Punjab court acquits man due to insufficient firearm evidence

A high court in Punjab has acquitted a man who was convicted 22 years ago under the Arms Act. The case involved a pistol, but the court found that there was not enough evidence to prove the firearm was in working condition. Justice JS Bedi led the bench that reviewed the case. During the proceedings, a policeman's testimony revealed that he only examined the trigger of the pistol but did not check the firing pin. This key detail raised doubts about the weapon's functionality. The man, Jagtar Singh, had been convicted in November 2006 and sentenced to two years in prison. He was caught during a police raid while allegedly planning a crime with others. Singh argued that the prosecution failed to prove the pistol could fire because it had not been test fired. The court highlighted that checking the firing pin is essential to determine if a firearm works. Without that proof, the bench stated it could not classify the pistol as a functioning weapon. As a result, Singh's conviction was quashed, allowing him to go free.