Supreme Court Orders Release Of Vegetable Vendor Convicted For Possessing 43 Counterfeit Ten Rupees Notes

The Supreme Court ordered release of a vegetable vendor who was convicted for possessing 43 counterfeit notes of denomination of Rs.10. 

The Trial Court had convicted him under Section 489C IPC and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment of seven years. Later, the High Court reduced the sentence to five years of imprisonment.

In appeal before the Apex Court, the appellant submitted that he already suffered incarceration of about 451 days and that he is an illiterate person, eking his livelihood as a vegetable vendor and that there is no previous conviction rendered against him and no case is pending.

"We find force in the submission made by learned counsel for the appellant. The sentence undergone by the appellant is not in dispute. The charge against him is only under Section 489C of the IPC. He was found to be in possession of 43 counterfeit notes of denomination of Rs.10. He was a vegetable vendor. The main accused is A3", the bench noted.

The court therefore modified the sentence to the one already undergone while retaining the conviction.

Palanisamy vs State | 2023 LiveLaw (SC) 643 | CrA 1124/2023

Indian Penal Code, 1860 ; Section 489C - Accused-appellant found to be in possession of 43 counterfeit notes of denomination of Rs.10. He was a vegetable vendor - Sentence of 5 years imprisonment modified to the one already undergone while retaining the conviction.

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