Judge Orders Lengthy Prison Term and Compensation for Victims
Sagar, Madhya Pradesh – In a landmark judgment, a session court in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh has awarded Nasir Mohammad alias Nasir Rajput, a resident of Tapi, Gujarat, a staggering 170 years of rigorous imprisonment for defrauding 34 individuals in a scheme involving the establishment of a clothes factory. The scam, amounting to ₹72 lakh, has resulted in one of the lengthiest prison terms ever handed down by the Indian judicial system.
Judge Abdullah Ahmed, presiding over the case, also ruled that in addition to the prison sentence, Mohammad must pay ₹10,000 to each of his victims. This compensation aims to alleviate some of the financial burden imposed upon those who fell victim to the deceitful tactics employed by the convict.
Source: Times of India
Under section 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the maximum punishment for such an offense is seven years. However, in this instance, the court deemed it necessary to impose separate punishments for each individual victim, considering the unique circumstances surrounding each case. As a result, Mohammad was sentenced to five years for each victim, culminating in a total of 170 years of imprisonment.
Culprit’s Deceptive Tactics and Arrest Details Revealed
The prosecution’s media in-charge, Saurabh Dimha, shed light on the origins of the case. Following a complaint lodged by residents of Bhainsa and Sadar villages in late 2019, the police initiated an investigation into Mohammad’s activities. The culprit, who had relocated to the area in late 2018, had successfully built a rapport with the locals, establishing himself as an influential figure. Displaying a lavish lifestyle, he convinced them of his plans to invest in a garment factory once he received the proceeds from a real estate sale. Mohammad claimed that the Reserve Bank of India had delayed the transfer of ₹7.85 crore due to a tax issue. Furthermore, he boasted about his sons’ involvement in the garment industry in Cambodia, Vietnam, and Dubai, alluring the unsuspecting villagers into investing in his fraudulent venture.
However, when pressed by an investor to return the money, Mohammad absconded along with his family, leaving behind a trail of victims. After evading authorities, he was finally apprehended on December 19, 2020, in Gulbarga, Karnataka.
Source: KGAN
Despite the severity of the sentence, legal experts anticipate that it may be overturned in a higher court. Ravi Nandan Singh, a retired advocate general of Madhya Pradesh, expressed skepticism about the sustainability of the ruling, pointing out that the punishment is mainly concurrent rather than consecutive. Singh clarified that consecutive punishments are applicable when the nature of the crimes differs, which may not be the case in this instance.
As the verdict reverberates through the legal system, the severity of the punishment serves as a reminder of the judiciary’s commitment to combatting fraud and safeguarding the interests of victims. The case of Nasir Mohammad underscores the importance of due diligence and caution when engaging in financial transactions, as individuals must remain vigilant to protect themselves from such fraudulent schemes.
