6 days ago
Delhi Court Acquits Man in 2019 Lutyens’ Residence Theft Case
A man was accused of stealing items from a government home in Delhi in 2019.
The items included chairs, a cooler and a mattress.
Some of these items were later found with him.
However, the main witness said he could not remember the case.
Another witness only said he had heard that the man committed the theft.
The court said this was not enough proof.
Officials also did not confirm that the recovered items belonged to the government.
Because the prosecution could not prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt, the court acquitted the man.
A Delhi court acquitted a man accused of stealing household items from an MP’s government-allotted residence in 2019.
The alleged theft occurred in the early hours of July 21, 2019, on Dr Rajendra Prasad Road.
A cooler, three chairs and a mattress were reportedly recovered from the accused.
The complainant and key eyewitness said he did not remember anything about the case, while another witness’s testimony lacked evidentiary value.
The court ruled that the prosecution failed to prove the alleged trespass, theft, and government ownership of the recovered items beyond reasonable doubt.
- Who
- A man identified in the case as Singh was accused; the prosecution brought the case before a Delhi court.
- What
- The court acquitted him in a case involving alleged house trespass and theft of household items from an MP’s government-allotted residence.
- Where
- A government-allotted residence on Dr Rajendra Prasad Road in New Delhi’s Lutyens’ Bungalow Zone.
- When
- The alleged incident occurred on July 21, 2019; the court’s order was dated August 24 and reported on August 27.
- Why
- The prosecution failed to establish the alleged trespass and theft, and did not prove that the recovered cooler, chairs and mattress belonged to the Central Public Works Department.
Prosecution’s Allegations
Court’s Findings
Alleged theft and trespass
Prosecution’s Allegations
The prosecution alleged that the accused entered the residence in the early hours and stole household items.
Court’s Findings
The court said there were no reliable eyewitnesses establishing that the accused committed lurking house trespass or house breaking for theft.
Recovered property
Prosecution’s Allegations
The prosecution relied partly on the recovery of a cooler, three chairs and a mattress from the accused, along with his disclosure statement.
Court’s Findings
The court held that recovery and a disclosure statement alone could not prove the items were stolen or that the accused committed the theft.
Government ownership
Prosecution’s Allegations
The case treated the recovered items as property allegedly taken from the government-allotted residence.
Court’s Findings
The court said the prosecution failed to prove that the items belonged to the Central Public Works Department because no department official identified them.
Key facts
- Alleged incident
- Early hours of July 21, 2019
- Location
- Government-allotted MP residence on Dr Rajendra Prasad Road, Lutyens’ Bungalow Zone
- Items allegedly stolen
- Cooler, computer, monitor, curtains, kitchen utensils, mattresses and plastic chairs
- Items reportedly recovered
- A cooler, three chairs and a mattress
- Court order
- Dated August 24
- Outcome
- Accused acquitted
- Main evidentiary problem
- The complainant did not remember the case, and no CPWD official identified the recovered items as government property
Quotes
Delhi court
The court that heard the 2019 Delhi bungalow theft case
“The prosecution has also failed to prove the fact that the case property which was allegedly recovered from the possession of the accused (chairs, mattress and cooler) was owned by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD).”
theprint.in
“There are no other witnesses to the incident. Hence, the fact that the accused had committed lurking house trespass or house breaking for commission of theft has not been proved by the prosecution.”
theprint.in
Sources
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