Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 18: Special Judge Anticorruption Jammu Sanjeev Gupta today awarded two years imprisonment and fine of Rs 10,000 to Daleep Kumar Bhat, son of Kanshi Nath Bhat of Patoli Brahamana, the then Manager Jammu Rural Bank (now J&K Grameen Bank, Pargwal).
According to the police case, on 14.6.2010 one Parmanand lodged a written complaint with the Vigilance Organization with the allegations that a loan of Rs 1,00,000 was sanctioned in his favour by the J&K Grameen Bank Branch Pargwal and he received first instalment to the tune of Rs 35,000 on 31.3.2010.
However, for the release of 2nd instalment of Rs 65,000 accused, who was then posted as Manager of the Bank demanded Rs 7,000 as illegal gratification which on his repeated requests was settled for Rs 5,000.
On the basis of complaint, a trap was laid and the accused was caught red-handed while accepting bribe amount.
After hearing CPO Harminder Singh for the Vigilance Organization Jammu whereas Advocate SC Bali appearing for the State, the Special Judge Anticorruption observed, “utmost integrity must be the hallmark of officials working as public servants in the bank for the performance of public duty. The efficiency in public service would improve only when the public servant devotes his sincere attention and does the duty diligently, truthfully and honestly”.
“In the present case the convict being head of the bank branch instead of leading by exemplary conduct has chosen a poor fellow belonging to down trodden strata of the society as his victim by demanding and accepting bribe money of Rs 5000 from him to do an act which under law he was otherwise obliged to perform in his official capacity”, the court said.
“The act of the accused is no less than extortion under the colour of his official duty which has not only brought a bad name to the entire banking institution but also amounting to betrayal of trust of his office for individual pecuniary gain”, the court said while convicting the accused under Section 5(1) (d) read with Section 5 (2) PC Act and Section 161 RPC. He was awarded imprisonment for two years and fine of Rs10,000 under each offence.
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