Graft: Roadways official gets 4-yr jail

Our Legal Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 25

The court of Additional Sessions Judge Sonia Kinra has convicted Ashwani Kumar, the then nazir of PRTC, Jagraon, in a graft case.

He was sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for four years. Delivering the verdict, the court held that the prosecution proved the guilt of the accused beyond any reasonable doubt. The court declined the plea of leniency raised by the accused. He was also ordered to pay a fine of Rs15,000.

A case under Sections 7,13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act was registered against the accused at the Vigilance Bureau (VB) police station in Ludhiana.

The case was registered following the complaint of Jagjit Singh of Rajoana village, falling under Raikot.

He stated to the VB officials that the accused was delaying the release of his pension and demanding money.

Later, a deal was struck for Rs15,000. Following his statement, the VB officials laid a trap and caught the Nazir while accepting illegal gratification. The accused pleaded not guilty, but after appreciating the evidence on record, the court found him guilty and sentenced accordingly.