Kanpur: After nearly five decades of legal wrangling, a 71-year-old man from Gwalior, Kanhaiya Lal, stood before the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Jhansi on Saturday and confessed to theft and embezzlement from a cooperative society — a crime committed in 1976.
"I am tired. I am now 71 years old and have grown weary of appearing in court again and again. I no longer have the strength to fight this case. I confess the crime, and I want it to end," Lal told the court, his voice laden with resignation.
The case — a testament to the chronic delays in India's justice system — had dragged on for 49 years. Lal, who once worked as a peon at the LSS Cooperative Society in Bamanus village of Jhansi, was one of three employees accused of misappropriation and forgery.
The then-secretary of the society, Bihari Lal Gautam, had filed a complaint in 1976 alleging that Lal, along with colleagues Lakshmi Prasad and Raghunath, had stolen a receipt book and a wristwatch valued at ₹150. Investigations revealed that forged receipts with fake signatures had been used to collect ₹14,472 from society members. Lakshmi Prasad alone was accused of embezzling ₹23,887.40.
All three men were arrested and later released on bail. Over the years, Lakshmi Prasad and Raghunath died, leaving Kanhaiya Lal as the sole surviving accused. He continued to attend court hearings regularly until 2012, after which the case remained dormant for nine years. A non-bailable warrant was issued against him in 2021, and charges were re-framed soon after.
On Saturday, Chief Judicial Magistrate Munnalal convicted Lal under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code — 457 (housebreaking), 380 (theft), 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant), 467 (forgery of valuable security), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), and 120B (criminal conspiracy).
Taking into account his age, health, the time already spent in jail, and his voluntary confession, the court imposed only a fine — ₹2,000 in total. He was fined ₹300 each under sections 457, 380, 409, 468, and 120B, and ₹500 under section 467. Upon payment, he was allowed to walk free and return to his home in Gwalior.
Legal experts said the case highlights the severe backlog of cases burdening the Indian judiciary.
"This pendency of cases is not unusual in our judicial system," said GS Chauhan, a senior advocate in the Lucknow High Court. "The only solution is to establish more courts at the district level, strengthen the lower judiciary, and ensure time-bound disposal of cases."
Meanwhile, special prosecution officer Akhilesh Maurya confirmed that the long gap in proceedings significantly delayed justice in the case.
Though justice has finally been served, it took a lifetime for the gavel to fall.
