HC upholds life terms to two for kidnapping minor for ransom

The high court, however, acquitted another man for lack of evidence against him.

Concurring with the trial court order that the prosecution was able to prove its case, a bench of Justices S Ravindra Bhat and S P Garg upheld the life terms awarded to Vijay and Jagbir for kidnapping a minor boy, aged five at the time of the crime in January, 2005.

Relying on prosecution evidence, including the child's testimony that he was beaten up by the accused persons during his detention, the bench said, "The child also deposed about the beating given to him during his detention...The child was recovered pursuant to the arrest of Vijay and Jagbir and their disclosures."

While acquitting third convict Devender, the court said, "The trial court's conclusions (against Devender) were not based on proved circumstances, but mere conjectures. Consequently, we set aside the conviction of Devender."

The boy's father had lodged the complaint saying that his son was missing from his residence in Sultan Puri and next day he had received calls on his telephone demanding a ransom of Rs three lakh for his release.

The kidnappers had also threatened the complainant to kill his son if he failed to hand them the ransom.

Police had rescued the boy from the accused persons from Sehjalpur village in Uttar Pradesh.