In a significant judgment, the Madras high court on Wednesday acquitted all eight accused, including four sentenced to death by another court, in the sensational 'Constable Selvaraj murder case' in Coimbatore.

The murder had triggered a communal clash in the city in end-November 1997 in which 24 people were killed, and was the motive for the 'Coimbatore serial blasts' later.

A ninth accused had died during the period of the trial. "The prosecution has failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt, the involvement of the eight accused," a division bench comprising Justices N Dinakar and R Balasubramanian said.

Fast Track Court Judge Premkumar in Coimbatore had given death sentence to four accused, Mohammed Shafique, Azheeq, Abbas and Abuthahir. Four other accused, including Siddiq Ali, the son of S A Badsha, president of the banned Al-Umma outfit, were sentenced to life terms.