India, Feb. 24 -- The Gujarat High Court has acquitted former Gujarat director general of police (DGP) S S Khandvawala in a custodial torture case dating back to 1976, setting aside a conviction recorded by a Junagadh court more than two decades ago.

In a judgment delivered on February 24, Justice Gita Gopi allowed Khandvawala's appeal against his 2003 conviction and dismissed the state government's plea seeking enhancement of sentence. The court held that the sessions court's judgment was "erroneous and failed in merits". The prosecution failed to prove charges of illegal confinement and custodial assault beyond reasonable doubt.

The case arose from a private complaint filed by Merag Haja, a resident of Sutrej village in Junagadh distr...