Last year, a 70-year-old woman, Malambika Sinha was brutally stabbed to death by Mohammad Aurangzeb, Mohammad Jafar, and Naushad Ansari, who had done painting work at her house previously. Now, Jharkhand High Court has granted bail to the key accused Md. Aurangzeb and his uncle Naushad, shaking people’s trust in the criminal justice system yet again.

The brutal crime took place last year on March 18 at Ashok Nagar road number four, Ranchi, Jharkhand.

Malambika’s fault was that she had hired Naushad for painting work during Diwali, and he brought along Md. Aurangzeb and Md. Jafar. They approached her at Holi for some additional work. She let them inside her house, even served them food, but Aurangzeb and Jafar attacked her without remorse to rob her. At the time, Malambika and her elderly maid were the only people at home.

Aurangzeb slashed and stabbed the elderly Hindu woman in the neck, while Jafar began looting the house. They stole her gold bangle and necklace which she was wearing, along with 4 mobile phones and watches. When they did not find more money, they stabbed her 15 times and she died on the spot. The murderers fled the house, and later her husband Vijay Kumar Sinha found her dead in a pool of blood. Afterwards, he lodged a complaint at the Argora police station.

According to the investigating police officials, “The murderers entered the bungalow of retired bank employee Vijay Sinha at around 12.15 pm on the pretext of seeking some work. Their intention was to loot the house, when Malambika staged some sort of protest, they brutally murdered her and fled the scene.”

During interrogation, Aurangzeb confessed to the crime. He also admitted that he had already visited the deceased’s home and done some painting work there. He further claimed, that they escaped the victim’s house carrying four cellphones and watches.

On the other hand, Naushad revealed that he had assisted his two partners in escaping. Police also found their presence in the bungalow with the help of CCTV. Police also found them carrying two knives and four cell phones that were used in the murder.

Yet, in a shocking turn of events, the Jharkhand High Court has granted bail in this horrific case. Aurangzeb, the primary accused, has just been released, while Naushad is already out on bail. In its order, the High Court said,

“The applicant, who is in custody since 25.03.2022, has approached this Court for grant of regular bail. The applicant is an accused of committing offence under Sections 394, 302 & 34 of the Indian Penal Code. It has been submitted by the counsel for the applicant that complete set of FIR along with its enclosure have been annexed with this bail application and there is no suppression on his part. Innocence of the applicant has been claimed and undertaking has been given for participation in the trial.

“It has been submitted that the one of the co-accused-Md. Naushad Ansari, has already been enlarged on bail by a Co-ordinate Bench of this Court. On the above basis, prayer for bail has been made. Learned counsel for the State has opposed the prayer for bail. Considering the above facts, the applicant, named above, is directed to be released on bail, on furnishing bail bond of Rs. 10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand Only) with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of the learned Judicial Magistrate, Ranchi in connection with Argora P.S. Case No. 84 of 2022, subject to condition that the applicant will submit self-attested photocopy of his Aadhaar Card and also submit his mobile number before the learned court below which he will always keep active and will not change it during pendency of this case without prior permission of the court.”

So for 10K, a brutal killer is being allowed to walk free, while the case drags on through our tortuous legal system where the process is often more punishing for victims than the perpetrators.

This shocking judgement has left the victim’s family in tears. They placed the greatest trust in the judiciary, however they are flabbergasted by this verdict.

“We will go to the higher bench and shall fight till we get justice for our mother,” said Rohit Sinha, Malambika’s son. Vijay Sinha’s life has been destroyed – he spent a few months in the US after his wife’s murder, but soon came back homesick. For one year, he has been chasing after every lead to get justice for his dead wife, but this recent judgement by the HC has left him shell-shocked.