Delhi Court Convicts Man in 2018 Attempted Murder and Robbery Case
A city court in New Delhi recently convicted a man for attempted murder and robbery. The case dates back nearly seven years to an attack on a migrant labourer.
Court Rejects Defence Arguments
Additional Sessions Judge Sumedh Kumar Sethi convicted Sona Lal, also known as Sone Lal Baitha. The defence argued that Sona Lal did not carry any weapon and did not personally stab the victim.
Judge Sethi dismissed these arguments. He stated that when common intention is established, no specific overt or covert act needs to be proven separately.
The judge also noted that the failure to recover the knife or stolen articles did not weaken the prosecution's case against the accused.
Details of the 2018 Incident
In June 2018, Sona Lal along with two accomplices - Rafiq Lal and Chandan Rai - lured migrant labourer Mohammad Afroj from Anand Vihar to a secluded spot in GTB Enclave in east Delhi.
At the isolated location, the group robbed Afroj of his cash, mobile phone, and other personal belongings. They then stabbed him in the abdomen and neck with a knife.
Police registered an FIR after the attack. They apprehended Sona Lal while his two accomplices absconded. The court later declared the absconding accused as proclaimed offenders.
Legal Charges and Court's Reasoning
The court convicted Sona Lal under Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code for attempt to murder. He was also convicted under Section 394 for voluntarily causing hurt during robbery.
Both charges were read with Section 34, which deals with acts done by several persons with common intention.
However, the court held that IPC Section 397 could not be applied in this case. This section covers robbery or dacoity with attempt to cause death. The court noted that Sona Lal had not personally used a deadly weapon during the crime.
Court Addresses Witness Testimony Concerns
The defence highlighted discrepancies in victim Mohammad Afroj's account during various stages of examination. They argued these inconsistencies should affect the reliability of his testimony.
Judge Sethi rejected this argument completely. He observed that the terror experienced by the victim would naturally affect his memory of the traumatic event.
The court noted that Afroj had consistently identified Sona Lal at every stage of the legal process. Minor imperfections in his recollection could not be used to discredit his overall testimony.
Aftermath of the Violent Attack
The 2018 attack left Mohammad Afroj with grievous injuries to both his abdomen and neck. The migrant labourer survived the brutal assault but suffered significant physical harm.
The court delivered its conviction on January 14, bringing partial closure to a case that had remained pending for nearly seven years since the original incident.
