A Delhi court has acquitted three individuals initially charged with criminal conspiracy in connection to a 2009 acid attack in Panipat, Haryana, citing a lack of evidence. Additional Sessions Judge Jagmohan Singh acquitted Yashvinder, Mandeep Mann, and Bala, 16 years after the charges were framed.

The case revolves around an acid attack on Shaheen Malik, an MBA student in Panipat. According to the prosecution, the incident occurred after Malik took a job as a student counselor at a college owned by Yashvinder and enrolled in an MBA program at Punjab Technical University. The prosecution alleged that Malik faced sexual harassment at the workplace from Yashvinder. It was further alleged that Yashvinder's wife, Bala, conspired with Mandeep Mann and a juvenile to carry out the attack.

The juvenile involved in the attack was convicted on December 17, 2015, under IPC Sections 326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means) and 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide). However, the three adults accused of conspiracy have now been acquitted due to insufficient evidence.

The court's decision was based on "insufficient evidence, a faulty and incomplete investigation, and the absence of the victim's evidence on record". An inquiry has been ordered against the investigating officer.

The victim's advocate, Madiah Shahjar, expressed disappointment with the verdict and stated the decision will be challenged in the Delhi High Court and, if required, in the Supreme Court. Shahjar told reporters that while the court expressed sympathy, justice, not sympathy, was sought after a 16-year legal battle.

According to Priyadarshani, the counsel for the accused, Bala was charged under IPC sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 326 and 308, while Yashvinder was charged under sections 364 A (kidnapping for ransom), 376 (rape), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 511 (punishment for attempting an offence). Mandeep was tried for the offences under IPC sections 120B, 326 and 308.

The case was transferred to Delhi's Rohini court in 2013. The Supreme Court had previously taken note of the delayed trials in acid attack cases, calling them a "mockery of the system" and a "national shame". The court had directed all high courts to submit details of pending cases and ordered day-to-day trials.

Following the verdict, Shaheen Malik expressed her dismay, stating that after 16 years of court proceedings, perhaps she should have taken matters into her own hands at the time of the attack. The attack had garnered national attention and sparked outrage against acid attacks, leading to stricter guidelines for the sale of acid.