Drunken driving: Man seeks community service,court gives jail

Verma had come to the sessions court seeking leniency after a magisterial court in January sentenced him to five days in jail and a fine of Rs 3,000 for driving in an inebriated state without valid car insurance.

Verma and his counsel pleaded to ASJ Jain that “he would go and do social work or community service in gurdwara as even a single night spent in jail ruins entire life.”

“I know court is trying to teach me lesson of a life time but I have already learnt it,” Verma said repeatedly assuring the court that he would not repeat his mistake.

He and his counsel even folded their hands while pleading against the jail term. They also cited various instances when the court adopted a reformative approach by sending convicts to hospitals or similar places for community service in cases of drunken driving.

ASJ Jain,however,was not convinced with their pleadings and modified the sentence to three days in jail and the fine as imposed by the magisterial court.

The court also rejected his plea for leniency for the sake of his family and young children and said Verma had shown total disregard for the families of others by indulging in drunken driving.

Verma was caught driving under the influence of alcohol on January 20 in old Delhi area. He had no valid insurance papers and the alcohol in his blood was found to be fourteen times the permissible limit.