O R D E R

(Dated this the 25th day of February, 2026)

The 2^nd accused in SC No. 995 of 2018 on the the Addl. Sessions Judge-III, Pathanamthitta arising out of Crime No. 1973 of 2016 of Ranni Police Station filed this petition under Section 528 BNSS praying for quashing all further proceedings against him. The offences alleged against the petitioner and the co-accused are under Section 304, 324 r/w 34 IPC.

2. The prosecution case is that on 29.10.2016 at about 10.30 am, the accused persons who are the husband and son in law of one Nazeema, aged 39 took her in a jeep from Vijayawada, Andra Pradesh and abandoned her in front of the Taluk hospital, Ranni and thereby they are alleged to have committed the aforesaid offences.

3. According to the learned Counsel for the petitioner, as per Annexure A3 judgment, the learned Sessions Judge acquitted the 1^st accused for want of evidence. Therefore according to the learned Counsel, there is no meaning in continuing the proceedings against the petitioner. Therefore, she prayed for quashing all further proceedings against the petitioner.

4. The petition was strongly opposed by the learned Public Prosecutor.

5. On a perusal of Annexure A3 judgment o