The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the Uttar Pradesh government’s challenge to the Allahabad High Court’s decision that set aside death and life sentences awarded in the 2007 Rampur CRPF camp terror attack case. The court issued notice to the five acquitted accused and listed the matter for hearing after four weeks.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notice on the Uttar Pradesh government’s plea challenging the acquittal of five men previously convicted in connection with the 2007 terror attack on a CRPF camp in Rampur that left eight personnel dead and five injured.
A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta took note of the submissions and agreed to examine the appeal filed by the state government against the Allahabad High Court’s judgment dated October 29, 2023. The matter has been posted for hearing after four weeks.
The bench directed notice to be issued to the five acquitted persons — Mohd Sharif, Sabauddin, Imran Shahjad, Mohd Farooq, and Jang Bahadur Khan. Advocate M S Khan appeared on behalf of the accused.
On the night of December 31, 2007, armed assailants attacked a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) group centre in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh. The ambush resulted in the death of eight CRPF personnel and injuries to five others. The incident triggered a major counter-terrorism investigation.
A trial court had subsequently awarded the death penalty to four accused and sentenced another to life imprisonment for their role in the attack. The verdict was challenged in the Allahabad High Court.
In its October 2023 ruling, the Allahabad High Court overturned the convictions for murder and other serious charges. The court observed that the prosecution had “miserably failed to prove the case against the accused for the principal offence beyond reasonable doubt.”
While acquitting all five of the murder and terror charges, the High Court did find them guilty under Section 25(1-A) of the Arms Act for unauthorised possession of prohibited arms. For this, each was sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment.
The state government has now approached the Supreme Court seeking a reversal of the High Court’s acquittal and reinstatement of the original convictions.
The top court has listed the matter for hearing after four weeks. The outcome will be crucial in determining whether the earlier trial court verdicts imposing capital and life sentences will stand revived.
