The Punjab and Haryana High Court, comprising Justice Anoop Chitkara and Justice Mandeep Pannu, has stayed the sentence of Amit Rana alias Meeta, convicted in the 2018 Gurugram ransom kidnapping case. He had been awarded life imprisonment under Section 364-A of the IPC, along with other sentences under Sections 307, 397, 482, and 34 IPC.
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According to the prosecution, on May 17, 2018, police received information about a kidnapping and ransom demand at Ghora Chowk, Gurugram. Complainant Upendra stated that his nephew, Pardeep Singh, had been kidnapped and the abductors demanded a ransom of ₹50,000. He managed to arrange ₹20,000 and handed it over to the accused at Hero Honda Chowk. The accused claimed they had shot Pardeep in the leg and left him near Bhondsi Jail Road. Later, Pardeep was found injured near Sector 62, Gurugram, and was admitted to the hospital.
During the investigation, Amit Rana and another accused, Ajay, were arrested in connection with another FIR under the Arms Act. Based on their disclosure, part of the ransom money was recovered. The trial court sentenced Amit Rana to life imprisonment under Section 364-A IPC, 10 years under Section 307 IPC, and other concurrent sentences.
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While hearing the petition under Section 430 of the BNSS, 2023, the High Court noted that Rana had already spent more than 8 years in prison, the ransom amount was ₹50,000, and the gunshot wound was on a non-vital part of the body (thigh). Without giving a final opinion on the merits of the appeal, the Court suspended the sentence until the appeal is decided, subject to bail conditions.
"The execution of the sentence of imprisonment is stayed until further orders," the Bench said, also directing that downloaded copies of the bail order be accepted to ensure speedy release.
Case Title:- Amit Rana @ Meeta vs. State of Haryana
