Kangra, December 31
Former Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Subordinate Service Selection Board Surender Mohan Katwal was today sentenced for three-year imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10,000 was imposed on him under the Prevention of Corruption Act for tampering with the results for the appointment of the Vidya Upasaks in 2001.
Mr Shamsher Singh, Special Judge, Hamirpur, pronounced the judgement in the court. The court sentenced Katwal to three-year imprisonment under Section 13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act and for one-year imprisonment under Sections 218, 467, 468 and 471 IPC. The sentence will go on concurrently.
According to enforcement sources here, the case was registered on April 8, 2003, against Katwal for misappropriations in the appointments of Vidya Upasaks in 2001. The Enforcement Department moved the court of Special Judge against Katwal for giving an undue benefit to 16 candidates during the appointments. The prosecution said Mr Katwal tampered with the results by increasing the marks of 16 candidates decreasing the marks of one and giving zero marks to another candidate. The appointments for 217 posts were made for Karsog subdivision.
Mr Katwal was arrested soon after the judgement was announced in the court. His lawyer moved a bail application before the Special Judge which was rejected by the court and Katwal was shifted to Sub Jail, Hamirpur. He is likely to be shifted to Nahan Jail tomorrow.
