FIVE YEARS RIGOROUS IMPRISONMENT WITH FINE OF RS. 90,000/- EACH TO THEN SUPERINTENDENT AND THREE INSPECTORS, ALL OF CENTRAL EXCISE IN A BRIBERY CASE
The Special Judge(West), Anti-Corruption, Lucknow(U.P) has convicted Shri R.K.Srivastava, then Superintendent and three Inspectors, S/Shri A.K.Gaba, Dushyant Kumar & Alok Gupta, all of Central Excise U/s 120-B r/w 7 and 13 (1) (d) r/w 13 (2) of PC Act, 1988 and sentenced them to undergo five years Rigorous Imprisonment with fine of Rs.90,000/- each.
CBI had registered a case on a complaint alleging that Shri R.K.Srivastava, the then Supdt. of Central Excise (Preventives), Lucknow and three persons had demanded a bribe of Rs.80,000/-. The accused were caught red handed by the CBI while demanding a bribe of Rs.80,000/- from Complainant for the release of necessary documents of his factory.
After completion of the investigation, charge-sheet was filed in the Court of Special Judge (West), Anti-corruption, Lucknow on 28.10.1997 against accused Shri R.K.Srivastava, then Superintendent and three Inspectors, A.K.Gaba, Dushyant Kumar & Alok Gupta, all of Central Excise(Preventives), Lucknow and a Block Development Officer, Fatehganj, Bareilly (UP).
The Trial Court found four accused of Central Excise guilty and acquitted the Block Development Officer, Fatehganj, Bareilly.
CBI Press Release – New Delhi, 28.07.2014
This will act as a deterrent to others who are corrupt or having tendancy to become corrupt. Many of the co-accused will go scot free on technical grounds due to good advocate and weak prosecution.
Anti-corruption wing shuld keep an eye on those who go scot free merely on technical grounds.
Stringent punishment like this one is a welcome sign. We have to admire the prosecution for the sincere action.