SI gets 4-year jail in 2015 graft case

Chandigarh, February 18

“The cancer of corruption in the police very often jeopardises constitutional governance and acts as a catalyst in violation of civil and human rights of the citizens,” observed Sushil Kumar Garg, Special Judge, CBI Court, while awarding four years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) to Sub-Inspector (SI) Balbir Singh in a corruption case.

According to the prosecution, SI Balbir Singh, then posted at the Mani Majra police station, took a bribe of Rs 35,000 from a local resident for not registering an FIR against him.

In a complaint to the CBI, Sushil Kumar, a resident of Mani Majra, stated that he had signed as a witness in the wedding of his friend in July 2014. In March 2015, the SI called him up and informed that the friend’s wife had lodged a complaint against him for getting her forcibly married. The SI further told him that the woman had alleged that Sushil harassed her, kept her jewellery and confined her in a guest house.

Later, the SI called him to Panjab University, where he was posted on VIP duty, and sought Rs 50,000 in lieu of not registering an FIR.

Kumar approached the CBI, and a trap was laid to catch the cop red-handed while accepting bribe. Meanwhile, the complainant struck a deal for Rs 35,000.

Balbir Singh was caught taking a bribe on March 17, 2015, and a case under Sections 7 and 13(1)(d) read with Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act was registered against him.

Seeking leniency, Balbir Singh stated that he had not been a convict earlier. He had two sons and two married daughters. His younger son was suffering from depression, and was undergoing treatment. There was no one to look after his family members, consisting of his wife and two sons. He had also undergone the trauma of protracted trial for the past more than five years, he claimed, adding that he was the breadwinner of his family and so, a lenient view be taken while awarding him the sentence in the case.

Public Prosecutor KP Singh argued that to check rampant corruption, it was important to give exemplary punishment to a public servant found indulging in corrupt practices. Taking a lenient view in such matters would send a wrong message.

After hearing the arguments, the court observed: “Police corruption is a form of police misconduct in which law enforcement officer abused their power for personal gain. It is a challenge to public interest, cohesion of departmental policies, human rights and legal violations involving serious consequences.”

The court awarded four-year imprisonment to Balibir Singh and also imposed a fine of Rs 40,000 on him. — TNS