Dara Singh, the prime accused in the sensational murder of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two children, was on Monday acquitted in a separate case of looting at a weekly market in Baripada (in Orissa) in 1998.

Fourteen other accused in the same case were also acquitted by the court of the sub-judge at Karanjia for want of evidence.

The looting had occurred at the Kendumundi weekly market on November 15, 1998.

Dara, whose real name is Ravindra Kumar Pal, and the other accused persons were present in the court when the judgment was pronounced.

Security measures around the court at Karanjia, 120km from Baripada, had been tightened prior to the arrival of Dara and other accused.