An innocent police officer spent 30 years in prison and died immediately after his release.

Ahmedabad, India – In a tragic turn of events, Babubhai Prajapati, a former Indian police constable who spent 30 years behind bars for a bribery charge, was declared innocent by the Gujarat High Court on 4 February 2026 — only for his life to end the very next day.

Prajapati’s ordeal began in 1996, when he was serving in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. He was accused of accepting a bribe of merely 20 Indian Rupees, leading to a case filed under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The legal proceedings were slow and arduous. In 1997, a chargesheet was filed against him in the Sessions Court. By 2002, the charges were formally framed. After witness testimonies began in 2003, the Sessions Court sentenced Prajapati to four years of imprisonment along with a fine of 3,000 Rupees in 2004.

Prajapati immediately appealed the decision to the Gujarat High Court, but his appeal remained pending for an astonishing 22 years. Finally, on 4 February 2026, the High Court overturned the earlier conviction, declaring him innocent. The court observed that there were “serious inconsistencies in witness statements” and that the prosecution had failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt.

Prajapati’s lawyer, Nitin Gandhi, commented, “The entire case was built on mere suspicion. The evidence was insufficient, and the prosecution failed to substantiate the claims.”

Following the verdict, Prajapati told well-wishers and colleagues, “The stain on my life has been removed. If God were to take me now, I would have no regrets.” He expressed this while standing at his lawyer’s office before returning home. Tragically, he suffered a fatal heart attack the following day.

Friends and supporters reflected on his life with sorrow, saying that had he lived a little longer, he could have truly enjoyed the happiness of being exonerated. Gandhi added, “When he came to the office after the verdict, he was immensely happy. I even suggested that he apply for all the benefits he was entitled to from the government. The very next day, I learnt that he had passed away from a heart attack.”

The case stands as a stark reminder of the devastating impact prolonged legal battles can have on individuals, especially when justice is delayed for decades.

Timeline of Babubhai Prajapati’s Legal Battle