NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday acquitted a man on death row for sexually assaulting and murdering a seven-year-old girl in 2017, saying the trial in the case was conducted in a "lopsided manner" and he was made a "scapegoat" by police.

The apex court said the constitutional right afforded to an accused to defend himself is not illusory or imaginary and it is the duty of the court and the State to ensure that the accused is not prejudiced or deprived of a fair opportunity to defend himself in a case where he may be awarded capital punishment.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sanjay Karol and Sandeep Mehta delivered the verdict on an appeal filed by the accused, Dashwanth, who challenged a July 2018 judgement of the Madras High Court, which had upheld the death sentence awarded

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