In a significant blow to corruption within state departments, a special court has sentenced two officials from the Excise and Taxation Department and a clerk to five years of rigorous imprisonment in a bribery case. The court also imposed substantial fines on the convicts, emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy toward graft in public service.
The Case and Conviction The case follows an incident where the officials were caught accepting a bribe.
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The Trap: The officials had allegedly demanded the money from a local businessman in exchange for clearing a pending tax file. Following a complaint, a trap was laid, and the officials were apprehended with the marked currency notes.
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The Verdict: After a detailed trial, the special judge found the evidence—including audio recordings and the recovery of the bribe money—sufficient to prove their guilt under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
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Sentence: All three individuals have been handed a five-year jail term. The court noted that corruption by government officials not only hinders development but also erodes public trust in the administration.
Administrative Impact The Haryana government has been intensifying its campaign against corruption, with the Anti-Corruption Bureau frequently conducting raids across various departments. This sentencing is seen as a major success for the bureau and a deterrent for other public servants.
Following the court’s order, the convicts were taken into custody and sent to the district jail. The department is also expected to initiate the process for their formal dismissal from service.
