The Uttarakhand High Court is set to reopen hearings in the 2016 Shaktiman horse death case, following a new petition from local resident Hoshiyar Singh Bisht, who challenges the acquittal of the accused. The hearing, scheduled for June 9 before Justice Rakesh Thapliyal, comes after the court had previously reserved its verdict on Bisht’s initial petition in December 2024.

The incident occurred during a BJP protest in March 2016, where Shaktiman, a police horse, was injured and later died. Former BJP MLA Ganesh Joshi was accused of causing the horse’s injuries, leading to an FIR and subsequent charge sheet. However, in 2021, the state government sought to withdraw the case, resulting in Joshi’s acquittal, which Bisht argues undermines public interest and accountability.

Bisht’s fresh plea calls for the High Court to overturn the acquittal and pursue legal action against Joshi and others involved, emphasizing the need for justice in this case of animal cruelty. The case highlights broader issues of political violence and institutional accountability, making it a significant matter for judicial oversight.