Former Delhi Police officer jailed for graft

A court here has sentenced a former Delhi Police sub-inspector to three years' imprisonment in a 2011 corruption case holding that his acts dented the faith of the society in police.

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Special Judge Brijesh Kumar Garg held that convict P.S. Bhardwaj, then posted as sub-inspector at Timarpur police station, misused his official capacity as a police officer.

The court also slapped a fine of Rs.25,000 on Bhardwaj.

"The convict Bhardwaj was working as sub-inspector in Delhi Police and, therefore, was having added responsibility to uphold the rule of law. But the acts of the convict have dented the faith of the society at large, on police officials and Delhi Police," the court said.

Bhardwaj and property dealer Sanjay Kumar were convicted on Tuesday for accepting Rs.80,000 as bribe from Munna Lal Gupta in May 2011. The order was made available on Thursday.

The court jailed Sanjay Kumar for two years and imposed a fine of Rs.10,000.

"Like all cancer drugs, which are highly toxic in nature, the treatment of people convicted for corruption has to be severe, so as to have a strong effect on the issues/fabric of the society," the court said.

"Cancer causing pathogens of the society can only be eradicated by strong medicine, in the shape of severe deterrent punishment."

Public Prosecutor Praneet Sharma requested the court to take a strict view of the matter and award deterrent punishment to both the convicts.

He said Bhardwaj as a police official was a protector of law and had more responsibility towards the society but he damaged the society's trust towards police.

Both convicts requested the court to take a lenient view against them.

Later, the court released both on bail, till filing of appeal, on furnishing a fresh personal bond of Rs.25,000 with surety of a like amount.

According to the CBI, Gupta lodged a complaint against Bhardwaj on May 4, 2011 for demanding Rs.1 lakh for getting his house vacated by his daughter-in-law.

Gupta alleged that Bhardwaj and other staff of Timarpur police station on April 30, 2011, earlier forcibly got him to vacate his house and handed over its possession to his daughter-in-law.

A trap was laid on May 4, 2011, wherein property dealer Sanjay Kumar was apprehended by the CBI, while accepting a bribe of Rs.80,000 from Gupta, on behalf of Bhardwaj.