After 49 Years, Final Accused Confesses in Decades-Old Theft Case

Jhansi (UP), Aug 5 (PTI) — Nearly five decades after a theft from a cooperative society, the final accused, now a frail 68-year-old, has at last been convicted in court. This outcome came not from a protracted trial but from his own confession. The case, dating back to March 1976, has been tangled in judicial delays for 49 years, with numerous hearings and bureaucratic hurdles, and the deaths of two co-accused occurring during the extended process. It was only on the previous Saturday that Kanhaiya Lal, standing in the Jhansi chief judicial magistrate’s court, admitted to his involvement.

As per prosecution officer Akhilesh Kumar Maurya, the complaint was lodged on March 31, 1976, by Bihari Lal Gautam, the secretary of the Large Scale Cooperative Society (LSS) in Tahrauli at the time. The accusation stated that on March 27, 1976, Kanhaiya Lal, then working as a Class IV employee, stole an official receipt book and a wristwatch valued at Rs 150 from the office premises.

Kanhaiya Lal proceeded to forge signatures in the receipt book, misappropriating over Rs 14,000 from society members. Two others, Laxmi Prasad and Raghunath, were accused of issuing forged receipts and embezzling funds as well, according to Maurya. They were arrested shortly thereafter but subsequently granted bail.

The judicial process dragged on for an extraordinary length of time, spanning nearly five decades. During this period, numerous hearings were postponed, files changed hands, and both Laxmi Prasad and Raghunath passed away. However, in the case titled "State vs Kanhaiya Lal," formal charges were not framed against him until December 23, 2022.

During a routine hearing on Saturday, Lal, now a resident of Sharmafem Road in Hazira, Gwalior, confessed to the crime. "Kanhaiya Lal informed the court that he wanted to confess due to his worsening health and old age," stated the prosecutor.

The court accepted Lal's confession and convicted him under several sections of the Indian Penal Code: 380 (theft), 409 (criminal breach of trust by a public servant), 467 (forgery of valuable securities), 468 (forgery for cheating), 457 (housebreaking), and 120B (criminal conspiracy). Since Lal had already served two separate three-month terms in jail throughout the trial period, this was deemed to be adequate custodial punishment.

He was additionally fined Rs 300 under each section and Rs 500 under one. If he fails to pay the fine, there will be an additional three-day imprisonment, according to the prosecutor.

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