Pune’s Conviction Rate Stands at Just 13% Raising Concerns Among Experts

Pune’s conviction rate has dropped to 13%, sparking worries about the justice system’s effectiveness and the challenges in securing convictions.

Pune’s Conviction Rate Stands at Just 13% Raising Concerns Among Experts
Pune’s Conviction Rate Stands at Just 13% Raising Concerns Among Experts

PUNE: The conviction rate in Pune’s sessions court has taken a hit, dropping to 13% in 2024. That’s down from 17% last year and 15% the year before. This trend has got legal experts and authorities worried about how well the police are doing their job and the hurdles in getting convictions in criminal cases.

In 2024, Pune police shared that out of 320 cases, 281 ended in acquittals while only 39 resulted in convictions. Back in 2023, there were 365 cases, with 302 acquitted and 63 convicted. It’s a similar story for 2022, where 366 cases saw 311 acquitted and 55 convicted.

Interestingly, there’s been a rise in cases handled by the Judicial Magistrate of First Class (JMFC) courts this year. The conviction rate there is 18%, a big jump from just 4% in 2023 and 10% in 2022. In 2024, out of 1,419 JMFC cases, 1,166 were acquitted and 253 convicted.

Pune’s police commissioner, Amitesh Kumar, mentioned they’re trying to turn things around with a new case adoption system. Each DCP officer will take on at least 10 serious cases, like murder and rape, to help ensure they get a positive outcome. He believes this will help boost the conviction rate soon.

The low conviction rate reflects several challenges, like gathering evidence, getting witnesses to testify, and delays in the legal process. Experts say that while Pune’s law enforcement is putting in the effort, there are systemic issues that often get in the way of successfully prosecuting cases. One legal expert pointed out that improving coordination between the police and the judiciary is crucial to tackle these problems.

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