New Delhi, Nov 13: Expressing grave concern over the “deteriorating” law and order situation in the national capital, a Delhi court has said immediate steps are required “at all levels” for the safety and security of citizens. The court has made the critical observation while sentencing a youth to 10-year imprisonment for robbing a private firm executive last year after injuring him grievously.
“The deteriorating law and order problem in the capital of the country is a matter of serious concern and immediate steps are required to be taken at all levels for ensuring security and safety of the citizens,” Additional Sessions Judge Kamini Lau said.
“Under these circumstances the courts are required to find answers to the new challenges facing the society and to mould the sentencing system to meet these challenges,” he said.
The judge refused any leniency for 30-year-old Rahish, who has also been involved in 16 other cases of robbery, theft and dacoities, saying any “undue sympathy shown to him would harm the justice system”.
The court also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on Rahish while sentencing him for robbing and injuring grievously Rishabh Sehgal on his way back home from office on August 4, 2010 in Wazirpur area here.
Rahish and his associates Raju and Afsar, who were not arrested during the probe, forcibly stopped Sehgal and robbed him of Rs 40,000, a gold chain and a wrist watch and inflicted serious injuries, the prosecution said.
The court observed Delhi has witnessed a sudden rise in criminal cases like robbery, murder and others and said last year alone over 48,000 cases were registered here. “In recent past, Delhi has experienced a spurt and rise in incidents of snatching, robbery, dacoity, murder and other crime. In 2010 alone, a total number of 48,161 cases were registered out of which 489 were rape cases, 13,794 vehicular theft cases, 567 were cases of loot, 1,596 chain snatching cases, 318 dacoity and 274 murder cases,” said.
The court held Rahish guilty for offences under Section 392 (robbery) with Section 397 (robbery with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt) of the IPC relying on testimony of the victim, who identified him in the court. The accused had claimed he was falsely implicated in the case, saying he was detained by sleuths of Special Cell of Delhi Police and was “mercilessly beaten”. He also said he was “forced” to sign on several blank papers and forms which were used later for implicating him in several cases, including this one.
Relying on the evidence and statements of prosecution witnesses while giving Rahish the jail term, the court said, “The evidence of prosecution witnesses is natural and trustworthy and corroborated by each other and the witness of prosecution have been able to build up a continuous link.”
