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A will forged four decades ago and an 88-year-old: Punjab and Haryana HC upholds man’s conviction, reduces sentence

Justice Jasjit Singh Bedi upheld the conviction of an 88-year-old man in a forgery case and ruled that the findings of a civil court are not binding on a criminal court.

3 min readChandigarhMar 19, 2025 04:03 PM IST

While the high court refused to overturn the conviction, it took into account Sanwal Ram’s age, lack of direct benefit from the forgery, and his otherwise clean record. (Express File Photo)

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday upheld the conviction of an 88-year-old man in a nearly four-decade-old forgery case while reducing his sentence to the period already undergone. Justice Jasjit Singh Bedi, presiding over the case, dismissed the revision petition filed by Sanwal Ram, ruling that the findings of a civil court regarding the authenticity of the will in question did not override the conclusions drawn in the criminal proceedings.

The case dates back to 1986 when complainant Data Ram alleged that a forged will had been created to falsely transfer the property of Devi Sahai, who died issueless. According to the complaint, the accused, including Sanwal Ram, conspired to fabricate and register a will in favour of Budhi Devi by fraudulently producing another person before the sub-registrar.

On this basis, an FIR was registered under sections 420 (cheating), 465 (forgery), 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating), 416 (cheating by personation), 417 (punishment for cheating), and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.

Following a lengthy legal battle, Sanwal Ram was convicted in 2007 by the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Narnaul, and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment. On appeal, the additional sessions judge in Narnaul reduced the sentence to two years in 2009 but upheld the conviction. The petitioner subsequently moved the high court in revision, and his sentence was suspended in 2010, pending final adjudication.

During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel argued that civil proceedings related to the will had determined it to be genuine and that Sanwal Ram, being merely an attesting witness and not a beneficiary, should not be held criminally liable. Further, it was contended that given his advanced age and the fact that he had already served three months and six days of his sentence, the court should exercise leniency.

However, the prosecution countered that the civil court’s findings did not bind the criminal court and pointed out that forensic analysis had confirmed the presence of forged signatures on the will. Justice Bedi agreed with this position, stating, “The findings of a civil court are not binding on a criminal court. Even otherwise, the report of the forensic science laboratory establishes that the signatures were forged.”

While the high court refused to overturn the conviction, it took into account Sanwal Ram’s age, lack of direct benefit from the forgery, and his otherwise clean record. “The petitioner is 88 years old and has already undergone a substantial period of his sentence. In the interest of justice, I deem it appropriate to reduce the sentence to the period already undergone,” the judge ruled.

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The ruling underscores the principle that criminal liability in forgery cases is independent of civil findings while also recognising humanitarian considerations in sentencing.

Manraj Grewal Sharma

Manraj Grewal Sharma is a senior journalist and the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Chandigarh, where she leads the newspaper’s coverage of north India’s most politically and institutionally significant regions. From Punjab and Haryana to Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, she oversees reporting at the intersection of governance, law, politics and society. She also reports on the diaspora, especially in Canada and the US. With a career spanning journalism across several countries, academia and international development, Manraj brings a rare depth of perspective to regional reporting. She is widely regarded as a leading chronicler of Punjab’s contemporary history and socio-political evolution, particularly its long shadow of militancy, federal tensions and identity politics. Her book, Dreams after Darkness, remains a definitive account of the militancy years and their enduring aftermath. Professional Background & Expertise A gold medalist in mass communication and a post-graduate in English literature, Manraj has a multifaceted career spanning journalism, academia, and international development. She was also awarded a fellowship by National Foundation of India and did several in-depth pieces on Manipur. Internationally, she has reported from Israel, US, UK, Myanmar, and Mauritius Her key focus areas include: Regional Politics, History, Agriculture, Diaspora, and Security. Of late, she has started focusing on Legal & Judicial Affairs: Much of her recent work involves reporting on high-stakes cases in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, ranging from environmental policy to civil rights. International Consulting: She previously served as a consulting editor for the Asia Pacific Adaptation Network and a publishing consultant for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila. Academia: For five years, she was the managing editor of Gender, Technology and Development, a peer-reviewed international journal at the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage focuses heavily on judicial interventions and regional governance: 1. Environment & Governance "‘NGT can’t test legality of policy’: HC hears challenge to Punjab’s ‘Green Habitat’ plan" (Dec 22, 2025): Covering a critical legal battle over whether the National Green Tribunal has the authority to strike down a state policy regularizing farmhouses on delisted forest land. "High court pulls up Punjab poll panel over audio clip probe" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on judicial concerns regarding the transparency and fairness of local body elections. 2. Legal Rights & Social Welfare "HC issues notice to Punjab, Haryana over delay in building old age homes" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on a contempt petition against top officials for failing to establish government-run homes for the elderly as promised in 2019. "Victims can appeal acquittals in sessions court without seeking special leave" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant procedural shift in criminal law following a Supreme Court ruling. "HC upholds benefits for Punjab FCI officer acquitted in 20-year-old bribery case" (Dec 19, 2025): A report on the concept of "honourable acquittal" and its impact on employee benefits. 3. Human Rights & Identity "As Punjab denies parole to MP Amritpal Singh, HC asks it to submit ‘foundational material’" (Dec 1, 2025): Covering the legal proceedings regarding the radical preacher and sitting MP's request to attend Parliament. "Protecting life paramount: HC backs Muslim woman in live-in after verbal divorce" (Nov 6, 2025): Analyzing judicial protections for personal liberty in the context of traditional practices. Signature Beats Manraj is recognized for her ability to decode complex judicial rulings and relate them to the everyday lives of citizens. Whether it is a 30-year-old land battle in Fazilka or the political implications of Kangana Ranaut’s candidacy in Mandi, her writing provides deep historical and regional context. Contact @grewal_sharma on X manrajgrewalsharma on Instagram ... Read More

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