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Indian Express
04-05-2025
- Indian Express
CBI court awards its inspector 5-yr jail: ‘graft by public servants has reached monsterous stage'
Sentencing a CBI inspector to five years in jail for extorting a 'new Honda City car' from a company in 2016, the special CBI Court of Chandigarh on Saturday said 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'. 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.'
Hindustan Times
04-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Chandigarh: 5-year jail for CBI cop who extorted sedan from pharma firm
Chastising him for showing utmost disregard to the principles of honesty and fair play, expected from a public servant, a special CBI court has sentenced an inspector of the investigating agency to five years in jail in a 2016 case of corruption and extortion. Threatening the officials of a city-based pharmaceutical company of false implication in a case, the convict, Ravinder Kumar Singla, had extorted a Honda City from the firm, inviting strong rebuke from the court. 'He was daring enough to force them to transfer its (car's) 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 deserves to be punished to deter like minded public servants to curb the menace of corruption,' remarked the court of CBI special judge Alka Malik, while also slapping a fine of ₹1 lakh on the convict. The court observed that the inspector obtained the car in question by corrupt and illegal means for his personal use, by abusing his official position. He put the officials of the complainant company in fear of implication of a false case with CBI and dishonestly induced them to deliver the car in question to him. 'Corruption by public servants has reached such a monstrous 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,' the court further said, coming down heavily on the convicted inspector. As per the prosecution, Ravinder was booked on May 24, 2016, on the complaint of officials of Nectar Life Sciences Ltd, a pharmaceutical firm in Sector 9. Ravinder had approached the company's office, claiming that he was posted in the area and his vehicle had broken down. He informed them that he needed to go to New Delhi for extremely urgent work, and demanded a vehicle from them. When the company officials expressed hesitation, he told them that 'it was very important for the company to maintain cordial relations with CBI'. Under threat, the officials provided him a recently financed, brand new Honda City car, which he assured that he will return once he returned from New Delhi. But he failed to return the vehicle even after a week. When the company officials contacted him, he told them that his assignment in New Delhi had been extended and he will not be able to return the car immediately. He then threatened the company officials of false implication in a case, intimidating them that it will take years for them to prove their innocence, and their company's name and reputation will be greatly harmed. Thereafter, he insisted that the company transfer the car in his or his relative's name, which the officials declined. They further filed a complaint with CBI, leading to the inspector's arrest. The car was found in possession of the accused and recovered. Ravinder had joined CBI on September 29, 2008, and was promoted to the rank of inspector in 2013. Probe found that no inquiry or case pertaining to the phama company in question was given to him. As per prosecution, Ravinder used the Honda City car from July 2015 to May 2016, and regular servicing expenditure was done at the behest of the company. The accused regularly threatened the company officials of implicating them in a case if they demanded the car from him. During trial, public prosecutor Narender Singh told the court that the accused was found in possession of the vehicle. Further, call recordings with the complainant company's officials regarding the vehicle were also substantial evidence of corruption and extortion charges against him.
Hindustan Times
03-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
CBI inspector held guilty of extorting sedan from Chandigarh pharma firm
A special CBI court in Chandigarh has found an inspector of the investigating agency guilty of extorting a Honda City from a city-based pharmaceutical company after threatening its officials of false implication in a case in 2016. The accused, Ravinder Kumar Singla, was convicted under Sections 7 and 13 (1) (d) (ii) punishable under Section 13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Section 384 (extortion) of the Indian Penal Code. The quantum of sentence will be announced on Saturday. Another accused, Paramjit, was acquitted due to lack of evidence. As per the prosecution, Ravinder was booked on May 24, 2016, on the complaint of officials of Nectar Life Sciences Ltd, a pharmaceutical firm in Sector 9. Ravinder had approached the company's office, claiming that he was posted in the area and his vehicle had broken down. He informed them that he needed to go to New Delhi for extremely urgent work, and demanded a vehicle from them. When the company officials expressed hesitation, he told them that 'it was very important for the company to maintain cordial relations with CBI'. Under threat, the officials provided him a recently financed, brand new Honda City car, which he assured that he will return once he returned from New Delhi. But he failed to return the vehicle even after a week. When the company officials contacted him, he told them that his assignment in New Delhi had been extended and he will not be able to return the car immediately. He then threatened the company officials of false implication in a case, intimidating them that it will take years for them to prove their innocence, and their company's name and reputation will be greatly harmed. Thereafter, he insisted that the company transfer the car in his or his relative's name, which the officials declined. They further filed a complaint with CBI. Investigations revealed that Ravinder had joined the agency on September 29, 2008, and was promoted to the rank of inspector in 2013. Moreover, no inquiry or case pertaining to the company in question was given to him. As CBI investigated the case, the car was found in possession of the accused and recovered. As per prosecution, Ravinder used the Honda City car from July 2015 to May 2016, and regular servicing expenditure was done at the behest of the company. The accused regularly threatened the company officials of implicating them in a case if they demanded the car from him. During trial, public prosecutor Narender Singh told the court that the accused was found in possession of the vehicle. Further, call recordings with the complainant company's officials regarding the vehicle were also substantial evidence of corruption and extortion charges against him.
