A special court today ordered framing of charges against a railway officer and three others in a corruption case for allegedly extending undue favour in hiring rail coaches for group tours in lieu of illegal gratification of Rs five lakh.
Special Judge Anju Bajaj Chandna ordered to put on trial Director of Traffic Transportation (Coaching) in Rail Bhawan here, Ravi Mohan Sharma, two private persons and a firm for alleged offences of criminal conspiracy under the IPC and under several sections of Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act.
Besides Sharma, the court said prima facie offences were made out against firm M/S Rail Tour India LLP and its two officials -- Rajesh Champak Lal Jodhani and Kumar Vadilal -- noting that the firm was the ultimate beneficiary.
"Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, I am of the opinion that there is sufficient prima facie evidence against all the accused and therefore, I order that charges be framed against accused Ravi, Rajesh, Kumar and M/s Rail Tour India LLP, Mumbai, for the offences punishable under section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) read with section 7(public servant taking illegal gratification), 13(1)(d) read with 13 (2) (criminal misconduct) of PC Act," the judge said.
The court fixed September 29 for formally framing charges against the four accused.
It further ordered framing charges against "accused Ravi also for the offences punishable under sections 7, 13(1)(d) read with 13(2) of PC Act and against accused Rajesh, Kumar and company M/s Rail Tour India LLP, Mumbai, also for the offence of abetment punishable under section 12 of PC Act. Let charges be framed accordingly."
In its order, the court noted that prima facie the case was made out against the accused as the materials on record suggested that favour has been given to the firm.
"I find that prima facie case is made out against accused Ravi, public servant, Rajesh, Kumar and the firm.
"There is sufficient material on record to indicate that favour has been given to the firm in the form of hiring of rail coaches/Full Tarrif Rate Train by Sharma at the instance of accused Rajesh and Kumar and finally to the company M/s Rail Tour India LLP, Mumbai and in lieu thereof the illegal gratification of Rs five lakh was demanded and accepted," the court said.
The court said "the record/documents produced along with
the charge sheet show that accused Ravi misused his official position and obtained pecuniary benefit while facilitating the arrangement of coaches and special trains to other accused persons. The ultimate beneficiary has been the M/s Rail Tour India LLP..."
According to the CBI, Ravi was allegedly indulging in corrupt and illegal activities in connivance with Rajesh by extending undue official favour in hiring rail coaches for the purposes of group tours organised by M/s Kulin Kumar Holidays Pvt Ltd and Rs five lakh were demanded by Ravi from Rajesh on October 22, 2014.
It claimed that Ravi was responsible for planning of coaching stock for future and arrangement of the coaches for election movement of police force and to cater extra rush, if the Passenger Marketing Director sent a request for attachment of extra coaches to clear waiting list passengers.
The duties of Ravi included booking of reserve carriages, special coaches, inspection carriages etc, it said.
Ravi was found talking to various railway officials for facilitating the hiring of rail coaches for the purposes of group tours organized by the firm, it added.
He was apprehended red handed by CBI and Rs 4,99,500 bribe money was recovered from his possession, it said.
Claiming innocence, the accused alleged that CBI probe was biased and faulty and they were been falsely implicated.
