While releasing driver Ram Mehar, a Najafgarh resident, on probation, Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) S C Rajan asked him to furnish an undertaking of good behaviour and pay Rs one lakh as compensation to the the victim's family members.
"Keeping in view the facts and circumstances of the case and the submissions of the counsel that appellant (Ram Mehar) is a first-time offender, a government servant and as he has been facing trial for last about 12 years and himself offered to pay Rs one lakh to the family members of deceased, I consider it expedient to release Mehar Ram on probation of good conduct," the court said.
"It is, therefore, ordered that the convict be released on probation for a period of one year on his entering into a personal bond in the sum of Rs 10,000 with one surety in the like amount to appear and receive sentence as and when called upon during such period and, in the meantime, Mehar shall keep peace and be of good behaviour," the court said.
The court's judgement came on Mehar's appeal against the order of a magisterial court, which had sentenced him to two years in jail and had imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 for rash driving.
The sessions court ordered his release on probation, while upholding his conviction.
The prosecution case dated back to November 2001 when Mehar Ram was driving a DTC bus in rash manner and hit cyclist Prabhu Nath from behind leading to his death.
