Former Customs Collector sentenced to 3 years RI

Chennai, Sep 29 (UNI) A Special CBI court in Madurai today convicted and sentenced a former Customs and Central Excise Collector to three years rigorous imprisonment in the disproportionate assets case.

The Judge also imposed a fine of Rs five lakh under Sec 13(2), read with 13(1)(e), of the Prevention of Corruption Act on M C Sharma, Customs and Central Excise Collector, Trichy, an official release said here today.

The prosecution case was that during the period 1986 to 1989, Mr Sharma had acquired disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs 61.88 lakh.

His assets as on 1989 included fixed deposits to the tune of Rs 16.79 lakh in about 20 banks in various parts of the country, investments worth Rs 6.86 lakh in Indira Vikas Patra, Rs 5.97 lakh investment in UTI units among others.

Mr Sharma was also having bank accounts in Bangalore, Aligarh, Agra, Gwalior, Trichy, Hardwar, Hatras and nine lockers in his name and in the names of his family members.

A search of his bank lockers and residence of Mr Sharma, led to the seizure of Rs 12.03 lakh cash and two kg of jewellery.

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