A division bench comprising justices V N Singh and KK Lal set aside the February 2008 conviction of Yadav and two other accused - Rajan Tiwari and Anil Kumar Yadav - by a lower court and acquitted them of all charges in connection with killing of Sarkar nearly 15 years ago.

The court also directed the authorities to release Yadav from jail forthwith if he was not wanted in any other case.