Patna: A 66-year-old man from Rohtas district in South Bihar had to fight a legal battle for nearly two years to absolve himself of a crime committed by his namesake.

The court acquitted Raju Seth, a resident of Dalmianagar in Rohtas district, in the case in which the local police had sent him to jail on December 28, 2015.

Seth burst into tears soon after the court pronounced him innocent and ordered the Rohtas superintendent of police (SP) to initiate suitable action against police officials for sending Seth to jail for a crime committed by his namesake.

The court also expressed displeasure over the manner in which the police conducted the investigation.

Raju Seth, an egg seller, was arrested from his house at New Singhauli village in Rohtas district on December 28, 2015, in connection with a road accident in which two persons were killed and many others injured. Seth was released on bail on January 11, 2016, after spending two weeks in prison. He was shocked to know that he was booked in a case in which a truck driver, Raju Gupta, his namesake, was involved.

A non-bailable warrant of arrest was issued against Raju Gupta on November 11, 2015, after he failed to appear before the court even after repeated reminders. Gupta had a valid reason for non-appearance in court - he had died on April 14, 2015. As Gupta lived in the same locality as Seth, the police thought he was the real culprit.

"The police officials posted at the Dalmianagar police station turned down my repeated requests not to send me to jail," Seth told The Telegraph over phone on Tuesday. "They were not convinced that no case was ever lodged against me or warrant of arrest pending at the police station. Finally, justice has been done to me."

The Telegraph had highlighted the mental agony of Raju, a father of four children, on July 21 last year. "I spent time, money and energy to fight a case for a crime I had never committed," Seth said. "I also spent a lot of time looking for the real culprit, taking my family to the brink of starvation."

His wife Vifal Devi, 60, had to sell off her mangalsutra (locket indicating married status) to pay the advocate and for other court-related expenses. "It will take years to bring the family on right track," he said.

Raju's neighbour Ramashankar Bharti said he lent support to Raju and his family as he was innocent. The court delivered the judgment almost eight months after the Dalmianagar police submitted a report corroborating Raju's claims last September. In the report, the police admitted they had committed an error by arresting an innocent man.

"I have not received the court order yet," Rohtas SP Manavjeet Singh Dhillon said. "Once it is received, it will be examined and appropriate action taken under the rules."