Quick Summary: Ashok Kumar, found guilty under the Delhi Excise Act, had his jail time reduced but his fine increased by the Delhi High Court on December 6, 2025.
Back in 2011, Ashok Kumar got into a difficult situation when a police report (No. 251/2011) was filed against him at the Saket Police Station in Delhi. The case involved breaking rules under Section 51 of the Delhi Excise Act, 2009. On May 16, 2016, a judge at the South District Court in Saket found Ashok guilty and sentenced him to six months in jail and a fine of ₹10,000.
Not happy with the decision, Ashok asked a higher court to change it. But on January 16, 2017, the higher court did not change the decision, and the punishment stayed the same.
Ashok then went to the Delhi High Court. His lawyer, Mr. Avtar Singh, argued that while Ashok accepted he was guilty, he wanted a lighter punishment. By this time, Ashok had already spent over two months in jail and had 17 days taken off his sentence for good behavior.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma of the Delhi High Court looked at the case on December 6, 2025. After considering the time Ashok had already spent in jail and his good behavior, the court decided to reduce his sentence to the time he had already served. However, the fine was increased from ₹10,000 to ₹25,000, to be paid within 15 days.
"The conviction is not being challenged, but justice would be served by reducing the sentence," noted Justice Sharma.
The court ordered the judgment to be made public immediately and canceled Ashok's bail conditions, releasing the person who guaranteed his bail. Ashok now has to make sure the fine is paid on time to avoid more problems.
In summary, the court decided to reduce Ashok's jail time to what he had already served but increased his fine to ₹25,000, considering his good behavior.
