The Punjab and Haryana High Court has acquitted Om Prakash Hitler, a deceased Congress leader, and four others, including his three sons, in a 30-year-old murder case. The ruling overturns a 2004 trial court verdict that sentenced the accused to life imprisonment. The High Court bench, comprising Justice Gurvinder Singh Gill and Justice Jasjit Singh Bedi, cited a lack of "sterling quality" evidence and suggested the possibility of false implication due to political rivalry.

The case dates back to February 27, 1995, when a First Information Report (FIR) was registered alleging that Om Prakash Hitler and his sons fatally shot 13-year-old Jeet Ram in Chautala village, Sirsa district. The prosecution claimed the boy was killed for refusing to serve at a wedding function for one of Hitler's sons.

Initially, police filed an untraced report, but the case was reopened in 1999 following a complaint from the deceased's father. In February 2004, a trial court convicted Om Prakash Hitler, his sons Sanjay Sihag, Sanjeev Sihag, and Manoj Sihag, and his aide Darbara Singh, sentencing them to life in prison. The convicted appealed to the High Court. During the appeal process, both Om Prakash Hitler and Darbara Singh passed away, leading to the abatement of proceedings against them.

Om Prakash Hitler, a cousin of former Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal and a political opponent of former Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, argued in his appeal that he was falsely implicated in the case due to his rivalry with Chautala, who was the Chief Minister and INLD president at the time. The High Court seemed to find merit in this argument.

The High Court judges stated that the evidence presented did not unequivocally prove the guilt of the accused and that the possibility of false implication could not be ruled out. The court also referred to the statement of a prosecution witness, Duli Chand, who testified that he looked after MLAs for Devi Lal to prevent their poaching by the opposition party led by Bhajan Lal, who was allegedly supported by Om Prakash Hitler. Duli Chand admitted that the case was reopened when Om Prakash Chautala became Chief Minister in July 1999.

The acquittal highlights the complexities and potential pitfalls of long-standing criminal cases, particularly those with political undertones. The High Court's decision underscores the importance of robust evidence and the need to consider potential biases in the investigation and prosecution processes. The case also illustrates how political rivalries can influence legal proceedings, raising questions about fairness and impartiality.