Retired DVB employee let off in a decade-old graft case

Special CBI Judge M R Sethi acquitted DVB's former Junior Engineer (Electrical) Prem Chand Manroy, saying that "dark clouds of doubt" have encircled the prosecution case.

"...In view of material contradictions in testimonies of prosecution witnesses .... This court is of the opinion that the prosecution case does not travel beyond reasonable doubt.

"Dark clouds of doubt have encircled the case of prosecution which has failed to steer clear of the same. Consequently, this court is of opinion that accused (Manroy) deserves to be acquitted in this case," the court said.

FIR in the case was lodged on a complaint of one Om Prakash Chugh who claimed that when accused Manroy was posted as junior engineer with DVB in 2001, he had demanded Rs 6,000 as bribe from him for removal of electric meter installed at his factory in West Delhi.

The complainant had said as the factory was situated in a residential area, it had been shut down six months ago and the order for removal of the meter had already been passed by the competent authority in May 2001, but the accused had been insisting upon a bribe of Rs 6000 to remove the meter.

The complainant added that the matter was settled for Rs 4,000 after negotiation. (More)