SC dismisses plea by accused ITPO officer's in embezzlement case

New Delhi, May 13 (UNI) The SC has dismissed the petition of ex-ITPO officer MS Chakravarti and others, charged with embezzlement of government money to the tune of Rs 30,30,057 by production of false money bills in lieu of advertisements that were never published.

The petitioner include MS Somachakravarty, ex-ITPO Deputy Manager along with Balkrishnan of the same rank and one Ajay Uppal.

Balkrishnan was in charge of advertisements. Six fake firms were floated to aid submission of 76 false bills equivalent to the above mentioned ammount in the name of fictitious persons.

PK Jindal, Senior Manager Accounts is being charged with passing the bills worth Rs 1,75,000 and he, along with another employee Gyaseram face allegations of criminal conspiracy, cheating and corruption.

Chakravarty had appealed against the Delhi High Court judgement dated October 22,2005 which had dismissed her plea sekking discharge on the ground that there was no evidence against showing her involvement.

Mr Justice SB Sinha and Mr Justice Markande Katju in their judgement dated May 10, dismissed the petition and directed the trial court to decide the case expeditiously. The two judges gave concurring views but in separate judgements.

Mr Justice Katju in his judgement noticed " there are serious allegations of misappropriation of huge ammount of money belonging to the government and it cannot be said at this stage that there is no material evidence at all for framing the charges against her.

Hence we agree with the view taken by the High Court in this connection." The apex court, however, made it clear that the trial court shall not be influenced by any observations made by this court or by the High Court.

These officers have not been given promotions due to pendency of this case, the court was told by the government counsel.

UNI