Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Mar 25: High Court suspended the sentence awarded to ex-Tehsildar in a bribery case and admitted him to bail.
Justice Rahul Bharti suspended the sentence awarded by the court of Special Judge Anti-Corruption Srinagar in bribery case on March 23 and admitted him to bail with condition.
Ex-Tehsildar-Mohammad Akram Khan was convicted and sentenced to one year simple imprisonment with fine of Rs. 20000 in 15 year old case under Section 161 of the Ranbir Penal Code for demanding and accepting a bribe by the trial court.
He challenged the verdict of trial court by way of an appeal and the court after hearing Senior Counsel B A Bashir on his behalf said that prima facie case is made out by the appellant-Khan in assailing his conviction for alleged commission of offence.
“…in that context the testimony of the complainant- Tasaduq Hassan Bhat, points towards inherent gaps and contradictions on the basis whereof the appellant is urging this Court to entertain the appeal”, Justice Bharti said.
The court accordingly suspended the sentence imposed upon the appellant and, consequently, admitted him to bail on personal as well as surety bond of Rs. one lakh each which the court said, to be furnished to the Registrar Judicial, Srinagar as well as the Superintendent, Central Jail Srinagar respectively. “The appellant shall remain present in person on each and every date of hearing of the appeal unless exempted from personal appearance”, read the order.
The Court also directed the Superintendent, Central Jail Srinagar to explain as to how the signing of the instant appeal has taken place before the Assistant Superintendent Central Jail Srinagar, which nowhere bears any seal or stamp or, for that matter, any endorsement that the signing of the appeal by the appellant-Khan, along with the affidavits and Vakalatnama, has taken place in his presence.
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