Guwahati: The Gauhati High Court on Tuesday dismissed a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) appeal challenging the acquittal of senior Congress leader Ripun Bora in the Daniel Topno murder case, upholding the lower court’s decision.
The CBI had challenged the Kamrup district and sessions court’s February 2014 order acquitting Bora and another accused, Pulin Phukan, in the case.
Daniel Topno, an Adivasi leader, was murdered in Assam’s Gohpur area in September 2000. The CBI took over the investigation in 2001 and subsequently named Bora as an accused.
The lower court acquitted Bora and Phukan in February 2014 after finding insufficient material to proceed against them. The CBI subsequently challenged the order before the Gauhati High Court.
The High Court’s September 22 order has now dismissed the CBI’s challenge, effectively upholding Bora’s acquittal in the case.
The case dates back to September 2000, when Topno was killed in Gohpur. He had contested the 1996 Assembly election from Gohpur against Bora.