Civic body employee gets 3.5-yr jail in corruption case
The Court of Amrinder Singh Shergill has sentenced Amneet Pal Singh, alias Vicky, a resident of New Punjab Mata Nagar, Jawaddi, here, to three-and-a-half years of imprisonment in a bribery case.
The FIR was lodged on the complaint of Nishan Singh, who alleged that he had purchased a 162 sq yard plot in Shaheed Karnail Singh Nagar, Phase 3, Shekh Colony, here, on December 6, 2018.
After the purchase, he constructed two rooms and connected a sewerage line to the main system.
According to the complainant, on May 6, 2019, the accused introducing himself as a sewer man with the Municipal Corporation Zone-D-2, Ludhiana, visited the plot and demanded documents for sewer and water connections. He claimed to be working under Suresh Kumar, JE, and warned that illegal connections would result in heavy penalties.
Over subsequent calls and visits, Amneet demanded a bribe of Rs 15,000 to avoid disclosing the matter to the higher authorities and issuing a challan. The complainant eventually negotiated the amount to ?10,000 but chose to approach the Vigilance Bureau (VB), instead of paying the bribe.
On May 10, 2019, a trap was laid by the Vigilance Bureau, and Amneet was caught red-handed while accepting the money. The recovery of Rs 10,000 was made on the spot.
However during the trial, the accused pleaded innocence and claimed false implication. But the court, after considering the evidence and the nature of the offence, found the accused guilty. In its judgment, the court emphasised the importance of curbing corruption at all levels and sentenced him to three-and-a-half years of rigorous imprisonment.
