Amadoru vs. Officer-in-Charge, Special Criminal Investigation Unit, Wennappuwa – sllr 2011 volume 2 page 315

In the case between the Appellant (the Accused/Petitioner) and the Officer-in-Charge, Special Criminal Investigation Unit, Wennappuwa, the court addressed the issue of whether an order of release under the proviso of Section 186 of the Criminal Procedure Code constitutes an acquittal under Section 314. The court held that a release order issued without proper evidentiary consideration or a formally framed charge does not amount to an adjudicative acquittal. The court reaffirmed the principle that only orders following the proper furnishing of evidence and after framing of charges can amount to an acquittal under the law. Detailed reference was made to relevant statutory provisions and judicial precedents, emphasizing that mere discharge or discontinuance without adequate inquiry cannot be