Ex-GM of BSNL gets 4-year RI in graft case

Panchkula, March 22

A Special CBI Court awarded four years’ rigorous imprisonment (RI) to a former general manager, Chandra Shekhar, of the Rohtak telecom circle of BSNL in a 17-year-old graft case. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on the accused.

Special Judge CBI Court Jagdeep Singh awarded three years’ RI to Chandra Shekhar under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 and a fine of Rs 50,000 and in case of default imprisonment for a further period of four months. The court also awarded four years’ RI under Section 13 (1) (d) read with 13 (2) of the PC Act and a fine of Rs 50,000 and in case of default, imprisonment for four months. Both substantive sentences would run concurrently. On March 17, the CBI court had held Chander Shekhar guilty of taking bribe Rs 25,000 from a contractor in June 2004. Later, the CBI sleuths had also recovered unaccounted money of Rs 45 lakh during the search of his house. Shekhar is currently serving as the deputy director general in the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications, Government of India. — TNS