At large for 17 yrs, rape convict arrested again

Chandigarh, November 20

A gang rape convict, who was on bail and later kept absconding for over 17 years, has been rearrested.

The police said the case dates back to January 1999 when a 13-year-old girl was raped. The case was registered at the Sector 34 police station. Later, three persons, namely Madan, Roshan and Jeet Lal, were arrested in the case.

On July 17, 2000, the accused were convicted and were awarded ten-year rigorous imprisonment along with a fine. After remaining in jail for a year and a half, Jeet Lal filed a petition against the conviction in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, following which the court granted him bail. During the hearing, the High Court rejected his appeal against conviction. However, Jeet Lal kept absconding.

Today, Jeet Lal (40), a resident of Sector 52, was arrested by a team headed by ASI Kuldeep Singh. He was produced in court, which sent him to judicial custody. — TNS