22.7.2012 (UNI) The Delhi High Court has upheld the life imprisonment awarded to two men by a city court for kidnapping a minor boy for a ransom of Rs three lakh over seven years ago.

The High Court, however, acquitted another man for lack of evidence against him.

A bench comprising Justices S Ravindra Bhat and S P Garg upheld the life terms awarded to Vijay and Jagbir for kidnapping a minor boy, aged five at the time of the crime in January 2005.

The trial court had convicted the accused on the basis of the child's testimony who said he was beaten up during his detention.

The child was recovered after the arrest of Vijay and Jagbir who disclosed the whereabouts of the child.

The High Court did not find any evidence to support allegations against the third accused Devinder so his conviction was set aside. The HC said the trial court's conclusions against Devinder were not based on proved circumstances but mere conjectures so his conviction was set aside.

The case was lodged by the boy's father in police station complaining that his son was missing from his residence in Sultanpuri. The father later reported that he received calls for Rs three lakh ransom to release the boy.

The police rescued the boy from Sehjalpur village in Uttar Pradesh. UNI