Two get 4-year RI in corruption case

The Court of Additional Sessions Judge Amrinder Singh Shergill has sentenced Balwinder Kaur (51) and Jagdish Singh (48), both residents of Nichi Mangli, Chandigarh Road, here, to four years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) each in a corruption case. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on each of the convicts.

The prosecution’s case dates back to May 27, 2014, when the complainant, Tejpreet Kaur, alias Ruby, wife of Rahul Kapoor, lodged a complaint. The complainant had alleged that Balwinder Kaur and Jagdish Singh had taken Rs 45,000 from her husband under the pretext of getting a favour done through senior police officials. The money, according to the complainant, was handed over by her husband in the presence of their neighbour Mahesh Arora at the residence of Balwinder Kaur.

A crucial piece of evidence in the case was an audio recording in which Balwinder Kaur allegedly admitted to having received the money for the then Commissioner of Police, Ludhiana. The complaint was initially looked into by ASI Sanjiv Kumar, in-charge, Mundian Kalan Police Post, who recommended registration of an FIR. Subsequently, an FIR was registered on November 2, 2014, under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

The case saw multiple layers of investigation. ACP Lakhvir Singh Tiwana took up the initial probe, during which the complainant produced a CD containing the voice recording. Balwinder Kaur gave her consent for providing a voice sample, which was later matched with the recording at the CFSL, Chandigarh. The voice was confirmed to be that of her.

However, during trial both accused pleaded false implication. The court, after considering the evidence and arguments, held both accused guilty and awarded the sentence accordingly.