Official acquitted of corruption charge

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 7

A local court has acquitted a senior assistant in the office of the Director Industries, Ram Darbar, Chandigarh, in a corruption case. Dalip Kumar, a resident of Nayagaon, was arrested on November 9, 2015, under Sections 7, 13 (I), 13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

In a complaint to the Vigilance police station, Leena Singh, a local resident, stated that she redesigns old idols or household stuff and sells these products at various exhibitions in different cities.

“The District Industries Centre often gives advertisement in newspapers inviting artists to put up their stalls at the Pragati Maidan in Delhi and a demand draft of Rs 7,500 was to be deposited. The department calls those craftsmen who deposit the demand draft and request to set up their stalls at the Pragati Maidan. They look at the samples of their products and approve the request of some of the craftsmen,” she mentioned.

In September-October 2015, an advertisement was issued and she deposited a demand draft for Rs 7,500. “I got a call from Dalip Kumar mentioning that it is difficult to get a stall in Delhi and he asked me to meet following which a meeting was scheduled at my house on October 10. He said there are only five stalls at the Pragati Maidan and they need Rs 35,000 to Rs 40,000 per stall. After negotiation, the rate was fixed at Rs 25,000. All this conversation was videographed,” she said in the complaint.

However, the complainant mentioned that she was never called for interview and was never selected for the stall. Following which, she moved the complaint.

A case was registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The Vigilance had mentioned that during investigation, it was established that Dalip had demanded and accepted illegal consideration on his own from the complainant.

However, after hearing arguments, the court acquitted the suspect as the prosecution failed to prove the allegations.