Bhubaneswar: After securing a conviction in a theft case within nine days of the offence, Bhubaneswar Police claimed that it was the fastest conviction in a criminal case in Odisha.
Judicial magistrate first class (IV), Bhubaneswar, Somesh Somyajit Panda sentenced M D Guddu (26) to imprisonment for five months after finding him guilty of stealing a bicycle worth Rs 18,000 on August 26.
Police said a theft case was registered at Laxmisagar police station on August 29. The theft was captured on a CCTV camera installed at the complainant’s residence, following which Guddu was arrested the same day.
The investigating officer filed the chargesheet on August 31. Prosecutor Niranjan Behera ensured an expeditious trial by placing all evidence before the court on Sept 3, resulting in a conviction on Monday, TOI quoted a senior police officer as saying.
During the trial, six prosecution witnesses were examined and 34 documents exhibited before the court, police said.
According to reports, the previous fastest conviction was recorded on August 26 when accused Sunil Sethi was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment within 18 days of committing a theft at his workplace under Badagada police limits on August 8.
