Metropolitan Magistrate H Sidharth Mathur acquitted city resident Pradeep Lal of the Arms Act case, noting that during the 12-year-long trial, the police was able to produce only one witness - the constable who wrote the FIR in November 1999.
"There do exist doubts and unexplained holes in the prosecution story and as such accused is given benefit of doubt and is hereby acquitted," the court said.
The court let off Pradeep saying the police had failed to come with any incriminating evidence against him "despite repeated opportunities" given to it during the long trial.
"The prosecution evidence was closed on April 26, 2012 after the prosecution failed to conclude its evidence despite repeated opportunities
