Rajasthan Govt Moves HC Against Acquittals in Pehlu Khan Case

SIT set up to probe and identify lapses and irregularities in the investigation, submitted its report in September.

Photo used for representational purposes.

(Photo: The Quint)

Rajasthan government has filed an appeal in the high court challenging the acquittal of all six accused by a lower court in connection with the lynching of Haryana dairy farmer Pehlu Khan, news agency ANI reported.

According to Additional Advocate General Major RP Singh, the state government had filed an appeal in the matter in the Rajasthan High Court on 14 October.

A special investigation team (SIT), which was set up to probe and identify lapses and irregularities in the police investigation in the lynching case, had in September submitted its report to the Rajasthan government, ANI reported.

On 1 April, 2017, Khan, a 55-year-old dairy farmer from Haryana's Nuh, was beaten up by self-styled cow vigilantes near Behror in Rajasthan on the Delhi-Alwar highway. He had succumbed to his injuries at a private hospital two days later.

A video of the incident that had also gone viral showed Khan being beaten up by a mob, thrown to the ground and kicked.

In its verdict on 14 August this year, the court of Additional District Judge number 1 in Alwar had given all six accused the benefit of doubt, but observed that the Rajasthan Police probe had “serious shortcomings”.