A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Ahmedabad delivered a stern verdict on Monday, convicting a central excise and service tax officer and his wife for illegally amassing wealth far beyond their legitimate earnings.
Sentencing and Financial Penalties
The court found Kaushik Karelia, an inspector posted in Bhavnagar, and his wife Pooja Karelia guilty under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Kaushik Karelia was sentenced to five years of rigorous imprisonment for possessing disproportionate assets. His wife, Pooja, was awarded a one-year prison term for abetting the offence.
In addition to the jail terms, the court imposed substantial fines. Kaushik Karelia was fined Rs 63 lakh, while a penalty of Rs 50,000 was levied on his wife. The convictions stem from a case initially registered by the CBI back in September 2013.
The Details of the Corruption Case
At the time the First Information Report (FIR) was filed, Karelia was serving as an appraiser and preventive officer at the Kandla Special Economic Zone (SEZ). The agency conducted a thorough probe into the couple's finances over a nine-year period, from April 2004 to March 2013.
The investigation revealed a shocking disparity. While the couple's known sources of income during this period were assessed at Rs 57.60 lakh, they were found to possess assets worth significantly more. The value of the disproportionate assets was calculated to be a staggering 183.57% above their legitimate income.
Judge's Philosophical Pronouncement
While pronouncing the sentence, Special CBI Judge D G Ranan invoked profound philosophical wisdom to underscore the moral decay of corruption. The judge cited couplets from Chapter 16 of the Bhagavad Gita, offering an English translation.
He quoted: "Bound by hundreds of bands of hope, given over to lust and wrath, they strive to secure by unjust means hoards of wealth for sensual enjoyment. This today has been gained by me; this desire I shall attain; this is mine and this wealth also shall be mine in future."
Elaborating further, Judge Ranan highlighted the sacred duty of a public servant. He observed that an official entrusted with state authority is expected to embody 'Daivi Sampatti' or divine qualities like truthfulness, integrity, and detachment from greed.
The judge stated that deviation from this path corrodes personal character and undermines the foundation of public trust and governance. He emphasized that the accumulation of disproportionate assets is not merely a legal offence but also a serious threat to the constitutional guarantee of economic justice for all citizens.
This case underscores the ongoing vigilance of investigative agencies against corruption within the government's revenue machinery and sends a strong message about the consequences of betraying public trust for personal enrichment.
