SC Orders Release Of 99-Yr-Old Convict In Dowry Death Case

The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed an appeal filed by a 99-year-old convict against his conviction and sentence in a dowry death case.

A division bench comprising Justice Arun Mishra and Justice Amtava Roy reduced the sentence to that of already undergone and directed the authorities to release him forthwith.

Appellant Bhan Singh was convicted for commission of offence under Section 304B, 306 & 498A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and was sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for seven years under Section 304B IPC, rigorous imprisonment of five years and fine of Rs 1,000 under Section 306 IPC, and rigorous imprisonment of two years and fine of Rs 500 under Section 498A IPC.

Allowing the appeal, the bench held: “Considering the age of the appellant to be 99 years by now and he has suffered sentence of one year and nine month already, we, without making it precedent in any other case, considering purely the age of the appellant as well as the role played by him, reduce the sentence to that of already undergone and direct, since the appellant is suffering incarceration, the appellant to be released forthwith, if not required in any other criminal case.”