Giving the benefit of doubt, the Supreme Court on Friday acquitted educationist S. Arulraja alias S.A. Raja, cited as the key accused and sentenced to undergo double life imprisonment in the Aladi Aruna murder case.
A Bench of Justice Mukundakam Sharma and Justice C.K. Prasad allowed an appeal by Mr. Raja challenging the judgment of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court in August 2009, reversing the order of acquittal rendered by the trial court in April 2008.
The High Court had also commuted to life imprisonment the death sentence imposed by the trial court on convicts P. Bala alias Balamurugan and D. Azhagar alias Valarntha Azhagar.
The High Court in August last slapped two terms of life imprisonment on Mr. Raja.
Allowing Mr. Raja's appeal, the Supreme Court Bench said it considered the motive, conspiracy and statements implicating the accused.
It found that the prosecution could not establish the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt. Therefore, giving the benefit of doubt, it was acquitting him.
The Bench directed that Mr. Raja be released forthwith.
