Convict turns unruly in court on hearing sentence

New Delhi, July 10 (IANS) A convict lifted and banged a chair on the floor in a Delhi court after the judge sentenced him to eight years' jail in a chain snatching case involving an army soldier's wife, sources said Tuesday. Police however denied the incident.

According to sources, convict Munna Sheikh Monday vented his anger by banging the chair on the floor as Additional Session Judge Pawan Kumar Jain awarded him eight years' jail. The court also slapped a fine of Rs.60,000 on the convict.

Soon after the incident, the court staff called in police to control the unruly convict, they said.

However, a police officer incharge of the Tis Hazari court denied the incident, claiming that he had not received any information.

He added that such incidents occurred frequently in courts.

Complainant Asha Rani told the court that March 12, 2011 she and her husband B. Udai Raj, an army soldier, were on their way to the waiting room for army personnel at the New Delhi Railway Station when Munna, along with some associates, snatched her gold chain and injured her husband.

The judge ruled that snatching of belongings of a woman finding her alone was quite a serious offence as it created an atmosphere of insecurity in society.

"Since, the complainant and her husband were on their way to start a journey and the incident had taken place near the railway station, such incidents not only create an atmosphere of insecurity among passengers and tourists but also give a bad name to the city," the court said.

The court added that the convict deserved substantial punishment taking into account all the mitigating and aggravating factors.

"Thus, I hereby sentence the convict to rigorous imprisonment for a period of eight years," the court said.

--Indo-Asian News service

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