A first: Addl CJM caught taking Rs 40,000 bribe

Mahesh Chander Sharma

SUNDERNAGAR, February 1

In a first reported case of corruption in the state judiciary, a team of Vigilance officials from Mandi caught Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate of Sundernagar Gaurav Sharma accepting a bribe of Rs 40,000 from his official residence last night here.

According to information, he was dealing with a case pertaining to dishonoring of cheques in which several lakhs of rupees were involved.

A complaint was lodged with the Vigilance Department that the Additional CJM had called a complainant in his chamber and demanded Rs 40,000 from him to settle the case in his favour. Later, the magistrate asked him to come to his residence to make the payment.

The complainant informed officials of the Vigilance in Shimla who first brought the matter to the knowledge of the High Court. The department then deputed the SP, Vigilance, Mandi, to deal with the case.

A team of 14 officials, headed by DSP Abhimanyu Verma, laid a trap and caught the magistrate red-handed from his residence around 10 pm. A sum of Rs 40,000 was recovered from him. A case under Section 7 and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against the magistrate.

The accused has been remanded to two-day police custody.