G S BAKSHI J S KALSI J S NANDA Vs. STATE DELHI ADMINISTRATION :STATE DELHI ADMINISTRATION :STATE DELHI ADMINISTRATION

JUDGEMENT

(1.) These appeals Nos. 145, 311 and 314 of 1971 are preferred respectively by G. S. Bakshi, Jaswant Singh Kalsi and Joginder Singh Nanda by special leave against the judgment of the Delhi High Court in Criminal Appeals Nos. 155, 156 and 158 of 1968.

(2.) There were seven accused before the Sessions Judge, Delhi in Sessions Case No. 3 of 1967. The learned Sessions Judge acquitted two of the accused, Amar Singh Nanda and Jagjit Singh Bhasin. He convicted the other five accused of offences under Sections 120-B, 411, 471 and 420 read with Sec. 120-B of the Indian Penal Code. Except two accused, Kapoor Singh with whom we are not concerned and J. S. Kalsi, appellant in Criminal Appeal No. 311 of 1971, the others were sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for four years under Sections 471 and 420 read with Section 120-B of the Indian Penal Code and with a fine of Rs. 5,000 under Section 471 of the Indian Penal Code and for one year under Section 411 read with Section 120-B of the Indian Penal Code. Taking into account the age of Kapoor Singh, he was sentenced to one year's rigorous imprisonment on various charges. J. S. Kalsi, appellant in 311 of 1971 was sentenced to one year on various offences, the sentences were to run concurrently. The three appellants herein and two others convicted by the trial Court preferred five criminal appeals, viz., Appeals Nos. 155, 156, 158 of 1968 and 2 and 4 of 1969 to the High Court. The High Court confirmed the conviction of all the appellants but taking into account the age of Kapoor Singh, reduced his sentence to the period already undergone and fine of Rs. 1,000. The sentences imposed on other accused were confirmed.

(3.) Only three accused preferred appeals to this Court. Of the three, G. S. Bakshi has since died and his appeal has abated. We are, therefore, concerned only with J. S. Kalsi, appellant in Criminal Appeal No. 311 of 1971 and J. S. Nanda, appellant in Criminal Appeal No. 314 of 1971.