HC confirms sentence on corrupt CBI Inspector

Chennai, July 9 (UNI) Madras High Court today confirmed the two-year sentence awarded to a CBI Inspector by a trial court here in a Prevention of Corruption Case.

Dismissing an appeal petition, Mr Justice T Suthandiram held the accused, who was a CBI Inspector, had taken bribe and valuables from the accused instead of taking action against him.

'This court cannot allow the fence to eat the crop,' the judge said while pronouncing the order.

The CBI registerd a case against the then General Manager of the Hindustan Photo Films (HPF) Limited in July 1994 and searched his house.L Bhoopathi, the then CBI Inspector, was the Investigation Officer (IO) in the case.

The charge was he demanded a bribe of Rs 2.50 lakh from the accused for helping him in the case.

The Anti-Corruption Wing of the CBI caught Bhoopathi redhanded while he was receiving Rs 20,000 from the official. A portion of the jewels seized from the official was also recovered from his possession and a case registered A CBI Special Court here heard the case and awarded him two years RI besides imposing a fine of Rs 9,000.Bhoopathi preferred an appeal in the High Court against the order.

While dismissing his appeal,the judge said the accused, who was a CBI officer, had taken illegal gratification and the evidence produced by the prosecution established the offences against him under Sec 7 and 11 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

''The prosecution proved the case beyond doubt,'' the judge observed.

As regard the sentence awarded to the accused by the trial court, the judge observed the PC Act provided maximum punishment of seven years and minimum of one year.

''This court does not want to reduce the sentence further,'' the judge said and dismissed the appeal petition.

UNI XR GM Mir GC2110