JOIN USS Manoj Kumar of Ram Associates who was convicted for cheating a widow of Rs 60 lakh by the court on Tuesday, was sentenced to 50 months rigorous imprisonment by the Sixth District Sessions Court on Wednesday.
The victim, a widow, was working for a private firm specialising visas to Israel. She had contacted Manoj Kumar of Ram Associates in order to buy a 9-cents land near Mulki.
After signing an agreement for the land and house at a total cost of Rs 60 lakh, the woman had transferred the entire amount from different bank accounts to Kumar’s account.
On discovering that the same property was pledged by Manoj Kumar in a bank for Rs 25 lakh, the widow filed a complaint with Mulki police station on December 12, 2014.
Manoj Kumar was arrested by police under sections 376 (rape), 420 (cheating) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC and later released on bail on the following day.
Then Mulki inspector, Ramachandra Nayak had filed a charge sheet while Public Prosecutor Judith O M Crasta appeared on behalf of the victim.
Manoj was acquitted of rape charges, but sentenced to 50 months rigorous imprisonment for cheating (sec 420 of IPC) and four months of rigorous imprisonment under section 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC. The Sixth District Sessions Judge D T Puttarangaswamy also ordered Manoj Kumar to pay a fine amount of Rs 15,000. He will have to undergo additional one-month rigorous imprisonment if he fails to pay the fine.