To plead guilty or not! 337 & 338

1. Don't plead guilty - the tag of a convict would stick all your life and may hurt future prospects. 

2. Plead for an acquittal - it would certainly take longer than pleading guilty. 

 

Dear Mr. Viswanathan,

You need not have to worry about the issue. It is great to hear that you have already got the copy of the documents viz. RC book of the vehicle which carries the name and endorsement of the current owner, copy of insurance for the vehicle and his driving license.

So you must fight the battle. instead of pleading guilty as Mr. Chugh has rightly suggested you that if you plead guilty for a crime which you have not committed at all then it will affect your future prospect, may be for your entire life. 

Further don’t worry about appearing in the court on each and every date. However there is a provision i.e. Section 205 of Cr.P.C. which provides that Magistrate may dispense with personal attendance of accused. Thus you can appear through your counsel unless otherwise necessary. 

Based on the above information provided by you I must suggest you to engage a good lawyer at the earliest and brief him properly enabling him to defend your case effectively.

 

Biswajit Kumar Patra

Advocate

(0)9910193233

I think you should first check the genuineness of the RC copy you have got, from the concerned DTO,Please also check with the police station at the time of accident who was driving the vehicle and whether the police has seized any document at that time. If the RC is genuine you should not worry about anything. If possible explain to the magistrate where you are suppose to appear, yourself. This is a small matter you should not linger on spending time and energy by filing application for dispensing appearance under S 205 Cr.P.C. You have also not stated any person was grievously injured in the accident.

Thanks for the reassurance pouring in from you all which i badly needed to face this matter.

I am unable to know the level of injury but from the papers given to me i understand that they (driver + his wife and a kid) have been taken by 108 ambulance for medical assistance.

The person who had driven the vehicle possessed by me earlier has head injury and is mentally unbalanced. He was taken by a private vehicle before the 108 ambulance could arrive. (so i am told.)