JE convicted in Vigilance case

GANGTOK, 21 Jan: The Vigilance Directorate has been notching up a few convictions in corruption cases of late. Following closely on the heels of convictions of former Power Secretary, LP Tiwari, and Chief Engineer [at the time of registering of Vigilance case], DB Subba, comes news of the conviction of a serving Junior Engineer of the state government. MA Kumar, a JE in the UD&HD, was convicted by the East District Courts on a disproportionate assets case.
It is informed that the conviction was announced on 31 December, 2012 and the JE sentenced to a year long simple imprisonment punishment. In addition he was also directed to pay a fine of Rs.10, 000 failing which he is to undergo further imprisonment of 6 months. The conviction will expectedly be challenged in higher courts.
The said JE was found to be in possession of Rs 44.50 lakh disproportionate to his known sources of income. The corruption case dates back to 1998 when the complaint was first lodged with the Vigilance police, it is informed.
The case had been registered under the relevant section of the Prevention of Corruption Act pertaining to criminal misconduct by a public servant and found to be in possession of property disproportionate to known sources of income for which he cannot satisfactorily account for. The Vigilance Directorate is in the process of intimating to the concerned department of the said official’s conviction and further action will be taken by the concerned department.