Response

Yes, it is possible to reopen a case even after several years.

One has to make an appeal in the High Court and get the case reopened. If the appeal is admitted in the High Court, the case can be reopened.

Another situation where an old case can be reopened is where no investigation happened or investigation happened but the police did not find enough evidence on which they file an FIR in the court stating that enough evidence was not found and if any evidence to the same is found in future then the case shall be reopened with the due permission of the court or superior officer( DCP, DGP,etc)

So, a case is reopened when any lead to the case is found by the police or any other interested person who has found a lead or any strong evidence to support the case.

The police must have found a lead to your 18 year old case which is the reason why it is reopened and you have been summoned by the court for the same.

If you have received summons from the court to be present then you must be present in the court on the said date otherwise you can be punished with a simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both under section 174 of the Indian Penal Code,1860.

Reference: Section 174 of the Indian Penal Code,1860
Whoever, being legally bound to attend in person or by an agent at a certain place and time in obedience to a summons, notice, order, or proclamation proceeding from any public servant legally competent, as such public servant, to issue the same, intentionally omits to attend at that place or time, or departs from the place where he is bound to attend before the time at which it is lawful for him to depart, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both;

or, if the summons, notice, order or proclamation is to attend in person or by agent in a Court of Justice, with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.

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