An innocent police officer, who served 30 years in prison, died shortly after his release.

Ahmedabad, India – After enduring three decades behind bars for a crime he did not commit, Indian police constable Babubhai Prajapati was finally declared innocent — only to pass away the very next day.

Prajapati had been imprisoned for allegedly accepting a bribe of just ₹20 while serving in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, in 1996. The charges were filed under India’s Prevention of Corruption Act, setting in motion a legal battle that would span over 30 years.

In 1997, the Sessions Court formally submitted a charge sheet against him, and by 2002, the case proceeded to framing of charges. After witness testimonies began in 2003, the Sessions Court sentenced Prajapati to four years in prison and imposed a fine of ₹3,000.

Prajapati immediately appealed the verdict to the Gujarat High Court. However, the appeal languished for more than two decades, a prolonged legal limbo that epitomised the struggles of those caught in India’s slow-moving justice system. Finally, on 4 February 2026, the High Court acquitted him, citing serious inconsistencies in witness statements and the prosecution’s failure to establish the case beyond reasonable doubt.

Speaking after the verdict, Prajapati’s lawyer, Nitin Gandhi, said, “This entire case was founded purely on suspicion. The court has rightly recognised the injustice he endured.”

In an emotional moment following the acquittal, Prajapati reflected on his ordeal, saying, “The stain on my life has finally been removed. Even if God were to call me now, I would have no regrets.” He made these remarks at his lawyer’s office before returning home. Tragically, he suffered a fatal heart attack the following day.

Friends and well-wishers expressed sorrow over his passing, noting that only a brief continuation of life would have allowed him to truly enjoy his long-awaited freedom. His lawyer added, “He was in high spirits yesterday, thrilled by his acquittal. I even advised him to apply for the benefits he was entitled to from the government. To learn of his passing the next day was heartbreaking.”

Timeline of Babubhai Prajapati’s Case

Prajapati’s story is a stark reminder of the human cost of judicial delays and the fragility of life, even in moments of triumph.