Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 12: Special Judge Anti-Corruption Kashmir R N Wattal today awarded simple imprisonment of one year to Falil-ul-Rehman, the then Field Assistant-cum-Incharge of State Forest Corporation (SFC) Depot at Parimpora, who was nabbed by the Vigilance Organization (now Anti-Corruption Bureau) while demanding and accepting bribe.
The case against Falil-ul-Rehman was registered in the year 2008 on the complaint filed by one Abdul Rashid Wani, son of Ghulam Qadir Wani of Nowpora alleging that the official was demanding illegal gratification for sanctioning timber.
Acting on the complaint, the Vigilance sleuths laid a trap and nabbed the official while demanding and accepting bribe. After completion of investigation challan was presented in the court.
After hearing Gh Jeelani, SSP and Riaz Ahmad, Additional Public Prosecutor for the Vigilance Organization and counsel for the accused, the Special Judge Anti-Corruption observed, “prosecution has succeeded in proving its charge that accused abused his position as public servant by demanding and then accepting the tainted money as illegal gratification from the complainant for release of sanctioned timber”.
Accordingly, court convicted the accused for the commission of offence as defined under Section 5(1)(d) and made punishable under Section 5(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act and also for offence under Section 161 RPC.
“Keeping in mind all the facts and circumstances and also the object of anti-corruption laws, the convict does not deserve the extreme penalty but at the same time no undue leniency can be shown to him particularly when he has shown no remorse at any stage of these proceedings”, the court further said.
Accordingly, court awarded simple imprisonment for one year for offence punishable under Section 5(1) (d) read with Section 5 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act and also to pay a fine of Rs.10,000. He shall further undergo six months imprisonment for offence punishable under Section 161 RPC and fine of Rs.2000.
“Both the sentences shall run concurrently. In default of payment of fine, convict shall further undergo simple imprisonment for three months”, the court said.
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