Mohali ex-DSP Raka Ghira convicted in 13-year-old bribery case

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Chandigargh, Februrary 5

A CBI court has convicted former DSP of the Punjab Police Raka Ghira in a corruption case registered 13 years ago.

The court will pronounce the quantum of sentence on February 7. At the time of her arrest, Ghira was a DSP in Mohali.

The CBI arrested her from her Chandigarh house while she was allegedly accepting Rs 1 lakh bribe from a realtor KK Malhotra.

Caught taking Rs 1 lakh in 2011

The CBI arrested her from her Chandigarh house while she was allegedly taking

• Rs 1 lakh bribe from a realtor, KK Malhotra, in 2011
• Raka had joined the police as an Inspector in 1999 on compassionate grounds after her husband, an SP, died in a road accident

Malhotra, in a complaint filed before the CBI, said the Punjab Police had registered five cases against him on the complaints of landowners from whom he purchased plots in Mullanpur.

He said the reader of the DSP met him a few days ago, informing him that DSP Ghira had demanded 2 lakh for settling the cases.

He said on July 22, 2011, Ghira made a phone call from her mobile phone and demanded of Rs 2 lakh as bribe.

She directed him to pay the bribe amount the next day at her house in Sector 15, Chandigarh. As he did not want to pay the amount, he approached the CBI.

Acting on his complaint, a CBI team laid a trap and arrested her when the Mohali realtor was paying her Rs 1 lakh bribe at her bungalow.

During the raids, the CBI had also seized a large quantity of arms and ammunition. She was later acquitted in the arms seizure case.

Raka had joined the police as an Inspector in 2001 on compassionate grounds after her husband, a Superintendent of Police with the Punjab Police, died in a road accident.

After investigation, the CBI filed a chargesheet against the accused in 2012. Finding prima facie case, the CBI court framed charges against the accused for the offences punishable under Sections 7, 13(1), (d), read with 13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, to which she pleaded not guilty and claimed trial.

Counsel of the accused argued that she was falsely implicated in the case, however, Narender Singh, public prosecutor, argued that the prosecution had proved the case beyond the shadow of doubt.

After hearing of the arguments, the court convicted the accused for the charges framed against her.

Chequered past

• 2001 Recruited as Inspector
• 2007 Promoted as DSP
• July 24, 2011 CBI files FIR in corruption case
• April 4, 2012 Chargesheet filed
• June 06, 2019 Acquitted in Arms Act case
• February 5, 2024 Convicted in corruption case