Sardarshahar, Churu – In a significant development from Sardarshahar in Churu district, the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) court has acquitted local MLA Harlal Saharan in a much-discussed fake marksheet case. The verdict was pronounced by ACJM Navdeep, bringing an end to a case that had been ongoing since 2019.
Background of the Case
According to the case details, Saharan had contested the 2015 District Council election from Ward No. 16 in Churu, declaring himself as a Class 10 pass candidate. For this, he submitted a marksheet and certificate allegedly issued by the Uttarakhand Board of School Education.
However, a complaint was later filed by Chimnaram Jat, a resident of Dhadhar village, who alleged that the submitted documents were fake. Following the complaint, a police case was registered and a chargesheet was filed.
Evidence and Court Proceedings
During the trial, the prosecution presented seven witnesses and submitted 14 documents as evidence. The case was eventually transferred and heard in the local court.
Defence counsel, senior advocate Surendra Singh Shekhawat, argued that the documents obtained through the Right to Information (RTI) Act lacked authenticity. He pointed out that the papers were neither issued on official letterheads nor bore any official seal. Moreover, the information was reportedly provided on the same day it was requested, without proper verification.
Court Observations
After hearing both sides, ACJM Navneet Godara noted that the prosecution failed to conclusively prove its claims. The court observed that:
- The alleged fake marksheet and certificate were never seized.
- There was no evidence to show that the marksheet number belonged to another student.
- No proof was provided to establish that Saharan had tampered with any document to insert his name.
Final Verdict
The court concluded that the charges against Saharan could not be proven beyond reasonable doubt. As a result, he was acquitted of all Allegation under the Indian Penal Code.
The case saw representation from Special Public Prosecutor Vipul Sharma on behalf of the state, while advocates Surendra Singh Shekhawat and Damodar Matolia defended Saharan.