Gujarat Court 10 Years Imprisonment Mobile Snatching

The court in Surat on Saturday convicted and sentenced two youths – aged 24 and 20 – who were arrested with several stolen mobile phones, to 10 years’ imprisonment each.

The court observed, “The accused have committed the same type of crime… It is the sacred duty of the court to see that such crimes are stopped… Therefore, taking into account the criminal history of the accused and keeping in mind the provision of punishment for the said crime, it is considered fair and appropriate to order the maximum punishment and fine prescribed in the law to the accused…”

The case dates back to February 1, 2024, when the complainant, Sandeep Kachhadiya, a lawyer and resident of Punagam area in Surat city, stepped out of his residence for a walk after dinner. He was on a phone call when three youths travelling on a bike approached him. One of them snatched his phone, worth around Rs 70,000, and the three sped away. One of the youths also brandished a knife in a bid to warn him not to raise an alarm, Sandeep told the police in his complaint.

On March 19, 2024, the police arrested two youths and recovered multiple stolen phones from their possession, including the one that belonged to the complainant. The third accused in the case is still at large, police sources said.

The duo were later sent to judicial custody in Surat Central Jail after their police remand application was rejected by the court. The two were released on bail in July 2024.

The police submitted the chargesheet with the Surat district court on May 1 2024 and charges were framed against the two accused on January 18, 2025.

The case proceedings were carried out in the Additional Sessions Court of Judge R D Mehta. Additional Public Prosecutor M K Brahmbhatt and Advocate Ashwin Jogadiya pressed charges on the accused, who were represented by advocates K S Patel and A N Pancholi.