IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Criminal Revision No. 2018 of 2009 Date of decision : September 11, 2009 Sonu Kumar alias Soni ....Petitioner versus State of Punjab ....Respondent Coram: Hon'ble Mr. Justice L.N. Mittal Present : Mr. Aminder Singh, Advocate, for the petitioner Mr. Gaurav Garg Dhuriwala, AAG Punjab L.N. Mittal, J. (Oral) Sonu Kumar alias Soni has filed this revision petition assailing his conviction and sentence by the courts below. According to the prosecution version, on 9.12.2003, complainant Ashwani Kumar went to Oriental Bank of Commerce, Dhuri for depositing Rs 10,000/-. There was crowd in the bank. While entering the bank, the complainant felt that some one had picked his pocket and took out the amount of Rs 10,000/-. The complainant saw the petitioner who tried to turn back. The complainant suspected that the petitioner had committed the said theft. On 14.12.2003, the petitioner was apprehended by the police. After making disclosure statement, the petitioner got recovered the stolen amount of Rs 10,000/-. Criminal Revision No. 2018 of 2009 -2- Learned Sub Divisional Judicial Magistrate, Dhuri vide judgment and order dated 8.12.2006 convicted the petitioner under section 379 IPC and sentenced him to undergo rigorous imprisonment for one year and to pay fine of Rs 500/- and in default thereof, to undergo further rigorous imprisonment for three months. The petitioner preferred appeal against his conviction and sentence. Learned Additional Sessions Judge, Fast Track Court, Sangrur vide judgment dated 17.7.2009, while upholding the conviction of the petitioner, reduced his sentence of imprisonment from one year to six months while maintaining sentence of fine. Feeling aggrieved, the petitioner has preferred this revision petition. Notice of motion in the revision petition was issued regarding quantum of sentence only. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case file. Learned counsel for the petitioner vehemently prayed for reduction in sentence contending that the petitioner has faced the agony of trial for almost six years. Learned State counsel on the other hand opposed the prayer by submitting that such incidents of pick-pocketing are on the rise. I have carefully considered the rival contentions. Keeping in view the fact that the incident took place almost six years ago and the fact that the amount involved was Rs 10,000/- only, I am of the considered opinion that ends of justice would be met if the sentence of imprisonment imposed on the petitioner is further reduced to imprisonment for four months while maintaining sentence of fine and sentence in default thereof. It is ordered accordingly. Criminal Revision No. 2018 of 2009 -3- With reduction in sentence as aforesaid, the revision petition stands disposed of accordingly. ( L.N. Mittal ) September 11, 2009 Judge 'dalbir'