the Patna High Court in India acquitted a convict facing capital punishment of the charges of kidnapping and murdering

the Patna High Court in India acquitted a convict facing capital punishment of the charges of kidnapping and murdering a man in Samastipur. The HC also acquitted another convict who had been awarded life term in the case. A division bench comprising Justice Shiva Kirti Singh and Justice Abhijeet Sinha ordered the release of Raghubar Rai and Biral Rai after it allowed their criminal appeals challenging the trial court judgment awarding capital punishment to Raghubar and life term to Biral. The duo were accused of kidnapping and murdering Nand Kumar Thakur on November 15, 2004. According to the prosecution, Raghubar and Biral took Thakur to Kalyanpur from where he did not return. Later, his beheaded body was found.