📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / C. Achilles
Crime
Babli Khatun Acquitted After Five Years in Jail Over Two‑Year‑Old Son’s Murder
✍️ Amar Ujala · Bihar
🗓 28 Aug 2026, 10:47 AM
👁 7
The Chapra Sessions Court in Bihar discharged Babli Khatun, who had spent over five years in prison on murder charges, citing lack of evidence.
The Chapra Sessions Court in Bihar delivered a landmark verdict on Wednesday, acquitting Babli Khatun after she had been incarcerated for more than five years on charges of murdering her two‑year‑old son. The court ruled that the prosecution had failed to present any concrete evidence linking her to the crime, leading to a clean‑slate discharge.
Khatun was arrested in early 2018 following the unexplained death of her toddler and was subsequently sentenced to five years’ imprisonment. Throughout her detention, her family and supporters maintained that she was innocent, but the case remained mired in procedural delays and scant forensic findings.
During the hearing, the judge highlighted the absence of reliable forensic reports, eyewitness testimony, or any material proof that could substantiate the murder allegation. Consequently, the court ordered her immediate release and directed the authorities to update the prison records accordingly.
Human‑rights advocates welcomed the decision, calling it a reminder of the need for rigorous evidence standards in criminal prosecutions. The acquittal also raises questions about the handling of similar cases in the region, where prolonged pre‑trial detention remains a concern.
Khatun was arrested in early 2018 following the unexplained death of her toddler and was subsequently sentenced to five years’ imprisonment. Throughout her detention, her family and supporters maintained that she was innocent, but the case remained mired in procedural delays and scant forensic findings.
During the hearing, the judge highlighted the absence of reliable forensic reports, eyewitness testimony, or any material proof that could substantiate the murder allegation. Consequently, the court ordered her immediate release and directed the authorities to update the prison records accordingly.
Human‑rights advocates welcomed the decision, calling it a reminder of the need for rigorous evidence standards in criminal prosecutions. The acquittal also raises questions about the handling of similar cases in the region, where prolonged pre‑trial detention remains a concern.