M A I N   N E W S

Charge sheet filed against Gupta, Bhardwaj
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, August 7
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today filed a charge sheet against two judicial officers, including Jalandhar’s District and Sessions Judge, Mr R.M. Gupta, and UT Judicial Magistrate (First Class) S.S. Bhardwaj, in a corruption case in a local court.

The CBI framed the charges after receiving sanction from the competent authorities in the Punjab Government. The CBI had completed its investigation against Bhardwaj within the stipulated time of 60 days after which the accused could have got regular bail. Gupta was released on bail on July 11 by a local court. The CBI mentioned 56 witnesses in the case. Paramjit Singh and Satinder Singh alias Babu, who were earlier alleged to be involved in the cases, are not mentioned as the accused in the challan as nothing substantial was found against them.

Little did Bhardwaj know that the interview he had given to a private television network Aaj Tak would be used as evidence against him to match his voice with a taped conversation demanding a bribe of Rs 7 lakh from a complainant. The interview came handy for the CBI which filed the charge sheet in a local court. The interview enabled the CBI to identify his voice in a taped conversation containing vital evidence regarding the conspiracy and demand of bribe by the accused persons.