Stalking case: Court frees man from jail due to poor financial status

A Delhi court has set aside a six-month jail term of a man, convicted of stalking a class 12 student, and released him on probation for a year considering his poor financial status.

Additional Sessions Judge Gulshan Kumar set free Raja, a south-east Delhi resident, on a bond of Rs 20,000 and directed him to maintain good behaviour.

"A report from the probationary officer was called regarding the conduct and antecedents of the convict/appellant. In the report of the probationary officer, it is stated that the appellant is having clean antecedents and was never involved in any other case.

"Keeping in view the all facts and circumstances, without expressing any opinion on the merits of this case and considering his poor financial condition, it is considered expedient to release him on probation for a period of one year on furnishing probation bond of Rs 20,000 with one surety in the like amount to appear and receive sentence as and when called upon during such period and, in the meantime the appellant shall keep peace and be of good behaviour," the judge said.

In his appeal against the six-month jail term awarded to him by a trial court, Raja said he was poor and was never involved in any other criminal case.

According to the complaint lodged by the girl on December 27, 2013, Raja was following her for two months and insisting she married him despite her clear disinterest.

She alleged that whenever she went for her tuitions, he would follow her, express his love for her and try to force her to marry him.

An FIR was lodged and charge under section 354D (stalking) of the IPC was framed against the man. The magisterial court had March 8, 2016 convicted him of the offence and sentenced him to six months imprisonment.