1991 batch IAS officer gets 4 yrs jail term in graft case

A 1991 batch IAS officer has been sentenced to four years in jail for possessing assets of over Rs 3.18 crore which were disproportionate to his known income by a Delhi court which observed that corruption is a deep- rooted problem and a major hindrance in nation's development.

Special CBI Judge Bhupesh Kumar observed, "Now-a-days corruption is a deep-rooted problem of the society which is one of the major hindrance in the development of the nation. It is anti-poor, anti-economic development and anti-nation."

"Due to the act of certain public servants, the society as a whole suffers because general public has started taking corruption as a fact and way of life. Hence, no undue leniency should be given to corrupt public servants and they should be awarded the punishment to have deterrent effect on the other like public servants," the judge said.

CBI had registered a case in 2004, alleging that Sandeep Garg, who was then posted as a Regional Director (North) Anti Adulteration Cell, was habitual of taking illegal gratification and had amassed assets disproportionate to his known sources of income in the form of movable and immovable properties in his name and in the names of his family members.

Garg was also fined Rs 25 lakh under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Four others including his father and brother, were also fined varying amounts for abetting the offences.

The court also found guilty four others - Sandeep's father Swami Sharan Garg, brother Rajiv Garg (54), close associate Atul Jindal and one Suman Sarin- for abetting the offence.

While Rajiv, Atul and Suman were sent to four years in jail, Swami was sentenced to two years imprisonment by the court considering his old age.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs two lakh each on these four convicts.

The court, finding that 51-year-old Sandeep had acquired the assets worth over Rs 3.18 crore from ill-gotten means, directed that assets of this value are forfeited to the State.
It also directed the convicts not to dispose off the assets involved in this matter.

The court found that during the check period from 1999 to 2004, the total income and expenditure of Sandeep Garg was Rs 36,82,307 and Rs 4,76,000 respectively and disproportionate assets acquired by him were Rs 3,18,93,454.

The CBI had alleged that Sandeep had amassed the money with the help of Atul, who acted as a conduit on his behalf for collecting bribe from various persons.

It had further said that a residential plot and four flats were found in possession of Sandeep and his wife.

It was alleged that Sandeep had deposited some amount in the PPF account of his father and over Rs 20 lakh, belonging to Sandeep, was recovered from Suman Sarin's residence.

According to probe agency, out of total disproportionate assets, over Rs two crore cash was recovered in 2004 from Sandeep and his bank lockers. The remaining amount included jewellery, shares, bonds etc.

Sandeep had claimed in the court that all the alleged entries were reflected in his income tax return accounts and the amount deposited by him in various accounts was his legitimate income.

The other four convicts too had denied all the allegations levelled against them.