Railway Engineer Sentenced to One-Year Jail in Corruption Case
In a significant verdict against corruption in public service, a special CBI court in Vijayawada has convicted a former railway engineer for accepting illegal gratification. The judgment was delivered on Friday by special judge for CBI cases K Sita Ramakrishna Rao, marking a strong stance against bureaucratic corruption.
The Corruption Charges and Demands
Matta Dharma Rao, who served as the assistant divisional engineer for South Central Railway in Bhimavaram, West Godavari district, was found guilty of abusing his official position. The prosecution proved that Dharma Rao had demanded and accepted a bribe in the form of a digital camera complete with charger and batteries, all valued at Rs 11,200.
The illegal gratification was extracted from a railway contractor who needed the official's approval for bill payments. Evidence presented in court revealed that Dharma Rao had already passed one bill worth Rs 1,87,000 and used his position to pressure the contractor for the bribe to clear a pending bill of Rs 77,000.
Court Verdict and Sentencing
After thorough completion of the trial proceedings, the court found Dharma Rao guilty under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988. Special Judge K Sita Ramakrishna Rao pronounced the sentence, ordering the convicted engineer to undergo one-year simple imprisonment.
In addition to the prison term, the court imposed a monetary penalty of Rs 1,500 on the convicted official. The judgment sends a clear message that corruption in public office will not be tolerated and that public servants who misuse their power will face legal consequences.
The case highlights the ongoing efforts by investigative agencies like the CBI to combat corruption within government departments, particularly in sectors involving substantial public funds and contracts.
