Three youths, convicted for brutally assaulting a woman police official, have been allowed to walk free by a Delhi court which extended them the benefit of probation, saying lack of education and immaturity could be the reasons for their act.
Additional Sessions Judge Ajay Kumar Jain released Navin, Ravi and Rohit, all of whom are 25-year-old and who have already spent a month in jail, on probation for one year, with a direction to maintain good conduct but be ready for punishment if needed.
"Lack of education and immaturity seem to be possible reasons for all that has happened and this period would hopefully make them responsible and sensible.
"Therefore in these circumstances, the benefit of probation is extended to the convicts and they are directed to execute a bond to keep peace and good conduct on furnishing personal bond as well surety bond in the sum of Rs 10,000 for a period of one year, with the condition that they shall come and receive the punishment as and when such circumstances arise," the judge said.
The court also said that since the offence under which the youths were convicted entailed a maximum of one year jail term, the period of one month spent behind bars by them was a sufficient deterrent.
"Convicts herein are young boys and have already spent around one month in custody and are convicted for offence under section 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) of IPC in which maximum sentence is one year.
"Thus, the deterrence which a punishment could have given is already there...The convicts are not found to be involved in any criminal offence after the present case...The custodial sentence would further give an opportunity to them to interact with the persons on the wrong side of the law," it said.
It further said that extending the benefit of probation was more appropriate as that would not only persuade but also put a kind of pressure them on to be on the right side of law.
The court also imposed a fine of Rs 1,000 on each of them which was duly paid.
According to the prosecution, on July 1, 2013 the woman, a sub-inspector with Delhi Police, was walking home after duty at 10 pm when the three youths blocked her way and assaulted her. The convicts were apprehended from the spot by police officials who were on patrolling duty in the area.
A charge of molestation was also slapped against them but was removed by the court as it found the woman's claims exaggerated.
During the trial, the youths had denied the allegations claiming they were falsely implicated.
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