(1.) This Revision is directed against the judgment dtd. 24/6/2021 passed by the 1st Additional Sessions Judge, Janjgir in Criminal Appeal No.31/2021 which in turn was preferred against the judgment and order dtd. 26/3/2021 passed by the learned Judicial Magistrate 1st Class, Akaltara in Criminal Case No.372/2019 whereby the applicant has been convicted for commission of offence under Ss. 419 and 420 of the IPC and sentenced to undergo SI for one year and to undergo SI for 3 years with fine of Rs.50.00 each, respectively. By the impugned judgment, learned 1st Additional Sessions Judge dismissed the Appeal preferred by the applicant and modified the order of sentence whereby the fine amount imposed on the applicant by the learned JMFC was enhanced from Rs.50.00 to Rs.2,05,000.00. It was also made clear that in case of failure of payment of fine amount, the applicant shall undergo SI for one year. The applicant has challenged the same in this Revision.
(2.) Case of the prosecution is that complainant Jagdish Sahu has lodged a written complaint with the concerned Police Station alleging that the present applicant and co-accused Monika Alex (wife of the present applicant) had introduced themselves as Sales Tax Officer posted at Delhi and they had exchanged their telephone numbers with the complainant. The accused persons induced him for allotment of petrol pump and purchasing of land, and for the said purpose, they demanded certain amount on the pretext of registration etc. The complainant had given an amount of Rs.2,50,000.00 on various dates. It was alleged that even after receiving the aforesaid amount, neither the petrol pump was allotted to him nor any land was purchased in his name and thus, the accused persons had cheated him. On such allegations, an FIR (Ex.-P/19) was registered against the accused persons.
(3.) In order to prove the charge, the prosecution has examined as many as 7 witnesses, exhibited the documents (Ex.-P/1 to Ex.-P/39) as well as Article A-1 to A-28.