IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Criminal Revision No. 926 of 2009 Date of decision: 12th May, 2009 Devinder Kaur and another … Petitioners Versus State of Punjab … Respondent CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE KANWALJIT SINGH AHLUWALIA Present: Mr. Gorakh Nath, Advocate for the petitioners. Mr. Mehardeep Singh, Assistant Advocate General, Punjab for the State. KANWALJIT SINGH AHLUWALIA, J. (ORAL) Present revision petition has been filed by Devinder Kaur wife of Chanchal Singh and Balwinder Singh @ Billa son of Harbhajan Singh. Two courts below have held that the petitioners have duped various persons for amount ranging from Rs.5000/- to Rs.1,10,000/-. In fact, the appellate Court has drawn a chart that 14 persons were cheated by the petitioners on the pretext of sending abroad. Counsel for the petitioners, taking the findings of two courts below into consideration, at the outset has stated that he will not be in a position to assail the conviction of the petitioners, but place the petitioners at the mercy of the Court regarding reduction of sentence. Counsel has further stated that as per the allegations of prosecution, witnesses had parted money in year 1996, 1997 and 2003. It has been submitted that petitioners have already suffered a protected trial. Petitioners were convicted and sentenced by the Court of Judicial Magistrate (1st Class), Phillaur under Section 420 IPC read with Criminal Revision No.926 of 2009 section 120-B IPC to undergo rigorous imprisonment for three years and to pay fine of Rs.1000/- each, in default of payment of fine to further undergo rigorous imprisonment for three months. The Court further convicted them under Section 24 (1)(b) of the Immigration Act and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for one year and to pay fine of Rs.500/- each, in default of payment of fine to further undergo rigorous imprisonment for one month. The appellate Court had not only upheld the conviction but had also maintained the sentence. Taking into consideration protracted trial, sentence awarded upon the petitioners is reduced from three years to two years rigorous imprisonment. However, sentence of fine is maintained. Sentence awarded by the trial Court on various counts shall run concurrently. With these modifications in the sentence, present revision petition is disposed off. [KANWALJIT SINGH AHLUWALIA] JUDGE May 12, 2009 rps 2