Snatcher gets 5 years in jail, Rs 25,000 fine

Tribune News Service

Ambala, April 24

Ambala Sessions Judge Vikram Aggarwal today sentenced a resident of Shamli in Uttar Pradesh, Nitin, alias Kaku, to five years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on him in a case of snatching. In default of the payment of the fine, the convict shall further undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of one year, the court ordered. However, the period already undergone by the convict during investigation or trial of this case shall be set off against the substantive sentence.

According to the challan, the accused snatched a gold chain from complainant Bhavika Gupta, who sustained injuries in the incident on October 12, 2016.

The court held the accused guilty of the offence punishable under Section 379 A of the IPC and convicted him.

In his statement before the court, the convict stated that his family comprised his two minor children, ailing parents and a brother, who was studying in Class IX. Claiming himself to be the sole breadwinner of his family, he prayed for a lenient view in the sentence.

However, the public prosecutor contended that in view of the nature of the offence and the manner in which it was committed, the convict deserved to be awarded the maximum possible sentence.

WHAT THE SESSIONS JUDGE SAID   

“No doubt, the convict is young, aged 26, and has the responsibility of looking after his family, being the only breadwinner. At the same time, it has to be borne in mind that the offence of snatching is on the rise and a strong deterrent is required in such cases. In view the facts and circumstances, the manner in which the crime was committed and the arguments advanced by counsel for the parties, I sentence convict Nitin, alias Kaku, to rigorous imprisonment for five years and to pay a fine of Rs 25,000 for the offence punishable under Section 379 A of the IPC...,” the Sessions Judge pronounced in an open court.