BJP MLA sentenced to over 3 years RI in corruption case

Judge N K Sudheendra Rao also slapped a fine of Rs one lakh on Sampangi and ordered that in case he failed to pay up, his imprisonment be extended by six more months.

The verdict comes after a three-year trial and at a worse time for BJP whose about half a dozen leaders, including former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, have been battling corruption ccases with assembly polls just a year away.

"Justice has ultimately won. This verdict should act as a deterrent to those who indulge in corruption. I am happy with the court order," said former Supreme Court judge Santosh Hegde during whose tenure as Lokayukta Sampangi was arrested.

Sampangi, who represents KGF assembly constituency, was trapped by Lokayukta police on January 29, 2009, while accepting Rs 50,000 in cash and Rs 4.5 lakh by cheque from Farooq, a businessman to settle a civil dispute.

However, the court aquitted the second accused Mushtaq Pasha as he was not found guilty.

Sampangi has been convicted and sentenced to undergo three and half years rigorous imprisonment (RI) for offence punishable under section 13 (1)d of the Prevention of Corruption (PC) and a fine of Rs 40,000.

He was also convicted to undergo one year RI and Rs 30,000 fine each for the offence punishable under Section 7 and 8 of the PC Act, the Judge said.

All the sentences will run concurrently, the Judge said, rejecting an appeal by Sampangi's counsel for minimum punishment.

Sampangi, who was present in the court, broke down when the order was readout and was later taken into custody by Lokayukta police and sent to Parappana Agrahara central prison on city outskirts.