IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION APPELLATE SIDE Present:

The Hon’ble Justice Prasenjit Biswas C.R.A. 509 of 2005 Bidyut Kumar Mahato -Versus-

The State of West Bengal For the Appellants : Mr. Tapan Dutta Gupta, Mr. Kashiwar Ghosal.

For the State : Mr. Joydeep Roy, Ld. Jr. Govt. Adv.

Ms. Sujata Das Hearing concluded on : 20.06.2025 Judgment On : 26.06.2025 Prasenjit Biswas, J:-

1. The present appeal is directed against the judgment and order of conviction and sentence dated 12.07.2005 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, 2nd Court, Purulia. in Electric G.R. Case No. 22 of 2005.

2. By the aforesaid judgment the Trial Court has found this appellant guilty of the offence punishable under Section 135(1)(b) of the Indian Electricity Act and sentenced him to suffer rigorous imprisonment for one year along with a fine of Rs. 1000/- and in default of payment of fine to undergo further rigorous imprisonment for one month.

3. The facts leading to the appeal in short are as follows:

“On 23.04.2005 one Sanjay Kumar, Assistant Engineer, Jhalda (O & M) Sub-Division, Purulia lodged the written complaint before the Officer-in-Charge, Arsha Police Station stating, i