Five convicted in HSD misappropriation case, awarded 5 yrs RI

Kochi, Dec 28 (UNI) A special CBI court today convicted five people, including former Deputy Manager (refinary co-ordination) of South Exchange Pit Nataraja Aiyer of misusing his official post for illegally transferring High Speed Diesel (HSD) to four firms.

Special CBI Judge P Chandrasekharan Pillai sentenced the five accused to three years rigorous imprisonment and slapped a fine of Rs 50,000 each under each count of offence punishable under sections 120-b, 409 read with 120-b 13(2) read with 13(1)(C) read with 120 b of IPC.

The judge also sentenced to six month RI and slapped fine of Rs 10,000 each under sections 411 and 120-b of IPC and the substantative sentences imposed on the accused would run concurrently.

A sum of Rs 6,44,930 deposited by M A Balraj for the release of 41,000 litres of HSD, seized from Bawa enterprises by the CBI as per the direction of the court, was also confiscated.

Nataraja Aiyer, while working with the South Exchange Pit, maintained and cotrolled by the OIC as Port Co-ordinator and Product Co-ordinator, had misappropriated 1,01,000 litres of HSD on three occasions and transferred the same with the assistance of contract labourers to a dolphin barge owned by Occan Bunkers.

The case was investigated by the CBI.

UNI