In a sensitive and just ruling, the Rajasthan High Court acquitted 85% visually impaired Amichand of a false robbery case and directed the state government to provide him with ₹2 lakh in compensation. Amichand, also known as Motia, a resident of Bhimsana village in the Sadulpur area of Churu district, was falsely implicated by the police, who made him a co-accused by citing a stick as a weapon. The court, recording this case as a 'reportable order,' stated that the decision would serve as a precedent in similar circumstances in the future.
The single-judge bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Garg, while ordering Amichand's immediate release, also stated that the Churu Collector should conduct an assessment of his visual impairment within 15 days. If the disability is confirmed, the government must provide ₹2 lakh in compensation within two months. This amount is to be given as compensation for mental and physical suffering. Furthermore, directives have been issued for departmental action against the police officers who conducted the flawed investigation and the then-SHO of the Taranagar police station.
How Visually Impaired Amichand Was Framed
In March 2024, following a complaint of the abduction and robbery of a young man named Vinod Kumar in Jhothda village of Churu district, the police registered an FIR against Ramniwas, Sonu, Pratap, and two unidentified individuals. The investigation of this case was assigned to Head Constable Dharmendra Kumar. However, surprisingly, despite not being named in the FIR, the police also made 80-85% visually impaired Amichand a co-accused in the case.
The police claimed that a stick was recovered based on Amichand's alleged identification, which was then presented as a weapon, making it part of the case. Subsequently, Amichand was sent to Churu Central Jail, and a chargesheet was also filed against him. Amichand's bail application was also rejected by the lower court, stating that there was sufficient evidence against him.
Truth Revealed by the SP's Investigation
Upon the framing of visually impaired Amichand in a false case, his family, led by advocate Hardeep Singh, demanded a fair investigation from Churu SP Jai Yadav on June 6. The SP, considering the seriousness of the matter, assigned the investigation to IPS officer Nishchay Prasad M. The investigation made it clear that Amichand had no involvement in the case.
However, by then, the police had filed a chargesheet, and the matter had gone to court. An application under Section 189 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNS) (formerly CrPC 169) was also filed for Amichand's release, but it was rejected on technical grounds on June 27. The court stated that the investigation conducted at the SP level could not be legally considered valid without the court's permission.
High Court's Intervention and Triumph of Justice
Subsequently, advocate Kaushal Gautam filed a revision petition in the Rajasthan High Court. Hearing the case on July 11, 2025, Justice Manoj Kumar Garg clarified that Amichand was innocent and should be immediately released. The court directed the state government to provide him with ₹2 lakh in compensation and for the Churu Collector to confirm his disability.
The court also stated that departmental action against the investigating officer and the station house officer who showed negligence in this case was necessary, so that such injustice would not happen to any innocent person in the future. This decision of the court is considered a symbol of the protection of human rights and the sensitivity of the judicial system.
