Drunken driving: 'Deterrent message must be sent to society'

A Delhi court has upheld the conviction of a 34-year-old man for driving his car in an inebriated state, saying a deterrent message must be sent to society.
Additional Sessions Judge Atul Kumar Garg, however, reduced the three-day imprisonment awarded to the man by the trial court to sentence till the rising of the court after noting his age, dependent family members and that he was a first time offender.
Haryana resident Gaurav Jindal had approached the sessions court challenging the trial court's order awarding him three days imprisonment for the offence of drunken driving.
"Considering the fact that the appellant had consumed liquor while driving the vehicle i.E. Car, a deterrent message must have been sent to the society.

"However, considering the age of the appellant as well as his dependent family members, coupled with the fact that the appellant (Jindal) is a first time offender, sentence passed by the trial court is reduced to the sentence of till rising of the court," the sessions court said.
According to the prosecution, Jindal was found driving his car under the influence of liquor and in breath analyser test, the alcohol level in his body was found three times more than the permissible limit.
Jindal, in his appeal, claimed that the magistrate had not given any opportunity to defend himself during the trial of the case and also alleged that there were discrepancies in police probe.

He alleged that the trial court had passed the order without considering the fact that he was a poor person and only bread earner of his family.