Bhubaneswar, Jan 31: In a landmark ruling after the implementation of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), a Bhubaneswar court has sentenced a habitual vehicle thief to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹1 lakh in an organized crime case.

The judgment was delivered by Bhubaneswar 2nd Additional Sessions Judge Bandana Kar, marking the first conviction in an organized crime case under the BNS.

The accused, Deepak Kumar Sahu, was arrested by Lingaraj Police on June 16, 2025, in connection with vehicle theft cases. Following his arrest, police compiled substantial evidence and produced him before the court. Investigation revealed that 28 criminal cases were registered against him across various police stations under the Commissionerate Police.

After prolonged hearings, the court pronounced its verdict on Saturday, sentencing the accused to 10 years in jail along with a ₹1 lakh fine. The court further ordered that failure to pay the fine would result in an additional one year of imprisonment.

The conviction was based on the examination of five witnesses and corroborative evidence presented during the trial.