| Case ID |
164b7198-c463-4477-8b86-848a35483bdb |
| Body |
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| Case Number |
Criminal Appeal No. 29417 of 2022 |
| Decision Date |
Nov 10, 2022 |
| Hearing Date |
Nov 10, 2022 |
| Decision |
The Lahore High Court allowed the appeal of Ghulam Jaffar, acquitting him of the charges of theft of electricity under section 462-J of the Penal Code. The court found that the prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt due to significant delays in reporting the matter, lack of evidence regarding the theft, and the absence of key witnesses. The appellant was found not guilty of the charges due to the prosecution's failure to establish a clear case against him. The conviction and sentence imposed by the trial court were set aside, and the appellant was ordered to be released forthwith. |
| Summary |
In the case of Ghulam Jaffar v. The State and others, the Lahore High Court dealt with an appeal regarding a conviction for electricity theft. The appellant, Ghulam Jaffar, was accused of tampering with an electric meter by connecting wires directly to the main line. The case was based on evidence collected by the Electric Power Company, which included a significant delay in reporting the incident and questionable recovery of the meter. During the trial, it was revealed that the prosecution's evidence was largely circumstantial and lacked direct witnesses to the alleged crime. The court emphasized the importance of establishing a clear timeline and the necessity of producing all relevant evidence. Ultimately, the prosecution's failure to provide sufficient evidence led to the acquittal of the appellant. This case highlights the critical importance of procedural integrity and evidentiary standards in criminal prosecutions, particularly in cases involving theft and tampering with public utilities. Keywords: electricity theft, Lahore High Court, legal standards, evidentiary requirements, prosecution failure, criminal appeal. |
| Court |
Lahore High Court
|
| Entities Involved |
Not available
|
| Judges |
Aalia Neelum, J
|
| Lawyers |
Mudassar Farooq
|
| Petitioners |
Ghulam Jaffar
|
| Respondents |
The STATE and others
|
| Citations |
2024 SLD 335 = 2024 MLD 276
|
| Other Citations |
Not available
|
| Laws Involved |
Penal Code (XLV of 1860)
|
| Sections |
462-J
|