Underworld figure Bablu Srivastava acquitted in two-decade-old kidnapping case

A special CBI court in Lucknow on Wednesday acquitted Bablu Srivastava, a figure with alleged underworld connections, in connection with a kidnapping case dating back two decades. The court found that prosecutors failed to establish the charges against him beyond reasonable doubt.

The case centred on the abduction of the owner of Hotel Lexington in Kolkata. Despite the passage of two decades and investigative efforts by India's premier investigative agency, the CBI could not produce sufficient evidence to secure a conviction.

The acquittal represents a significant setback for the prosecution and marks a notable development in a case that had remained active in the judicial system for over 20 years. Legal experts noted that the court's decision underscores the challenges prosecutors face in securing convictions in longstanding criminal cases, particularly those involving organised crime allegations.

Srivastava's legal team had contested the charges throughout the proceedings. The acquittal now grants him relief in what has been a protracted legal battle spanning two decades.