Bhubaneswar, May 20: Bringing an end to a nearly two-decade-long legal battle, the Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) court in Kuchinda of Sambalpur district on Wednesday acquitted three persons accused in a 2006 theft case involving goods worth only Rs 52.

The case pertained to the alleged theft of gutka packets and cigarettes from a betel shop at Station Basti in the Bamra area. The shop belonged to late Prafulla Sahu, who had lodged a complaint at Govindpur police station after the incident in 2006.

Following the complaint, police had arrested four persons from Nuniamunda village on theft charges and another individual from Kechhupani village for allegedly receiving stolen property. All the accused were later released on bail and continued appearing before the court as the trial progressed slowly over the years.

During the prolonged legal process, two accused persons and the complainant passed away. Recently, fresh warrants were issued and the three surviving accused — Ganesh Jaipuria, Amesh Bankara and Hemant Sahu — were produced before the court.

After examining the evidence and procedural developments, the SDJM court acquitted all three accused, effectively closing the 20-year-old case.

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