**Title:** Gujarat High Court Convicts Deceased Man in 2012 Case
**Meta Description:** The Gujarat High Court recently convicted a man who died in 2016, highlighting serious lapses in the judicial process.
**URL Slug:** gujarat-high-court-convicts-deceased-man
**Headline:** Gujarat High Court Convicts Man Who Died Nine Years Ago in 2012 Case
In a perplexing turn of events, the Gujarat High Court has convicted Raijibhai Sodhane, a man who passed away nine years ago, in a case dating back to 2012. The state government had appealed a Sessions Court acquittal, leading to the High Court’s ruling in July 2025. During the proceedings, it was revealed that Sodhane had died in 2016, raising serious questions about the judicial process.
The High Court’s order found Sodhane guilty, but as he was not present in court, a non-bailable warrant was issued for his arrest to facilitate sentencing. The shocking discovery of his death during post-conviction proceedings prompted the court to express its outrage. The judges reprimanded both the Additional Public Prosecutor and the police for their negligence, noting that the accused’s death had gone unreported for nearly a decade, making the appeal unnecessary.
The court criticized the police for failing to inform the prosecutor in a timely manner and highlighted the prosecutor’s office’s lack of diligence in verifying the status of the accused. This oversight resulted in a significant waste of judicial resources. The High Court has since directed the Kheda District Superintendent of Police to take disciplinary action against the responsible officers and urged the prosecutor’s office to implement measures to prevent such lapses in the future.
The case itself dates back to April 2012, when Sodhane was accused of setting his wife, Rukhmaniben, on fire after she refused to fulfill his demands for silver jewelry to buy alcohol. Her dying declaration detailed the abuse she suffered at his hands. Although the Sessions Court acquitted him, the state government pursued an appeal, which ultimately led to the High Court’s conviction—only to discover that the accused had been deceased for years.
This incident underscores the critical need for better coordination between law enforcement and the prosecution to ensure that such oversights do not occur in the future.
**FAQ Section:**
**Q: What was the outcome of the Gujarat High Court case involving Raijibhai Sodhane?**
A: The Gujarat High Court convicted Raijibhai Sodhane, who had died in 2016, for a crime committed in 2012, highlighting significant lapses in the judicial process.
