Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami vows justice in the Kathgodam child rape-murder case, announcing a review petition in the Supreme Court against the acquittal, stressing no heinous act will be spared.
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NEW DELHI: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday announced that the state government will approach the Supreme Court with a review petition challenging the recent acquittal of Akhtar Ali, the prime accused in the 2014 rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl in Kathgodam, Nainital.
The CM assured the people of Uttarakhand that the fight for justice is not over. He stated:
“The justice department has been directed to file a review petition in the case and ensure a conviction. The government will deploy its best legal team. Those who commit such heinous acts in Devbhoomi will not be spared. The government stands firmly with the victim’s family.”
Background of the Case
The victim had gone missing in November 2014, and five days later, her body was recovered, an incident that triggered widespread outrage across the region.
- In March 2016, a special court awarded the death penalty to Akhtar Ali and sentenced co-accused Prem Pal to five years’ rigorous imprisonment.
- The Uttarakhand High Court upheld Ali’s death sentence in 2019, reinforcing the trial court’s verdict.
However, in a shocking turn, on September 10, 2025, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court, comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sanjay Karol, and Sandeep Mehta, set aside Ali’s conviction and acquitted him.
The apex court ruled that the DNA analysis presented as evidence was unreliable, since it had been conducted by a botany expert without expertise in human DNA profiling.
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Supreme Court’s Warning
While acquitting Ali, the Supreme Court cautioned trial courts against carelessness in death penalty cases. The bench strongly remarked:
Trial courts must not resort to the “mechanical application” of capital punishment without ensuring the highest standards of proof and procedural fairness. Such lapses risk the gravest miscarriage of justice by irreversibly extinguishing a human life.
This observation highlights the delicate balance between justice and fairness in India’s criminal justice system.
The acquittal has triggered massive protests in Nainital district, with locals taking to the streets and submitting a memorandum urging the state government to challenge the Supreme Court’s decision.
The victim’s uncle even issued a threat to self-immolate if the government failed to act swiftly, adding urgency to the matter.
Alongside the review petition, CM Dhami revealed that verification drives are being conducted across Uttarakhand to identify and monitor anti-social elements, reinforcing the government’s stance on law and order.
“The government will deploy its best legal team,” Dhami reiterated, stressing that justice will not be denied to the family.
