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Synopsis

A division bench of the Supreme Court today upheld the Allahabad High Court's decision to acquit Union Minister Ajay Mishra in a 2000 murder case.

The matter pertains to a 2000 murder case, where Prabhat Gupta, a student leader was allegedly shot by Teni. Later, he was acquitted by the trial court in 2004.

Trial court's decision was challenged before the High Court, whose Lucknow bench acquitted the Minister in May last year.

Later in 2022, acting on an early-hearing application, the High Court had directed that the matter be listed for final hearing before an appropriate bench.

Supreme Court bench of the CJI U.U. Lalit and Justice Bela M Trivedi, had in October 2022 refused to transfer the government appeal filed against Teni's acquittal from Lucknow to Allahabad.

While seeking a transfer, it was submitted, that the Senior Counsel who has to argue the matter at Lucknow was ordinarily based at Allahabad and because of his old age it would not be possible for him to go all the way to Lucknow for arguments.

However, the Court was of the opinion that since the matter was already listed it did not require an intervention. 

Case Title: Rajeev Gupta vs. Ajay Mishra