CBI court awards its inspector 5-yr jail: ‘graft by public servants has reached monsterous stage'
The court added that by virtue of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 'all public servants are warned that the corrupt will have to face serious consequences'.
The convict — Ravinder Kumar Singla, a CBI Inspector, was held guilty under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, section 13 (1) (d) (ii) punishable under section 13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and section 384 (extortion) of Indian Penal Code, by the Court of Alka Malik, Additional District and Sessions Judge, Special CBI Court, Chandigarh.
The court also imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on the convict.
The Court has already acquitted accused Paramjit Singh from all charges.
As the matter came up for quantum of sentence on Saturday, Ravinder Kumar Singla by virtue of his separate statement reduced to writing urged that he has impeccable record of service except the present case.
He is not a previous convict and has the liability to maintain his family including wife, minor children and aged parents, thus praying for a lenient view.
Narender Singh, Public Prosecutor for CBI argued that the convict who was an Inspector in CBI has misused his official position to such an extent that he has extorted Honda City car in question from complainant company, which deals in pharmaceuticals.
'His behaviour is a stark reminder of the corrosive influence of corruption and the dangers of unchecked power. Therefore, to uphold the rule of law and ensure that those who abuse their position of trust are held accountable, the convict should be dealt with sternly and he is not entitled to any kind of leniency. In fact, he has undermined the premier institution the Central Bureau of Investigation, which he was serving by indulging in corrupt practices. Therefore, he deserves strict punishment to deter like-minded public servants,' he argued.
The CBI Judge on hearing the arguments held that 'It shall be absolutely relevant to mention here that corruption by public servants has reached such monsterous stage that the institutions which have been created for the purpose of serving the public are thwarting the very purpose of the same. Corruption by public servants is in fact paralysing the functioning of the public institutions, thereby hindering the very democratic polity of the State.'
Citing different judgements of the Supreme Court, he said, '…the magnitude of corruption in our country has led to economic rest. It is the rampant corruption indulged in with impunity by highly placed persons that has led to this situation. If one is asked to name one sole factor that effectively arrest the progress of our society to prosperity, undeniably it is corruption. In fact, corruption erodes the fundamental tenets of the rule of law. Corruption is an enemy of the nation and tracking down corrupt public servants and punishing such persons is a necessary mandate of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. By virtue of this act, all public servants are warned that corrupt public servants have to face very serious consequences.'
The court said that 'convict while working as inspector in the CBI has indulged in corrupt practices and had extorted a brand new Honda City car in question from the officials of the complainant company. He was daring enough to force them for transfer to its ownership in his name or in his relative's name, Though, at that juncture, the officials of the complainant company refused to succumb to his pressure and initiated the criminal law into motion by filing the instant complaint. However, the convict has shown utmost disregard to the principles of honesty and fair play, which is expected from a public servant. Therefore, he deserves to be punished to deter like minded public servants to curb the menace of corruption.'
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