Supreme Court acquitted two individuals, including a death row convict, in the 2015 rape and murder case of a seven-year-old girl, ruling that the chain of circumstantial evidence was incomplete and broken.

   Explanation in simple terms

   What:

   The Supreme Court cleared two men of the rape and murder of a young girl.

   Who:

   The Supreme Court acted as the highest court, while the two men were the individuals acquitted.

   When:

   Reported on 13 Sep 2025.

   Where:

   Uttarakhand.

   Why:

   The court decided the evidence presented was incomplete and did not form a continuous link of proof.

   What it means:

   The men are no longer convicted of these crimes, including one man who was facing a death sentence.

   SCC Online Blog
2. Judgment8 Apr 2025

   Why Supreme Court overturned a death sentence to acquit man 9 years after rape & murder of minor

   The ruling came in an appeal by the convict, sentenced by Uttarakhand HC in 2017 in the POCSO case.

   Explanation in simple terms

   What:

   The Supreme Court overturned a death sentence and acquitted a man in a rape and murder case.

   Who:

   The Supreme Court is the high court that ruled, and the man is the accused who was acquitted.

   When:

   Reported on 8 Apr 2025.

   Where:

   Uttarakhand.

   Why:

   The Supreme Court decided to acquit the man in this appeal case.

   What it means:

   The man is no longer sentenced to death for the rape and murder of a minor.

   The Print