Court dismisses appeal of Panjab University student who posed as cop

CHANDIGARH: A court here on Saturday dismissed an appeal filed by a Panjab University student who had been sentenced to a year in prison for posing as an assistant sub-inspector posted with

Punjab Armed Police

and driving a car with forged documents.

The court of additional sessions judge

Harish Anand

dismissed the appeal against the coviction and sentence order passed against

Manminder Singh

in March 2015. He was held under sections 419 (cheating by impersonation) and 465 (forgery) of the Indian Penal Code.

In 2009, police officials were on patrolling duty near Student Centre, Panjab University, when they were given a tip-off that a Tata Safari bearing a fake number was parked nearby. The car was driven by Manminder, who identified himself as an ASI with PAP and produced a forged identity card.

Manminder Singh was asked to produce documents to prove his ownership of the car, but failed to do so. The number was verified from control room wherein intimation was received that this number was of a

Ford

Mondeo and was in the name of Saraya India Limited.

The fake number plate was lifted and the original number of the car was discovered to be PB-10-BZ-T-9573. Maninder Singh also admitted that he was an LLB student and using the identity card of PAP illegally. Charges were framed against the accused under sections 419, 467, 468, 471 and 473 of IPC, the accused pleaded not guilty and claimed trial.

The accused had challenged the judgment of the trial court on the grounds that it did not take into consideration the major and material discrepancies which arose in the statements of the prosecution witnesses. After hearing arguments, judgment was made and it read as, "The conscious of the Court is not satisfied in as much as it cannot be said to be an innocent act done by the accused. The accused had prepared fake identity card and was using Tata Safari car by using fake number thereon, therefore, taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case, the appellant cannot be released on probation, therefore, the request of appellant for releasing him on probation is declined. Accused who is already in custody shall undergo the sentence as awarded to him by the trial court (SIC)."

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