Four-year jail for govt official in bribery case

A special court has awarded four- year jail term to an assistant commissioner in Delhi government's Food and Supplies Department for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 40,000 from a Fair Price Shop (FPS) dealer.
The court held Vinod Attal, a resident of Dwarka, guilty of demanding bribe from complainant Shiv Shankar as a reward for saving his FPS by not creating trouble in the future.
"It stands proved that accused, who was a public servant, made a demand of bribe from the complainant as a reward for having saved his FPS and as a motive for not creating any trouble for him in future. He accepted a bribe of Rs 40,000 from the complainant but was trapped by CBI," Special CBI Judge Vinod Kumar said.

The court also found that a direction to keep a strict watch on the functioning of the FPSs was used as a threat to the complainant and compelled him to pay a bribe to ensure future safety.
"Demand of bribe is not only a reward for a saving act but also motive for refraining from causing future harm," it said.
The court awarded four years rigorous imprisonment to Attal and also imposed a fine of Rs 1,000 on him under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The court, however, acquitted Ajay Kumar, who was working as a clerk in the office, by giving him benefit of doubt.

According to the CBI, a complaint was made by Shankar in January 2013, alleging that Attal had initially demanded Rs 50,000 bribe for having saved the FPS from getting its licence cancelled and settling the trouble by issuing penalty only.
It said the audit officers had found some irregularities and fined the shop. The bribe amount to Attal was supposed to be paid through clerk Ajay Kumar in his office, it added.
The complainant did not wish to pay the bribe and filed a complaint with the CBI.
A trapped was laid by the CBI and the officer was caught red handed while accepting the bribe.

During the trial, the officer denied the allegations and said he imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 for the irregularities at the FPS and claimed that it could not be altered without the approval of his Additional Commissioner.
He also pleaded for a lenient view in sentencing on the ground that his family comprising two kids and parents were dependent on him.