Youth gets 3 yrs jail for stealing Rs 3,000 from a house

A youth has been sent to jail for three years for breaking into a house and stealing Rs 3,000, by a Delhi court which refused to release him on probation, saying such offences were rising alarmingly and deterrent punishment must be given to discourage recurrence.
Metropolitan Magistrate Ashok Kumar handed down the jail term to 27-year-old Bhupinder Singh, holding him guilty of offences under sections 380(theft) and 454(house-trespass) of the IPC and noting that he had remained absent from court proceedings.
"Considering the conduct of the convict, he does not deserve too much leniency and sentencing him merely up to the period undergone by him and giving him benefit of probation would be overlooking the gravity of the offence.

"I am not in favour of releasing the accused on probation as such offences, as alleged against the convict, are increasing day-by-day in alarming numbers and deterrent effect must be shown to the prospective evil elements," the magistrate said.
The court, while holding him guilty, relied on the testimonies of complainant, victim and the cash, credit and debits cards recovered from the possession of the convict.
The prosecution said on September 28, 2011 Bhupinder broke into the house of Manas Ranjan, who was living in a rented accommodation in Kotla Mubarakpur area of South Delhi, and stole a purse, Rs 3,000 cash and debit and credit cards.

A complaint was lodged by the landlord who entered the house in the victim's absence and found his belongings scattered and the accused hidden in a corner, the police said.
During the trial, counsel for the accused denied the allegations and claimed false implication by the complainant.