Jammu, May 28: Special judge anti-corruption, Jammu, A K Koul today awarded one year imprisonment to an ex-SHO of Akhnoor police station in a corruption case. The complaint of corruption was lodged against ASI Girdhari Lal, then incharge of Akhnoor PS, by one Babu Ram before the court of additional sessions judge, anti-corruption, Jammu, in 2008. He alleged that after one Bikram Kumar alias Vicky sexually assaulted his mentally retarded son on the night of January 13, 2008, he, at about 2.30 am, went to the Akhnoor PS where the Munshi told him to speak to the incharge SHO. Accompanied by Puran Chand, Mohan Lal and Sohan Lal, he then approached the incharge SHO at his residential quarter, but instead of registering FIR, he allegedly demanded Rs 1,000 as bribe from him. He borrowed Rs 500 from Mohan Lal and paid it to him as advance. Babu Ram first lodged a complaint against the ex-SHO with then SSP, Jammu, on April 10, 2008. An inquiry was ordered which was conducted by then SDPO, Akhnoor, but when no action was taken against the accused, he moved the court of additional sessions judge, anti- corruption, Jammu, who vide his March 9, 2009, order, had directed VOJ SSP to conduct a verification into the genuineness of allegations levelled in the complainant and register a case if these were found well substantiated. After verification, VOJ placed status report before the court which, after going through it, directed registration of FIR against the accused. During investigation, it came to fore that the ex-SHO had abused his official position by demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 500 for registration of case and follow up action. A The investigation ultimately culminated in this charge sheet after the complicity of accused case was then registered against him under sections 5(2) of PC Act and 161 of RPC. After hearing the two sides, the judge said if the incharge of police station "declines or delays registration of a case, it amounts to a serious dereliction of duty and abuse of official position and things go more serious when the money is demanded and accepted for registration of the case". "Given the facts of this case, I believe there is no scope for showing any leniency to the accused, notwithstanding the fact that he has received only Rs 500 as bribe. He deserves a commensurate punishment which is proportionate to the crime committed by him as a public servant," he said. With these observations, the court awarded one year imprisonment to the accused, besides imposing a fine of Rs 5,000 on him. The said case was investigated by Inspector Rajesh Sharma at president posted at DPL Jammu. (JNF) |