Two CAG office employees get 5 yrs jail in corruption case

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Two officials in the office of Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) have been sent to five years in jail by a special court for trying to get promotion by indulging in corruption and changing their answer sheets of departmental examination.
"Corruption not only devalues human rights but it also undermines justice and equality which are the core values of our Constitution," it said, noting that the officials worked in one of the most important wings.
The court held the two officials guilty of the offence of criminal conspiracy, attempt to cheating, forgery and using as genuine forged documents under the IPC and criminal misconduct under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Special CBI Judge Pitamber Dutt awarded the jail term to Rajesh Kumar Bhardwaj, who was working as Caretaker in the office of Accountant General, and Dinkar Joshi, an accountant in the office of Accountant General (A&E).
"Convicts Bhardwaj and Joshi were working in the office of CAG which is one of the most important wings of any democratic system. Both the convicts had taken departmental exam for promotion.
"They were required to take the departmental examination for promotion honestly so that deserving candidate may get promotion, but for securing their promotion, both the convicts indulged in the act of corruption and had opted for a short cut for securing promotion in departmental promotion," the court said.

It imposed a fine of Rs 45,000 on each of the convicts.

The court, however, acquitted co-accused Bhagwan Singh Azad, Mukul Gambhir, Pukar Mahto and Umeed Singh saying the prosecution has failed to prove its case against them beyond reasonable doubt.
According to the CBI, Bhardwaj and Joshi appeared in Section Officers Grade Examination (SOGE) (Group-C) in 2007 for departmental promotion.
They, however, sought to take promotion by committing illegal act of arranging blank answer sheets and replacing their answer sheets in the office of CAG in furtherance of their criminal conspiracy with some unknown persons.
CBI had received a complaint in this regard by Assistant Comptroller and Auditor General (P) against the accused.

During the trial, all the accused denied their involvement in the commission of offence and claimed that they have been falsely implicated in this case.
The court, in its judgement, observed that a public servant is required to exhibit exemplary behaviour not only in his service but in the eyes of public at large.
"...When a public servant indulges in an act of corruption for his personal gain, then he not only pollutes the system but also conveys a very wrong message in the society at large that you cannot get success in your life without adopting illegal means.
"The corruption not only devalues human rights but it also undermines justice and equality which are the core values of our constitution," it said.