The Supreme Court today admitted the Bihar government's appeal against the acquittal of 23 people, allegedly involved in the 1996 carnage of 21 dalits at Bathani Tola in Bhojpur district of the state by Ranvir Sena. On the appeals filed by the state government and also the family members of some of the victims against the Patna High Court's April 16 ruling, a bench of justices Altamas Kabir and J Chelameshwar issued notices to all the acquitted accused.

The high court had set aside the death sentences, awarded to three persons and the life terms to 20 others for the killings allegedly by the Ranvir Sena on July 11, 1996 at Bathani Tola under Sahar block in Bhojpur district. A Bhojpur court had in May 2011 held the 23 accused guilty of killing the dalits.