In a significant development, a Jharkhand court has acquitted Congress MLA Pradeep Yadav and ten others in a 2017 rioting and attempted murder case related to protests against the Adani Power Plant in Godda, Jharkhand.
Yadav, formerly with Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik), played a key role in opposing land acquisition for the Adani Power Plant, affecting 12 villages. This marks Yadav’s eighth acquittal in cases connected to these protests. The trial, which began in 2021, concluded with District and Additional Sessions Judge Laxman Prasad citing “lack of evidence.”
Charges against Yadav included rioting, attempted murder, and criminal conspiracy. The case stemmed from complaints by a local shop owner who alleged threats and violence by protest participants. Reacting to the verdict, Yadav highlighted his prior detention during the protests, emphasizing the government’s attempt to stifle the movement.
This acquittal adds to the ongoing debate around the Adani Power Plant protests and questions the legal basis for charges against protestors. It underscores the importance of legal due process in such cases.
