Metro India News | ALLAHABAD

A 104-year-old Lakhan Lal was finally declared innocent and released from Kaushambi District Jail after spending 43 years behind bars. His story is a classic example for ‘Justice delayed but not denied.’ He was released from Kaushambi District Jail following his acquittal by the Allahabad High Court, officials confirmed on Friday.

Lakhan Lal, a resident of Gauraye village in Kaushambi district in Uttar Pradesh, had been incarcerated since 1977 in connection with a murder case. According to jail records, he was born on January 4, 1921. His release was facilitated by the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) after the high court acquitted him on May 2, 2025.

The case dates back to August 16, 1977, when a man named Prabhu Saroj was killed during a clash between two groups. Lakhan Lal, along with three others, was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by the District and Sessions Court in Prayagraj in 1982.

He subsequently appealed the conviction. However, the legal process dragged on for decades, during which the three other co-accused passed away. Lakhan remained imprisoned until the High Court finally overturned the trial court's verdict earlier this month.

‘Following the court’s order and with the cooperation of the District Jail Superintendent, Lakhan was released on Tuesday,’ said Additional District Judge Poornima Pranjal, who also serves as Secretary of the Kaushambi DLSA.