New Delhi, Aug 21 A Delhi court has sentenced six men to life imprisonment for kidnapping a 23-year-old makeup artist for ransom in 2016, and imposing a fine of Rs 50,000 on each of them.
Principal District and Sessions Judge Pankaj Gupta was hearing arguments on the quantum of sentence against Wasim Ansari, Deepak alias Deepu, Vinod Kumar, Nasir Ali, Neeraj Sharma and Rizwan, who were convicted of criminal conspiracy and kidnapping for ransom.
In an order dated August 17, the court said, “Keeping in view all the facts and circumstances of the case and the mitigating circumstances as mentioned above, all the convicts are sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for life (each) and pay a fine of Rs.50,000 (each)”.
The case relates to the abduction of Abhishek Khetrapal, a makeup artist, who was kidnapped near the Radisson Blu Hotel in Dwarka on October 20, 2016. He was kept in captivity for about three days before being rescued from a house in Uttar Pradesh on October 23.
According to the prosecution, Khetrapal had gone to meet a person who was posing as a prospective client when he was overpowered and taken away. The accused allegedly demanded Rs 2 crore from his mother for his release.
The court had relied on Khetrapal's testimony, including his identification of the accused, as well as evidence relating to mobile phone numbers and recovery of his belongings.
The six were convicted under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 120B and 364A read with Section 120B. They were, however, acquitted of charges relating to administering a stupefying substance and destruction of evidence.
During sentencing, the prosecution sought maximum punishment, describing the offences as grave.
The defence sought leniency, pointing out that the convicts had no previous criminal record and that their family members were dependent on them.
The court sentenced each of the six convicts to rigorous imprisonment for life and a fine of Rs 50,000 for criminal conspiracy. For the offence of kidnapping and ransom, they were also awarded life imprisonment and a Rs 50,000 fine.
In default of payment of the fine, each convict will undergo six months' simple imprisonment for each offence. The sentences will run concurrently.
The court also directed that 50 per cent of the fine, once deposited, be paid to Khetrapal.
