Jail term set aside, but accused declared PO

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 7

Staying away from the case proceedings proved costly to a Mohali resident as though his two-year jail term in an accidental death case was set aside by the Additional District and Sessions Judge, he was declared proclaimed offender (PO) in the case.

The court of Judge RK Jain directed the SHO concerned to register an FIR against Arun Kapil under Section 174-A of the IPC.

On July 17, 2010, Arun was booked for ramming his Honda CRV (PB-33-B-0022) into a motorcycle driven by Ashok Kumar, a resident of Dhanas, near a bridge in Milk Colony, Dhanas.

Ashok and pillion rider Vinod Kumar, also from Dhanas, sustained injuries in the accident and were admitted to the Government Multi-Specialty Hospital, Sector 16. However, Vinod succumbed to his injuries in the hospital.

Following this, Arun was booked by the police and later a challan was presented before a local court. The court of JMIC Harpreet Kaur convicted him under Sections 279 (rash driving), 338 (Causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 304-A (causing death by negligence). He was awarded two-year jail term and fined Rs 10,000 on March 22 last year by the JMIC.

Appearing as amicus curia, his counsel challenged the conviction in the Additional Sessions Court, which set aside the order of the lower court. However, on the contrary, the court took serious view of his not appearing before the court.