Passport official gets bail in graft case

Tribune News Service

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Chandigarh, April 23

The court of Dr Sushil Kumar Garg, Special Judge, CBI, today granted regular bail to an assistant superintendent of Regional Passport Office in a graft case.

According to prosecution, Rajiv Khetarpal, who was posted as an assistant superintendent at the Regional Passport Office, Chandigarh, and Balinder Singh, a resident of Nayagaon, were arrested on March 2 for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 30,000 from the complainant.

In his complaint, Jagdeep Singh, a resident of Sangrur, had stated that he had filed an online application for passport renewal on January 27.

Balinder Singh, who posed as a passport officer, allegedly called Jagdeep and threatened him that his case would be delayed or rejected if money was not paid. Following the complaint, the CBI laid a trap and caught Balinder red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000. The CBI team then made Balinder call Khetarpal to inform him about the collected money. In response to this, Khetarpal directed Balinder to hand over the money in his office around noon the next day. During investigation, the CBI arrested Khetarpal.

The two were booked under Section 7 (public servant taking gratification other than legal remuneration in respect of an official act) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

During the hearing on bail application, counsel for the applicant argued that the CBI has falsely implicated the accused and he has not demanded and accepted any bribe money from the complainant. Even the complainant has not met the accused at any point of time.

Opposing the bail, KP Singh, Public Prosecutor, contended that there are ample evidence in the form of conversation recorded between co-accused Balinder and accused Khetarpal which clearly established that the Khetarpal had demanded the bribe from the complainant in connivance with Balinder Singh who had accepted the bribe of Rs 30,000 from the complainant on behalf of Khetarpal.

“If Khetarpal is granted bail at this stage, he can misuse the concession of bail provided to him as he being influential person can influence the witnesses, can tamper with the evidence and may evade himself from the process of law,” submitted Singh.

After hearing the arguments, the court granted bail to the accused on furnishing bail bonds of Rs 50,000 with one surety in the like amount within 14 days from the date of reopening of the court.

The order was pronounced through WhatsApp video call.