In Brief
The appellant was convicted of dealing in illicit spirit (Section 55(a) Abkari Act) and attempt to commit suicide (Section 309 IPC) after being found storing and handling 3000 litres of contraband spirit. The trial court sentenced him to three years imprisonment and fine; the High Court reduced it to two years. The Supreme Court upheld the conviction but further reduced the sentence to one year imprisonment with a Rs. 1,00,000 fine (six months default imprisonment), considering the absence of criminal antecedents and 23 years elapsed since the incident. The conviction under Section 309 IPC was not pursued on appeal."
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