PATNA, July 23: The special CBI court today awarded seven years rigorous imprisonment to 19 accused in connection with fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 18 lakh pension money of Army men through fake pension payment orders.
Pronouncing the quantum of punishment, the designated judge V K Srivastav today awarded seven years RI to 19 accused, including three Government officials of the treasury of Sagar district in Madhya Pradesh.
The court also slapped a fine of Rs 35,000 each against three accused, who were Government officials in MP, and Rs 25 thousand each against rest of them.
Earlier, the CBI court had held 20 people guilty of fraudulently withdrawing Rs 18 lakh pension money of army personnel through fake pension payment orders and had sent 19 of the accused to jail.
The court had found the accused guilty of cheating and committing forgery.
The judge had issued non-bailable arrest warrant against one accused in this connection who did not appear before the court till pronouncement of the judgement and quantum of punishment.
The matter involving the abconding accused would be heard separately.
As per the charges the accused got draft and cheque issued from Sagar district treasury of Madhya Pradesh (MP) district on the basis of fake letter for pension payment order of the army in the year 1993.
The accused withdrew nearly Rs 18 lakh by committing forgery and cheating.
Except one, the 19 accused had appeared before the court on July 20 and were sent to the jail, the same day.
The pension payment order was fraudulently prepared in Patna. (UNI)
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