In today’s news, Mumbai Police have indicated they are unlikely to file a review petition against the Supreme Court’s January 2025 acquittal of Chandrabhan Sanap, who was previously convicted and sentenced to death for the 2014 rape and murder of a 23-year-old software engineer. The Supreme Court overturned the conviction, citing significant procedural lapses and evidentiary shortcomings.

Legal experts have noted that once the Supreme Court acquits an accused, the case is generally considered closed, leaving no recourse for appeal. Mumbai Police acknowledged the ruling but stood by their investigation, recognizing that the Supreme Court’s decision is final and binding.

In a related development, the Supreme Court recently acquitted a man who had been sentenced to death by the High Court in a 2013 rape and murder case involving a four-year-old girl in Thane, Maharashtra. The apex court found “no evidence” to even raise minimal suspicion against the accused and criticized both investigative agencies and the judiciary for their “overzealous approach” in attempting to resolve a sensational case. The man had already spent 12 years in prison before being acquitted.

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