Underworld don Babloo Srivastava acquitted in 20-year-old kidnapping case by Lucknow CBI court
Lucknow: In a significant development, a special CBI court in Lucknow on Friday acquitted underworld don Babloo Srivastava in a two-decade-old kidnapping case linked to the abduction of a Kolkata-based hotelier. The court cited a lack of sufficient evidence while delivering its verdict.
The case dates back nearly 20 years and revolved around allegations that Babloo Srivastava had conspired to kidnap a prominent hotelier from Kolkata while he was lodged in Naini Central Jail in Prayagraj. Investigating agencies had claimed that despite being behind bars, Srivastava continued to operate his criminal syndicate and orchestrated the abduction through his associates.
According to the prosecution, the kidnapping was planned and executed at the behest of the gangster, who allegedly maintained control over his network from inside the prison. Based on these allegations, he was made an accused in the case and faced trial before the special CBI court.
During Friday’s hearing, lawyers representing both the prosecution and the defense presented their final arguments before the court. The prosecution sought to establish Srivastava’s involvement in the alleged conspiracy, while the defense challenged the evidence and questioned the prosecution’s ability to directly link him to the crime.
After examining the evidence and hearing submissions from both sides, the court concluded that the prosecution had failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt. Observing that there was insufficient evidence to substantiate the allegations against Srivastava, the court acquitted him of all charges in the case.
Defense counsel Zeeshan Alvi, who represented Babloo Srivastava, argued that the prosecution had been unable to establish his client’s role in the alleged kidnapping conspiracy. Accepting the defense’s contention, the court granted Srivastava relief and ordered his release in connection with the case.
The verdict brings an end to one of the long-pending criminal cases against the gangster, which had remained under judicial scrutiny for nearly two decades. The acquittal marks a significant legal victory for Srivastava, with the court holding that the evidence presented was not adequate to sustain a conviction.
