By Admin 
Questions are often raised on the judicial system in India regarding delayed delivery of justice. A similar case has come to light in Gujarat, where a person spent 30 years of his life in jail for taking a bribe of Rs 20 and now the court acquitted that person innocent. However, the end of this case would have been much happier for the man and his family if the man had lived a little longer, but the man died a day after being released from jail.
This incident looks like the story of the 1994 Hollywood film The Shawshank Redemption. In which an innocent person remains in jail for a long time.
What is the whole matter?
In fact, the Gujarat High Court has declared that person innocent in its decision on Wednesday (February 4, 2026). After the verdict, the person said that a big stigma has been erased from his life. Now even if God takes me away, I will not feel sad.
What happened in 1996?
Babubhai Prajapati, a man who was in jail for 30 years, was posted as a police constable in Ahmedabad when he was accused of taking a bribe of Rs 20. At that time a case was registered against him under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
In this case, a charge sheet was filed in the Sessions Court in 1997. In 2002, charges were framed against Babubhai Prajapati. Hearing of witnesses began in 2003 and in 2004, the Sessions Court convicted Babubhai and imposed four years’ imprisonment and a fine of Rs 3,000.
Gujarat High Court gave its decision in the case
Prajapati challenged this decision of the Sessions Court in the Gujarat High Court. After this his appeal remained pending for 22 years. Finally, on Wednesday (February 4, 2026) this year, the High Court gave its verdict and declared him innocent.
The Gujarat High Court said that there were serious contradictions in the statements of the witnesses and the prosecution failed to prove the charges. At the same time, Prajapati’s lawyer Nitin Gandhi told the High Court that the entire case was based only on suspicion. After the court’s decision, Prajapati spoke emotional words in his lawyer’s office and then returned home, but he died of natural causes the next day.
Also read: ‘We will do transactions as per our wish, not under anyone’s pressure’, Mohan Bhagwat bluntly after US-India trade deal