Murder Convict Faces Additional Sentence for Parole Violation
A district court in Chandigarh has delivered a significant verdict, sentencing murder convict Inderjit Singh, also known as Lally, to three months of additional imprisonment for jumping parole. The court strongly criticized the convict for abusing the concession of temporary release that was granted to him.
The Parole Violation Timeline
The case dates back to July 19, 2024, when Singh was granted 28-day parole from Model Jail in Chandigarh. According to the established schedule, he was required to surrender by August 17, 2024. However, the convict failed to return to the prison facility on the designated date, choosing instead to abscond.
Inderjit Singh had been serving a life imprisonment sentence for murdering a man in Chandigarh back in 2001. The deputy superintendent of police at Model Jail filed an official complaint regarding the parole violation, leading to the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) at Sector 36 police station in Chandigarh.
The charges were filed under sections 8 and 9 of The Punjab Good Conduct Prisoners Temporary Release Act, 1962. During the initial investigation phase, authorities struggled to locate Singh, but he was eventually taken into custody from Central Jail in Ambala on a production warrant.
Court Proceedings and Legal Findings
During the trial, the prosecution filed a chargesheet against Singh, but the accused opted not to present any defense evidence. The court carefully examined the case documents and made several crucial observations that determined the final outcome.
The court ruled that the case did not fall under Section 8(3) of the Act since the prisoner had never voluntarily surrendered. Instead, he was taken into custody through production by investigating officers and subsequently sent back to complete his original sentence. Therefore, the court found no grounds for conviction under Section 8 of the Act.
However, the court established that the prosecution had successfully proven the charges under Section 9 of the 1962 Act beyond reasonable doubt. The evidence clearly showed that Singh had miserably failed to provide any sufficient excuse for not returning to prison by 5 pm on August 17, 2024, as required.
Court's Strong Stance on Parole Abuse
While determining the quantum of sentence, the court expressed strong views about the nature of the offense. The judgment stated that the convict had abused the parole concession and emphasized that such actions malign the sanctity of the parole system.
The court noted that Singh had been in judicial custody at Central Jail, Ambala, since June 10, 2025, when he was arrested in the current case. While this technically prevented him from surrendering before the Chandigarh Jail Superintendent, the court observed that no evidence was provided regarding how long he had been in judicial custody for other cases.
Despite the offense being bailable, the court highlighted that Singh had neither been released on bail nor applied for it, remaining in continuous custody since June 10, 2025. The court firmly stated it could not be a mute spectator and needed to ensure justice, particularly given the grave nature of the offense that violates societal peace.
The final judgment sentenced Inderjit Singh alias Lally to undergo simple imprisonment for three months for offenses under Section 9 of The Punjab Good Conduct Prisoners Temporary Release Act, 1962, without any additional fine. This sentence will be served in addition to his existing life imprisonment term.
