Two men get seven-year jail for knifepoint robbery in Panchkula

A Sessions Court has sentenced two men to seven years of rigorous imprisonment for robbing a university student at knifepoint in February 2022.

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The convicts, Kuldeep Singh alias Soni (25) and Sulkhan Singh (28), both residents of Karanpur village under Kalka police station, were found guilty under Sections 341, 392, 397, and 506 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code. The judgment was delivered by Sessions Judge Ved Parkash Sirohi.

The incident took place on February 17, 2022, when the complainant Padma Tsewang, a student of Panjab University, was travelling with his friends in a car near Prempura village, Pinjore. The two convicts intercepted the vehicle, threatened the complainant with a knife, robbed his iPhone 6S+, and forced him to transfer Rs 1,400 via Google Pay to Kuldeep Singh’s mobile number. The victim filed a complaint, leading to the registration of an FIR at Pinjore police station.

During the investigation, Kuldeep was arrested. The police recovered the stolen phone from him. His bank records confirmed receipt of the transferred money. Sulkhan was arrested shortly afterwards and helped recover a small sword used in the crime, along with Rs 1,000 in cash.

The court relied on the statements of 14 prosecution witnesses, including eyewitnesses and corroborating digital and forensic evidence.

Though the defence requested leniency, citing family responsibilities and no prior criminal record, the court observed that the crime involved serious threats to life and use of a deadly weapon. Rejecting the plea, the court imposed a seven-year sentence under Section 397 along with shorter concurrent terms under other sections.

Both the convicts were also fined Rs 5,000 each. Time already spent in custody will be adjusted against the sentence.