CBI Court Delivers Justice in Two Separate Cases, Sentencing Ex-Bank Manager and ITI Officers to Jail and Fines in Bribery and Fraud Cases
(Judicial Quest News Network)
In a substantial legal development, the Special Judge, CBI Court No. 05, and the Special Judicial Magistrate (Pollution) Court in Lucknow have sentenced three individuals to 2-4 years of imprisonment, along with a total fine of Rs. 51,000, in two separate cases handled by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
First Case: Bank Manager Sentenced for Bribery
In the first case, the CBI Court sentenced Vinod Kumar Ram, the then Branch Manager of Kashi Gomti Sanyukta Gramin Bank, Papaura Branch, Chandauli (UP), to 4 years of imprisonment with a fine of Rs. 35,000 for accepting a bribe in exchange for sanctioning a loan under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Loan Scheme.
The case began on August 16, 2016, when the CBI received a complaint alleging that Ram had demanded an illegal gratification of Rs. 6,000 from the complainant in exchange for sanctioning a loan of Rs. 50,000 for his brother. Acting swiftly, the CBI set up a trap and caught Ram red-handed accepting Rs. 5,000 as the bribe.
The CBI investigation concluded with the filing of a chargesheet on September 30, 2016. After a thorough trial, the court found Ram guilty of bribery, leading to his conviction and sentencing.
Second Case: Former ITI Officers Convicted in Fraud Scheme
In the second case, the Special Judicial Magistrate (Pollution) Court sentenced Lav Nigam, the former Chief Manager of ITI Ltd., Naini, Allahabad, and S.A.H. Jafri, a former officer at ITI, Naini, to 2 years of imprisonment each, along with a fine of Rs. 16,000 for defrauding ITI Ltd., Naini.
The CBI registered the case on February 17, 1998, against Lav Nigam, who was accused of submitting bogus bills in his own handwriting while functioning as the Manager of the Shipping (X) Department between 1990 and 1992. The fraudulent bills led to a financial loss of approximately Rs. 5.25 lakh to ITI, Naini.
Following a detailed investigation, the CBI filed a chargesheet on October 8, 2001, against Nigam and Jafri. After a lengthy trial, the court held both accused guilty, sentencing them accordingly.
Judicial Outcome
The sentences in both cases mark a significant victory for justice, with both the accused in the bribery case and the former ITI officials now facing prison terms for their corrupt activities. The total fine imposed in the cases amounts to Rs. 51,000, reinforcing the seriousness with which the courts are addressing corruption and fraud in public and financial institutions.
This sentencing underscores the commitment of the judiciary and the CBI in curbing corruption and holding public officials accountable for their actions.
