Pehlu Khan case: Mayawati blames Congress govt in Rajasthan over acquittal of accused, calls it 'unfortunate'

BSP chief Mayawati on Friday charged the Congress government in Rajasthan with laxity, saying the accused in the Pehlu Khan mob lynching case were acquitted due to its "gross negligence". Taking to Twitter, the BSP supremo called the acquittal of all accused "unfortunate", adding that if the Ashok Gehlot government would have been cautious in ensuring justice to Pehlu Khan's family, it would have been possible. 

"Due to gross negligence and inaction of the Congress government of Rajasthan, all the six accused in the infamous Pehlu Khan mob lynching case have been acquitted by the lower court there. This is most unfortunate. Would this have been possible if the government there was cautious in ensuring justice to the victim's family, perhaps never," Mayawati said in a tweet.

READ | Pehlu Khan Lynching Case: All Six Accused Acquitted By Alwar Court, Ashok Gehlot Govt To Challenge Verdict

An Alwar court on Wednesday acquitted all the six accused in the lynching case of Pehlu Khan. Pehlu Khan (55), his two sons and a few others were transporting cows when they were allegedly stopped and thrashed by a mob near Behror in Alwar district on April 1, 2017. Khan later died in a hospital on April 3, triggering outrage over the murder and focusing attention on attacks by cow vigilantes.

The Additional Judicial Magistrate acquitted the six men, giving them benefit of the doubt, according to a lawyer. The six accused let off by the court are Vipin Yadav, Ravindra Kumar, Kaluram, Dayanand, Yogesh Kumar and Bheem Rathi. 

"The court gave benefit of the doubt to all six accused and acquitted them of lynching charges. We have not received the court order copy and will wait for it to study it and appeal in the higher court," Additional Public Prosecutor Yogendra Khatana told reporters outside the court. 

READ | Rajasthan Cops Get Court's Nod To Reopen Case Against Pehlu Khan's Sons

(With PTI inputs)