‘Quite Shocking’: SC Seeks MP Govt Explanation on Convict’s 8-Year Overstay in Jail

The Supreme Court on August 22, 2025 expressed strong concern over a serious lapse that resulted in a convict remaining in prison for more than eight years beyond his sentence of seven years, terming the facts of the case as “quite shocking.”

A bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Viswanathan directed the State of Madhya Pradesh to explain how such an error occurred and why the petitioner continued to be incarcerated despite completion of his sentence.

“We want the State to offer appropriate explanation in this regard,” the bench observed while granting two weeks’ time to the State to file a reply.

The matter arose from a petition filed by the appellant challenging prolonged incarceration.

Singh was tried in Sessions Trial No.416 of 2004 before the Sessions Judge, Khurai, District Sagar, Madhya Pradesh for offences punishable under Sections 376(1), 450 and 506-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The trial court convicted him and imposed a sentence of life imprisonment along with a fine of Rs. 2,000.

He preferred Criminal Appeal No.1613 of 2005 before the High Court of Madhya Pradesh.

By a judgment dated October 10, 2017, the High Court partly allowed the appeal, reducing the sentence of life imprisonment to seven years of rigorous imprisonment while maintaining the conviction under Sections 376, 450 and 506-B IPC. The court ordered all sentences to run concurrently.

While reducing the sentence, the High Court observed;

“In the present case, the prosecutrix was a married lady. There is a delay in lodging the FIR. The medical evidence has not been corroborated to the commission of offence of rape. Looking to the overall circumstances and evidence on record, in our opinion, it would be just and proper if the sentence awarded by the trial court for commission of offence punishable under section 376 of IPC be reduced to 7 years.”

It further ordered that the conviction under all three sections stands upheld and the appellant shall remain in jail to serve the remaining part of his jail sentence.

Despite this modification, the Supreme Court noted that Singh was released from jail only on June 6, 2025, long after serving the entirety of the reduced sentence.

“The matter of concern is that although the High Court partly allowed the appeal by reducing the sentence of life imprisonment to seven years of rigorous imprisonment, the petitioner came to be released from jail only on 6-6-2025,” the bench said, terming the lapse a grave issue.

The court has listed the matter for further hearing on September 8, 2025, placing it on top of the board.

Case Title: Sohan Singh @ Bablu v. State of Madhya Pradesh

Date of Order: August 22, 2025

Bench: Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Viswanathan