The Chandigarh district court has sentenced a murder convict to three months’ imprisonment for jumping the 28-day parole granted to him, saying he had “abused the concession…”.
Inderjit Singh, alias Lally, had been convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering a man in Chandigarh in 2001. As per the complaint of the deputy superintendent of police, Model Jail, Chandigarh, Lally was granted 28-day parole on July 19, 2024. He was scheduled to surrender on August 17, 2024. However, he absconded.
Subsequently, an FIR under sections 8 and 9 of The Punjab Good Conduct Prisoners Temporary Release Act, 1962, was lodged at the Sector 36 police station in Chandigarh. While Singh could not be traced initially, during the investigation, he was taken on production warrant from Central Jail, Ambala.
A chargesheet was filed against the accused under sections 8 and 9 of The Punjab Good Conduct Prisoners Temporary Release Act, 1962, but the accused opted not to lead any defence evidence.
The court, on perusing the documents produced in the case, found that the present case does not fall within Section 8(3) of the Act as the prisoner/accused had never surrendered and was taken on production warrant by the investigating officer and then sent to undergo the remaining portion of his sentence. Therefore, no case of Section 8 of The Punjab Good Conduct Prisoners Temporary Release Act, 1962, is made out for conviction, the court said.
The court observed that the conviction of the accused person has been proven right as he had miserably failed to produce any sufficient excuse for his non-return before 5 pm on August 17, 2024.
The court found that the prosecution failed to prove the charges under Section 8 of the Act against the accused person beyond a reasonable doubt. However, it succeeded in proving the charges under Section 9 of the 1962 Act and Singh was thus convicted under the same section.
‘Maligns sanctity of concession of parole’
While pronouncing the quantum of sentence, the court remarked: “The convict had abused the concession of parole. However, he was taken into custody in the present case on a production warrant on June 10, 2025. It clearly shows that on the date of arrest, he was already in judicial custody at Central Jail, Ambala, which per se shows that he was prevented from surrendering before Jail Superintendent, Chandigarh, but no evidence in this regard as to from how much time he was in judicial custody of other case at other jurisdiction has not been given.”
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“But this court cannot be a mute spectator so as to ensure justice in favour of the convict, specially when the present offence was a bailable offence and the accused person had neither been released on bail nor prayed for grant of bail, thereby being in continuous custody since June 10, 2025 till date… he cannot be only sentenced to fine as the offence is of grave nature and tends to violate societal piece. Moreover, it also maligns the sanctity of the concession of parole, which is generally given as a reformatory measure…,” the court further held.
Therefore, the court sentenced Singh to undergo simple imprisonment for three months for offences under Section 9 of the Punjab Good Conduct Prisoners Temporary Release Act, 1962, without any fine.
Jagpreet Singh Sandhu is a Senior Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. He is a veteran reporter with over a decade of experience, specializing in legal, crime, and environmental reporting across the tri-city area (Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula).
Professional Background
Core Beat: He primarily covers the Punjab and Haryana High Court, District Courts, CBI Courts, and Consumer Commissions. His legal reporting is known for breaking down complex judgments and tracking long-standing criminal cases.
Environmental Reporting: Jagpreet has become a key voice in reporting on the deteriorating air quality and weather patterns in the Punjab-Haryana region.
Crime & Technology: He frequently reports on cybercrime, digital arrest scams, and the intersection of technology and law enforcement, such as the development of citizen-centric policing apps.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
His late 2025 coverage has focused on significant judicial verdicts, major financial scams, and public health concerns:
1. Legal & CBI Court Verdicts
"12 years on, CBI court acquits Haryana judge, parents in wife’s death case" (Dec 17, 2025): Detailed coverage of the acquittal of a judicial officer in a high-profile dowry death case from 2013.
"‘Wicked & evil mind’: Court gives man 30-year term for kidnapping, sexually assaulting 8-year-old" (Dec 16, 2025): A report on a stern judgment from a Chandigarh district court in a POCSO case.
"Man acquitted in rape case after victim found ‘very happy’ in wedding reception" (Dec 9, 2025): Covering a unique legal observation regarding consensual relationships and age verification.
2. Investigative & Scams
"CBI registers FIR in Rs 1.14-cr Patient Welfare Grant scam at PGIMER" (Dec 19, 2025): An exposé on how funds meant for poor patients were siphoned off through forged documents and a photocopy shop inside the PGIMER campus.
"Month-long torture, Rs 85 lakh transfers: How ‘Innocence Certificate’ led to a ‘digital arrest’ of an elderly couple" (Dec 12, 2025): Detailing a sophisticated cyber fraud targeting senior citizens in Chandigarh.
3. Environment & Public Safety
"Panchkula air turns ‘very poor’, fourth worst in country" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on the sudden spike in pollution levels in Panchkula compared to neighbouring cities.
"Soon, you can snap that overspeeding car, and report to Chandigarh Police" (Dec 16, 2025): Breaking news on a new mobile application being developed to allow citizens to report traffic violations via geo-tagged photos.
4. Gangster Culture & Crime
"City Beautiful in the crosshairs of gangsters" (Dec 14, 2025): A feature analysis of how Chandigarh has increasingly become a staging ground for extortion and rivalries between gangster modules.
"Shooters wanted for Parry murder held by Delhi Police Special Cell" (Dec 18, 2025): Following the developments in a high-profile murder case in Chandigarh’s Sector 26.
Signature Style
Jagpreet is recognized for his tenacious follow-up on cold cases and his ability to report on courtroom drama with a focus on victim rights. His work often highlights administrative lapses, whether in the handling of patient welfare funds or the enforcement of environmental standards. ... Read More
