1 week ago
Chhattisgarh High Court Cuts Fake Police Extortionist’s Jail Term
A man pretended to be a police officer in a Chhattisgarh village.
He accused villagers of making illegal liquor and threatened to arrest them.
He asked for money so they would not face legal trouble.
One villager gave him Rs 500 out of fear.
The man was later convicted of cheating and pretending to be a police officer.
A lower court had sentenced him to three years in prison for each offence.
The High Court agreed that he was guilty but changed his jail term to the 74 days he had already spent in custody.
The court increased his fine to Rs 25,000 because the case had taken many years to finish.
The Chhattisgarh High Court upheld the man’s convictions under IPC Sections 419 and 420.
He posed as a police officer, threatened villagers with false liquor cases and collected money.
The court reduced his three-year imprisonment terms to the 74 days he had already served.
The fine was increased to Rs 25,000 after the case continued for nearly a decade.
Police recovered a motorcycle marked “POLICE” and identity cards during the investigation.
- Who
- A man convicted of impersonating a police officer and cheating villagers; the case was heard by Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha of the Chhattisgarh High Court.
- What
- The High Court upheld his conviction but reduced his three-year imprisonment terms to 74 days already served and increased the fine to Rs 25,000.
- Where
- Village Matiyadand, Chhattisgarh, and the Chhattisgarh High Court.
- When
- The alleged incident occurred on October 20, 2016; the High Court order was issued on August 10.
- Why
- The court cited the long duration of the proceedings, the 74 days already spent in custody and the increased financial penalty, while noting the seriousness of the impersonation and extortion allegations.
Sentence Reduction
Seriousness of Offences
Appropriate punishment
Sentence Reduction
The defense sought only a reduction in sentence, citing the case’s nearly decade-long duration and the 74 days already spent in custody.
Seriousness of Offences
The State argued that the allegations were serious because the man allegedly impersonated a police officer to intimidate citizens and extort money.
Conviction and accountability
Sentence Reduction
The man did not challenge the conviction on its merits and requested relief only regarding the length of imprisonment.
Seriousness of Offences
The court found that the trial and appellate courts had properly evaluated the evidence and upheld the convictions under Sections 419 and 420.
Key facts
- Convictions
- Cheating and impersonation under Sections 420 and 419 of the Indian Penal Code, respectively.
- Original sentence
- Three years of simple imprisonment and a Rs 1,000 fine for each count.
- Reduced sentence
- 74 days, matching the period already spent in custody.
- Revised fine
- Rs 25,000.
- Alleged payment
- A villager gave the man Rs 500 after being threatened with arrest.
- Evidence recovered
- A red Honda Stunner CBF motorcycle displaying “POLICE” and Army defence academy and Election Commission of India identity cards.
- Case duration
- Proceedings began after the 2016 incident and continued for nearly a decade.
Quotes
Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha
Chief Justice of Chhattisgarh High Court
“He has undergone 74 days of incarceration…ends of justice would be adequately met if the substantive sentence awarded to the applicant is reduced to the period already undergone by him, i.e., 74 days.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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