A Delhi court has refused to reduce a sentence of five-year imprisonment awarded to a man in a chain-snatching case in south Delhi’s Pushp Vihar in 2013.
Accused Irfan, along with his accomplice Kapil Chauhan, had snatched a gold chain from a woman when she was out for a walk in her colony. The accused were on a motorcycle and snatched the chain from behind. However, they were caught after a chase by a police personnel after the woman raised an alarm and the jewellery was recovered from them.
A Metropolitan Magistrate court had sentenced Irfan to four-year imprisonment for snatching and one year in jail for possessing a countrymade pistol and a live cartridge. The other accused was awarded four-year imprisonment for snatching.
Chauhan earlier moved a sessions court for reduction of his sentence, which was reduced to three years’ imprisonment. Irfan also sought curtailment of his sentence on the grounds of relief given to his co-accomplice.
‘No leniency’
However, Additional Sessions Judge Rakesh Kumar dismissed his plea, saying, “The accused [Irfan] is not entitled to any leniency.”
“...It can be discerned that the trial court, while passing the sentence of imprisonment against the accused, took into account all the attending circumstances, bearing on the question of sentence. Accused Irfan has at the time of commission of crime [chain-snatching], not only possessed the deadly weapon [ katta ] but also used it to threaten the complainant. Therefore, the accused is not entitled to any leniency,” the judge said.
“Gravity of offence and its nature must be taken into account while sentencing, otherwise it can seriously undermine the respect for court of law. Misplaced sympathy for accused is harmful for criminal judicial system,” the judge also observed.
