A special court in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday, 2 March, acquitted three people accused in the Hathras rape-murder case and held one person guilty.

Pertinently, the court is reported to have held none of the four accused guilty of either gangrape, or murder.

Out of the four accused – Sandeep (20), Ravi (35), Luv Kush (23), and Ramu (26) – the court only held Sandeep guilty, under Section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Indian Penal Code and for offences under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

"No rape or murder charges on any of the accused," Mahipal Singh, advocate representing the victim's family told reporters outside the court, adding that they will appeal the decision in the Allahabad High Court.

Source: The Quint