Snatching accused convicted in just 14 days

NEW DELHI: Delhi Police has secured the conviction of a man accused in a wallet snatching case within just 14 days of the crime. While the investigation was completed in three days, the chargesheet was filed within four days of registration of the FIR. The trial court conducted proceedings on a day-to-day basis before convicting the accused in what police described as one of the fastest convictions secured in a street crime case under the new criminal laws.

On the night of May 1, a man working as an accountant at Ambassador Hotel in New Delhi was waiting for a bus near the Shahbad Dairy bus stand in northwest Delhi. Around 9.45pm, the complainant took out his wallet to make payment for a water bottle when a man approached from behind, snatched the wallet containing cash and identity documents, and attempted to flee. The accountant, however, chased the accused for nearly 100 metres towards Sector 28 Rohini and managed to catch hold of him. A passerby called the police helpline number 112. Investigating officer ASI Deepak reached the spot and apprehended the accused.

The accused was identified as 32-year-old Ravinder, a resident of Shahbad Daulatpur. Based on the accountant’s statement, a case was registered under sections 309 (robbery) and 317(stolen property) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita on May 2.

The chargesheet was filed before the Rohini court on May 6. “It was filed in record time as part of a special mechanism introduced to deal with street crime cases swiftly,” said DCP (Outer North) Hareshwar V Swami.

The trial court of judicial magistrate first class Bharti Beniwal conducted proceedings on a day-to-day basis. On May 16, the accused was convicted.

Street crime and robbery cases usually remain pending in courts for months or even years.