AP minister sentenced to two months' jail term

The Special Court for Economic Offences here on Wednesday convicted and sentenced  Secondary Education Minister K  Parthasarathy in Andhra Pradesh to two months’ simple imprisonment and also imposed a fine of Rs 5.15 lakh for violation of Foreign Exchange Regulation Act.

The court also pronounced that the minister would have to undergo a sentence for three months, in case he failed to pay the fine. Considering the plea of the minister, Judge Lakshman, who pronounced the sentence, granted him bail and also gave a month’s time to go to the High Court against the judgment. The minister on Wednesday appeared before the Special Court of Economic Offences in the case of violation of FERA rules.

KPR Tele Products Company of which Parthasarathy was the MD, had imported some equipment in 2002. The Enforcement Directorate has charged the minister under FERA violations and evading to pay import duties in the transaction. As the charge was proved, the court earlier imposed a fine of Rs 3 lakh on Parthasarathy in 2003. Parthasarathy not only ignored payment of the fine, but also not attended the court when summoned.