Couple gets 3-yr RI in disproportionate assets case

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, March 12

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“Corruption is a headed monster and is eating into the vitals of the country. It is the strongest force which is pulling us down and if we do not eradicate corruption from our system, it will not only swallow us but also push our country to oblivion and a point of no return,” pointed out Dr Sushil Kumar Garg, Special Judge, CBI Court, while awarding three-year rigorous imprisonment (RI) to a couple in a disproportionate assets case.

According to the prosecution, Rajesh Chadha, an Assistant Engineer, Office of Executive Engineer, Chandigarh, was caught by the CBI while taking Rs 70,000 from a contractor on July 13, 2009. During the investigation of the case, it was revealed that Rajesh had acquired assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. Subsequently, the CBI registered a case under Sections 13 (2) read with 13 (1) (e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and under Section 109 of the IPC on March 26, 2010, against Rajesh and his wife Manju Chadha, Assistant, Punjab Secretariat, Chandigarh, on the basis of a written complaint of RS Gunjiyal, Inspector, CBI, ACB, Chandigarh.

Chadha possessed assets worth over Rs 98 lakh in the form of Kisan Vikas Patras and fixed deposits in the name of his wife Manju and his son Akshay Chadha. The assets were found to be disproportionate to Chadha’s income, which he had not reported to his office. The prosecution further stated that Manju allowed her husband to use her name to prepare investment documents.

“The public servants have a moral obligation to serve a country and its citizens with utmost honesty. The accused persons instead served themselves by indulging in corrupt practices,” read the order.

“The cancer of corruption in public offices often jeopardises constitutional governance and acts as a catalyst in the violation of civil and human rights of citizens. Therefore, to curb the menace of corruption in society, strict action is required against such public servants who generate distrust in society,” observed the court.

Counsel for the accused-convicts urged the court that they were suffering the trauma of a protracted trial since 2011. There was no one to look after their children and there was no one to earn their livelihood. Therefore, in view of the age of accused Rajesh (55) and Manju (49), character, antecedents, disease, financial condition and family circumstances, a lenient view in the matter of sentence may be taken. On the other hand, KP Singh, public prosecutor, argued that to check rampant corruption in public life and the greed of money of the accused, it was the need of the hour to give exemplary punishment to the public servant, who was found indulging in incorrupt practices.

After hearing the arguments, the court awarded three-year rigorous imprisonment to the couple. However, the couple got bail after furnishing bail bonds of Rs 50,000 each.