Jamiat Ulama’s legal team secures major victory; Maulana Arshad Madani hails verdict, to challenge Arms Act Conviction in SC
NEW DELHI — In a landmark judgment, the Allahabad High Court on Wednesday acquitted five Muslim men of all major charges in the 2007 terror attack on a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh — after 17 years of incarceration.
A division bench of Justice Sidharth Verma and Justice Ram Manohar Narain Mishra set aside the death sentences awarded to four of the men and commuted the life term of the fifth, observing that the prosecution had failed to prove any terrorism charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
The court found that the trial court had relied on “insufficient and unreliable evidence,” leading to what it described as a grave miscarriage of justice. It ruled that no case of terrorism was made out against the accused. However, the bench upheld a 10-year sentence under the Arms Act and imposed a fine of ₹1 lakh on each.
In its 185-page verdict, the court noted:
“The defect in investigation went to the root of the case and ultimately culminated in the acquittal of the accused persons. We are deeply concerned with the magnitude and enormity of the offence, and at the same time constrained to observe that the prosecution miserably failed to prove the case against the accused for the principal offence beyond reasonable doubt, which is a golden rule that runs through the web of criminal jurisprudence.”
The bench also directed the state government to take appropriate action against the police officials responsible for investigative lapses.
Those acquitted are Mohammad Sharif, Sabahuddin, Imran Shahzad, Mohammad Farooq, and Jang Bahadur Khan. Having spent over 17 years in prison, they are expected to walk free soon.
The case dates back to December 31, 2007, when armed men allegedly attacked a CRPF camp in Rampur, killing several personnel. In 2019, a local sessions court had sentenced Imran Shahzad, Mohammad Farooq, Sabahuddin, and Mohammad Sharif to death, while awarding life imprisonment to Jang Bahadur Khan.
The accused were represented by Advocate M.S. Khan, assisted by Advocates Anil Bajpai and Sikandar Khan, on behalf of the Jamiat Ulama Maharashtra (Arshad Madani) Legal Aid Committee. The High Court heard the matter across 39 sittings before reserving its judgment eight months ago.
Reacting to the verdict, Maulana Arshad Madani, President of Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind, hailed the decision as “a historic day for truth and justice.”
“The High Court has made it clear that no terrorism case stands against them,” he said. “For 17 long years, these families lived between hope and despair. Today, justice has finally prevailed.”
Madani added that the Jamiat’s legal team would move the Supreme Court to challenge the Arms Act conviction, asserting that “as in other cases, full justice will be delivered, InshaAllah.”
During the trial, the defence had highlighted major contradictions in the testimonies of local police, CRPF personnel, and railway officials. Despite claims that 98 rounds were fired, none of the accused sustained injuries — casting doubt on the prosecution’s version that they were caught at the scene. The defence also pointed out that explosives allegedly recovered from the accused were destroyed without court permission, making the evidence inadmissible.
Advocate Khan further argued that the sanctions obtained under the UAPA, Arms Act, and Explosives Act were legally defective, rendering the trial process questionable.
Earlier, the Rampur sessions court had acquitted three other accused — Mohammad Kauser, Gulab Khan, and Faheem Ansari — for lack of evidence while convicting five.
With Wednesday’s High Court ruling, all four men who were sentenced to death and one serving life imprisonment have now been cleared of terror charges, marking a major legal and moral victory for the Jamiat Ulama’s prolonged campaign for justice.
