New Delhi, Dec 3 (Agencies) : In 1984, Umakant Mishra, a postman in Kanpur, was accused of pocketing Rs.57 and 60 paisa. He was suspended and a police complaint was registered.
The case dragged for 29 years and finally, on November 25, the court reportedly said Mishra was innocent.
But the justice naturally came too late. Mishra had remained suspended till his retirement three years, not receiving any salary for all these years.
It is bizarre that such a minor case took the court 350 hearings.
Mishra was booked after he was accused of keeping a part of the Rs.697.60 given in cash to distribute as money order. He claimed he had returned the money to his seniors. But it took him 29 years to prove it.
After the judgement, Mishra wept, telling a newspaper reporter that he had "no idea what to say or do".
His wife said the case ruined the family's life due to financial troubles.
The news was trending on Twitter as "Rs.57" with people venting their ire at the slow judicial process.