6-year jail term for former PPSC chief

Former Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) chairman Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu was awarded six-year imprisonment in a 2002 bribery case by a a Sessions court here today.
Sidhu, who also worked as a journalist with leading dailies published from Chandigarh and Chennai, was immediately taken into custody and sent to jail.
Sessions Judge Kanwaljeet Singh Bajwa awarded six-year imprisonment to Sidhu in a Rs five-lakh 2002 bribery case.
He also slapped a fine of Rs one-and-a-half-lakh on Sidhu who was appointed PPSC chairman by Harcharan Singh Brar-led Congress government.
In case of default, Sidhu will further undergo imprisonment of nine months.

According to the prosecution, Sidhu struck a deal with an Excise Inspector to nominate him as PCS officer for Rs 35 lakh in March 2002.

Bhupjeet Singh, the Inspector, offered Rs 5 lakh to Sidhu at his official residence in Chandigarh as first installment, the prosecution said.
At the same time, he tipped off the Vigilance Bureau, Mohali, which laid a trap and caught him red-handed accepting the bribe.
Rupees five lakh were recovered from his possession, the prosecution said.
The Vigilance Bureau registered a case against Sidhu under the Prevention of Corruption Act on March 25, 2002.
After hearing arguments, the court found Sidhu guilty of accepting bribe of Rs five lakh and awarded him six-year and four-year imprisonment under different sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Both the sentences will run concurrently.
Sidhu was present in the court when the judgement was pronounced.