Robbery: Court takes lenient view, sends man to 2.5 yr in jail

Taking a lenient view in a robbery case, a city court has sentenced a man to two years and six months imprisonment, which he has already spent behind bars.
Special Judge Praveen Kumar released from jail Prem Thapa who was awarded five years rigorous imprisonment by a trial court for the offence.
"Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, the judgement of the trial court is upheld. However, considering the fact that appellant (Thapa) is a young man aged about 35 years and that he is not a previous convict, I am inclined to take a lenient view...
"In my opinion, ends of justice would meet if the appellant is convicted and sentenced for the period already undergone by him," the judge said.

Thapa's counsel had challenged the order on sentence before the sessions court, and said she was not challenging the trial court judgement convicting her client.
According to the prosecution, on September 6, 2012, Thapa along with his associate had robbed one Sunder Kumar Rai of his wallet, containing cash and driving licence, mobile phone, wrist watch and other documents after beating him up and threatening to kill him with a pistol. The incident had taken place in Keshavpuram in North Delhi.

While Thapa was apprehended by passers-by, his associate managed flee but was arrested later from his house.
Thapa's counsel had sought leniency citing Thapa's young age and the ground that he belonged to the poor strata of the society. She had also said Thapa had already spent more than two years and six months in jail.

The prosecution, however, had opposed Thapa's appeal saying that there was no infirmity in the order on sentence passed by the trial court.