New Delhi: A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Vijayawada on Friday sentenced a former railway official to one year of imprisonment in a bribery case dating back nearly two decades.
The court found Matta Dharma Rao, who was working as an Assistant Divisional Engineer with South Central Railway in Bhimavaram of West Godavari district, guilty of seeking and accepting illegal gratification from a contractor.
Details of the Bribery Case
According to the CBI, the case was registered on November 29, 2006, following a complaint from a railway contractor. The investigation revealed that Dharma Rao misused his official position and demanded a digital camera, along with its charger and batteries, valued at approximately Rs 11,200 as a bribe.
The illegal gratification was allegedly demanded in return for clearing a bill worth Rs 1.87 lakh and as an inducement for passing another pending bill amounting to Rs 77,000.
Conviction After Prolonged Trial
After concluding the investigation, the CBI filed a chargesheet against the accused on June 11, 2007. Following a lengthy trial, the Vijayawada court held him guilty and sentenced him to one year of imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 1,500.
CBI Court Convictions in Separate KVIC Case
In a separate case, the CBI Court in Ghaziabad on Thursday convicted an official of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) and a private individual in a bribery matter.
The court sentenced Binod Kumar, an Assistant at the KVIC Divisional Office in Meerut, to four years of imprisonment with a fine of Rs 50,000. Co-accused Surendra Khurana, also known as Sunny Khurana, was awarded three years of imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 10,000.
Conspiracy to Clear Invalid Loan Application
As per the CBI, the case was registered on September 15, 2017, based on allegations of demand and acceptance of illegal gratification.
During his tenure as Assistant and District Coordinator at the KVIC between 2016 and 2017, Binod Kumar, in conspiracy with Surendra Khurana, allegedly sought a bribe of Rs 1.25 lakh to process an invalid loan application for a cement tiles manufacturing unit.
