Introduction:

The Karnataka High Court recently upheld the conviction of Rev. Devaraj Bangera, a retired head of a church, who manipulated his date of birth certificate to extend his tenure by one year. The single-judge bench of Justice V Srishananda, noting that the offence was committed 20 years ago and considering the accused’s age of 80 years, modified the original three-year prison term to simple imprisonment for one day until the court’s session ends.

Arguments of Both Sides:

Rev. Devaraj Bangera, represented by Advocate B V Pinto, argued that he was innocent and the allegations of manipulating his birth certificate were fabricated by those opposing his extension as head of the church. He contended that the evidence presented by the prosecution was from an unreliable source and not properly considered.

The prosecution, represented by HCGP Vinay Mahadevaiah, supported the trial court’s judgment, arguing that granting probation in such a case would send the wrong message to society. They asserted that the evidence, particularly the school admission and register documents, clearly indicated discrepancies that proved the manipulation beyond a reasonable doubt.

Court’s Judgement:

Justice V Srishananda upheld the conviction, emphasizing that the school documents provided prima facie evidence of the birth certificate manipulation. The trial court and appellate court had rightly convicted Rev. Bangera based on the evidence. However, the bench took into account the age of the accused and the time elapsed since the offence. Modifying the sentence, the court enhanced the fine to Rs. 25,000 (inclusive of the previously imposed Rs. 15,000) and directed Rev. Bangera to undergo simple imprisonment for one day until the court session ended.