IANS

New Delhi, Jun 19: A man convicted for a robbery committed 17 years ago was set free by the Delhi High Court, which observed that he had "assimilated himself into the mainstream society" and it would not be fair to keep him along with hardened criminals.

"The appellant (convict Kadir) has assimilated himself in the mainstream society as a useful citizen and sending him to jail to serve the remaining sentence with hardcore criminals would serve no purpose," Justice G.S. Sistani said.

The court, however, upheld a lower court's verdict convicting Kadir for looting a Haryana-based man here May on 14, 1992.

"I do not consider it appropriate asking the appellant to undergo the remaining period of sentence in jail after facing the ordeal of trial for over 17 years," the order said.

The court dismissed the appeal of Kadir filed against his conviction and a sentence of three years but granted him relief by not asking him to undergo the remaining jail term.

A First Information Report was lodged by victim Sunil Gauba alleging that he was robbed of his bag, cash over Rs.3,000 and other objects at Seelampur in northeast Delhi at knife point.

Kadir and three others were arrested on May 15, 1992.

The lower court convicted Kadir in 2000 but acquitted three others for want of evidence.