Retired Haryana Government Officer Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Bribery
A city court in Gurgaon has delivered a significant verdict in a corruption case, convicting a retired Haryana government officer and sentencing him to five years of rigorous imprisonment. The case involved Dalbir Singh, who served as a senior manager at the Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC).
Bribe Accepted on Final Day of Service
The court found that Singh was caught accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000 on September 29, 2021, which happened to be the very last day of his service before retirement. The bribe was demanded to clear a pending payment file for a contractor who had executed work for HSIIDC.
Public prosecutor Sumit Saini presented evidence showing that complainant Ajit Kumar was owed approximately Rs 4.25 lakh for contractual work completed for the corporation. According to the prosecution, Singh demanded the bribe specifically to send the file for clearance on his retirement day.
Court's Strong Stance Against Corruption
Additional sessions judge Puneet Sehgal, while convicting Singh under the Prevention of Corruption Act, made several important observations about the case. The judge emphasized that bribery by public servants corrodes governance and erodes civic trust, creating lasting damage to public institutions.
"Culpability is not mitigated simply because the accused was at the end of service tenure," the court stated clearly, rejecting any notion that impending retirement could excuse corrupt behavior.
Well-Executed Trap Operation
The prosecution detailed how the vigilance wing organized a meticulous trap operation after receiving a written complaint. Authorities deployed a shadow witness and conducted thorough pre-trap proceedings, carefully noting serial numbers of the currency notes used in the operation.
Singh was apprehended immediately after receiving the marked money. The court noted that the recovery was properly documented through seizure memos and supported by consistent testimonies from both the complainant and the trap team members.
Defense Arguments Rejected
The court observed that Singh did not present any defense evidence to rebut the prosecution's case. While he denied the allegations, he failed to provide any credible explanation for the incriminating circumstances presented against him.
Judge Sehgal held that mere denial could not displace a case supported by an unbroken chain of evidence, including clear proof of both demand and acceptance of the bribe, which are essential elements of the offense under corruption laws.
Prosecution's Successful Arguments
The prosecution successfully argued that demanding a bribe on the verge of retirement demonstrated deliberate misuse of official position. They maintained that the trap proceedings were conducted strictly in accordance with legal requirements and procedures.
Although the defense counsel claimed the complainant had reasons to fabricate allegations, the court found these assertions unsupported by evidence and insufficient against the corroborated official testimony presented during the trial.
Comprehensive Evidence Leads to Conviction
The court determined that multiple pieces of evidence formed a coherent narrative establishing Singh's culpability. This included the shadow witness account, recovery of marked currency notes, and the investigating officer's testimony, all of which pointed consistently to the defendant's guilt.
The case was officially registered on September 30, 2021, under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, just one day after the bribe transaction occurred. The court's final ruling sends a clear message that corruption by public servants cannot be condoned, regardless of their tenure status or impending retirement plans.
