Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 10: Special Judge Anticorruption Jammu Sanjeev Gupta today awarded two years imprisonment and fine of Rs 5000 to Harbans Lal, the then Patwari Halqa Ratnal in Bishnah tehsil, who was caught red-handed by the Vigilance Organization while accepting bribe money.
According to the Vigilance case, the accused Patwari Harbans Lal had demanded and accepted bribe of Rs 4000 from the complainant for issuance of copy of revenue record of land measuring 174 kanals and 11 marlas situated at village Ratnal in the year 2010.
After hearing CPO Harminder Singh for the Vigilance Organization whereas Advocate KS Charak appearing for the accused, Special Judge Anticorruption Jammu Sanjeev Gupta observed, “the act of the accused is no less than extortion under the colour of his official duty which had brought a bad name to the entire institution amounting to betrayal of trust of his office for individual pecuniary gain”, adding “in view of this the accused deserves no sympathy”.
Accordingly, the court convicted the accused and awarded him simple imprisonment of two years and fine of Rs 5000.