M A I N   N E W S

Fake Arms deal
4-year jail term for Bangaru
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 28
A Delhi court today sentenced former BJP President Bangaru Laxman to four years of imprisonment and slapped a fine of Rs 1 lakh on him for taking a bribe of Rs 1 lakh from fake arms dealers 11 years ago.

“Balancing the twin interest of society and that of the convict, I am of the opinion that interest of justice would be met if the convict is sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a term of four years and to pay a fine of Rs 1 lakh for the offence under Section 9 (taking gratification for exercise of personal influence with public servant) of the Prevention of Corruption Act,” Additional Sessions Judge Kanwal Jeet Arora ruled.

In a media sting operation, Bangaru Laxman had been caught on camera while accepting the bribe in his chamber in the BJP headquarters and had to quit as party president in the wake of a political storm.

Bangaru Laxman (72) was a Minister of State for Railways in 1999-2000 and became the BJP President later. The party has already distanced itself from him.

In the 14-page order on the quantum of sentence, the Judge noted that the “sab chalta hai” syndrome had led the nation to the present situation where “nothing moves without an illegal consideration. People are forced to pay for getting even the right things done at right time.”

It was time to shun such an attitude and the courts sternly dealt with persons found guilty of corruption, the Judge opined.

“The problem of large-scale and rampant corruption, more particularly the political corruption, is weakening the political body and damaging the supreme importance of the law governing the society.”

The distressing level of corruption had shaken people’s belief that “crime never pays” and shattered their hopes of a possible rejuvenation of a value-based society, the Judge noted further.

Yesterday, the court had convicted Laxman observing that the CBI had proved the allegations against him.

‘Shun such attitude’

"Sab chalta hai syndrome had led the nation to the present situation where nothing moves without an illegal consideration. People are forced to pay for getting even the right things done at the right time. It was time to shun such an attitude"

— HC Judge