Mohali Court Delivers Strong Verdict in Corruption Case
A Mohali sessions court has taken a firm stance against corruption. The court sentenced two officials from the Ropar Improvement Trust to four years of rigorous imprisonment. Each official must also pay a fine of ₹20,000. This decision underscores the court's zero-tolerance policy towards corrupt practices.
Officials Convicted for Demanding Bribe
The convicts are Parveen Kumar, who worked as a clerk, and Satish Kumar, a junior engineer. The court found them guilty of demanding and accepting illegal gratification. They misused their official positions to demand money for facilitating a property sale deed registration.
The vigilance bureau spokesperson provided details about the case. The officials allegedly demanded a bribe of ₹15,000 from a complainant. This demand was made to help with the registration process.
How the Vigilance Bureau Caught the Accused
The complainant had already paid part of the bribe amount. He then approached the vigilance bureau before handing over the final installment. The bureau verified the allegations and set up a trap to catch the officials.
A raid was conducted at the Improvement Trust office in Ropar. During this operation, the vigilance team recovered ₹7,500 from clerk Parveen Kumar. Independent government witnesses were present during the recovery. Parveen was caught on the spot, and the investigation later confirmed Satish Kumar's involvement as well.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
After completing its probe, the vigilance bureau presented the challan in court. The sessions court examined all the evidence carefully. It also heard arguments from both sides before reaching a verdict.
On Friday, the court convicted both accused officials. It sentenced them to four years of rigorous imprisonment. The court also imposed a fine of ₹20,000 on each convict.
Message from the Vigilance Bureau
The vigilance bureau stated that this strict punishment should act as a deterrent. It reiterated its commitment to taking firm action against public servants involved in corrupt activities. The bureau also encouraged citizens to report any instances of bribery.
Such reports help promote transparency and accountability in government offices. The bureau emphasized the importance of public cooperation in fighting corruption.
