Ahmedabad: A Gujarat police constable, who spent nearly three decades battling a corruption case over an alleged ₹20 bribe, died just a day after a court finally cleared his name, bringing a tragic end to one of the state’s longest-running prosecutions under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The constable, Babubhai Prajapati, was acquitted by the Gujarat High Court on February 4, 2026, exactly 30 years after the case began. He passed away the following morning due to natural causes, hours after walking free as an innocent man.
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Prajapati was posted as a constable in Vejalpur, Ahmedabad, when he was booked in 1996 in a trap case alleging that three policemen had taken small bribes from truck drivers. A chargesheet was filed in 1997, but the case moved slowly through the judicial system. Charges were framed only in 2002, and witness examinations began in 2003.
In 2004, a sessions court convicted Prajapati, a turning point that altered the course of his life. While he continued in service, the conviction effectively stalled his career. Promotions were halted, service benefits remained frozen, and the stigma of corruption followed him into every courtroom he entered over the next two decades.
Refusing to accept the verdict, Prajapati challenged the conviction before the Gujarat High Court in 2004. What followed was a prolonged wait marked by repeated adjournments and years of uncertainty, during which the case lingered without final resolution.
During the appeal, Prajapati’s counsel highlighted serious contradictions in witness testimonies, procedural lapses in the trap proceedings, and gaps in the prosecution’s narrative. The defence argued that the evidence failed to establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt — a contention the High Court ultimately accepted.
In its judgment delivered on February 4, the court held that the prosecution had failed to conclusively prove the charge, setting aside the conviction and acquitting Prajapati of all allegations. The ruling formally restored his legal innocence, three decades after the accusation first surfaced.
Those close to the case said Prajapati appeared visibly relieved after the verdict. He visited his lawyer’s office later that day, no longer as an accused but as a free man. He was advised to immediately apply for service dues and benefits that had remained on hold for years due to the conviction.
What followed has since lent the case a haunting final note. According to people present at the meeting, Prajapati quietly remarked that the “stain” on his life had finally been removed, adding that he now felt at peace. The next morning, when attempts were made to reach him to complete formalities, news arrived that he had died.
The original case stemmed from a 1997 anti-corruption trap near Vishala in the Vejalpur area, where three constables were accused of collecting bribes from truck drivers. All three were convicted by the sessions court in 2004 and subsequently appealed. While the appeals dragged on, the case became emblematic of the crushing toll prolonged litigation can take on lower-rung government employees.
Legal observers note that the case underscores persistent concerns over delays in criminal trials, especially in matters involving small sums but severe professional consequences. A conviction, even if later overturned, can irreversibly affect careers, finances and personal dignity.
For Prajapati, the acquittal arrived as formal vindication, but far too late to restore what the years of litigation had taken away. His death, coming within hours of judicial relief, has sparked renewed discussion on accountability, procedural fairness and the human cost of delayed justice.
As the legal file finally closes, the case leaves behind a stark reminder: in the justice system, time itself can become a punishment, even when innocence is eventually acknowledged.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
