Punish Indian, foreign entity bribing public servant:Par panel

A Parliamentary committee today recommended that any Indian or foreign entity found guilty of bribing a public servant in the country shall be liable for punishment besides a fine, going beyond the provisions of a bill in this regard.
The Standing Committee on Law and Personnel in its report on the Prevention of Corruption Act (Amendment) Bill, 2013 has also endorsed a move to provide certain shield to retired bureaucrats who face allegations of wrongdoing while in service.
The committee, in its report tabled in Parliament today, recommended the timeline for trial in corruption cases.
The bill states that any entity whether incorporated in India or abroad but having business in India, and providing services including charitable work, would now be liable to prevent corruption by an individual associated with it.

The bill provides for punishment between three and seven years in jail to a person associated with a business entity who bribes a public servant to further business interests.
A senior official of the entity can also be jailed for a period of three to seven years if bribery can be attributed to his connivance or negligence.
However, commercial entity is punishable with fine only.
"The committee desires that the punishment prescribed for commercial organisation should be in addition to punishment prescribed to individual associated with it and in charge of the commercial organisation," the report said.