In a significant verdict against corruption, a teacher in Barwani district, Madhya Pradesh, has been handed a four-year prison sentence for accepting a bribe. The First Additional Sessions Court delivered the judgment, highlighting a clear case of a public servant exploiting his position for illegal gain.
The Court Verdict and Charges
Judge Chandan Singh Chauhan pronounced the sentence, convicting the accused, Punta Barde, a resident of village Dhavali. The court found him guilty under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. In addition to the four years of rigorous imprisonment, the judge also imposed a fine of Rs 5000 on the convicted teacher.
Details of the Corruption Case
The case originated from a complaint filed by Ramesh Khote, an assistant teacher posted at a government primary school in Khatty Faliya, Barwani district. Khote had been appointed as a contract teacher (Class-III) in 2006. In April 2015, his service was merged into the assistant teacher cadre, making him eligible for arrears from a revised pay scale. These arrears, amounting to approximately Rs 40,000, were supposed to be disbursed by the Sendhwa janpad panchayat.
When the payment was delayed, Khote approached Punta Barde, who was handling salary-related work at the cluster centre. It was alleged that Barde demanded a bribe of Rs 4000, which he claimed was 10% of the total arrears amount, to process the payment. Unwilling to comply with this illegal demand, Khote took the matter to the Lokayukta police and lodged a formal complaint.
The Lokayukta Trap and Arrest
After a thorough verification of the complaint, the Lokayukta police registered a case and set up a trap to catch the accused red-handed. The plan was executed on November 28, 2015. As per the prosecution's case, Punta Barde was caught in the act while accepting the bribe amount of Rs 4000 from the complainant. This successful trap operation provided concrete evidence that led to his prosecution and eventual conviction.
The court's decision serves as a stern reminder of the legal consequences facing public officials who engage in corrupt practices. It reinforces the role of anti-corruption bodies like the Lokayukta in upholding integrity within government systems, especially in matters concerning public service and rightful entitlements like salary payments.
