The High Court has reversed a 1996 trial court order, acquitting a Second Division Assistant (SDA) in PWD department, in Yadgir, Gulbarga district, who was trapped by Lokayukta police while receiving money, and sentenced him to simple imprisonment for one year.

Justice HVG Ramesh allowed an appeal filed by Gulbarga Lokayukta police and held Khaleel Ahmed, a SDA in PWD Assistant Executive Engineer’s office, guilty of offenses under section 13 and section 7 of Prevention of Corruption Act. The judge sentenced him to one year SI under both sections, ordered to run concurrently, and a fine of Rs 3,500.

On a complaint by one Sharanappa, from whom the accused had allegedly demanded Rs 3,500 to fix the rent of his house, which was allotted to the SC/ST hostel. On June 26, 1996, Khaleel Ahmed had allegedly accepted a bribe of Rs 1,500 from Sharanappa. Lokayukta cops had then seized the amount, and also the related file.

Khaleel Ahmed had contended that he had received money to help Sharanappa buy  army welfare tickets available with department’s Accountant. While setting aside Gulbarga Special Judge’s acquittal order, the Court observed that circumstances warranted a presumption against the accused. There were no such army welfare tickets available to be disbursed at that time, it observed.