2 get jail term for robbing auto driver

A Chandigarh court has sentenced two persons — Rajat Singh and Rohit — to two-year rigorous imprisonment each in a robbery case registered four years ago.

Rejecting the plea for leniency, the court said the nature of offence was such that substantive sentence was required to be awarded to send a stern message to society regarding the necessity of maintaining law and order.

The police had registered the case on August 3, 2020, under Sections 394 and 34 of Indian Penal Code at Police Station, Maloya, Chandigarh, on the complaint of an autorickshaw driver, Sanjay Kumar. He told the police that on August 2 he was going home from Sector 22 when two boys signalled him to stop at the Sector 25/38 light point and asked him to take them to Dhanas.

When he reached Gaushala Turn, Sector 38 West, one boy attacked him with some brick-like object on his head and another tried to strangulate him. They took his purse, driving licence, Aadhaar card, PAN and Rs 500 and one mobile phone and fled after jumping from the auto.

Sanjay Kumar called the police from the mobile a passerby. The police took him to Government Hospital, Sector 16, Chandigarh .

Rajat and Rohit were arrested after some days. After completing investigation, a challan against the accused was presented before the court. On finding a prima facie case, charges under Section 394 read with Section 34 of IPC were framed against the accused, to which they pleaded not guilty and claimed trial.

Defence counsel argued that the accused were falsely implicated in the case. On the other hand, the public prosecutor said the prosecution had proved the case beyond a shadow of doubt.

After hearing of the arguments, the court said the prosecution had been able to establish the guilt of both the accused beyond shadow of reasonable doubt and both the accused were accordingly convicted and sentenced.