Gangadhar Sahu, an engineer, was caught by the Vigilance Department in 1984 for having disproportionate assets worth 4,06,220 from known sources of income.
Gangadhar Sahu, an engineer, was caught by the Vigilance Department in 1984 for having disproportionate assets worth 4,06,220 from known sources of income.
An engineer was convicted for 38 years in Odisha after he was caught for accumulating assets disproportionate to his known source of income.
Special Judge, Special Court (Vigilance), Bhubaneswar, Biswajit Das convicted Gangadhar Sahu, Ex-Executive Engineer, Command Area Development Agency-I, Bhubaneswar, who was held by the Vigilance Department for possession of disproportionate assets worth Rs 4,06,220 Was. His known sources of income in 1984.
The judge now sentenced 75-year-old Sahu to rigorous imprisonment for two years and a fine of Rs 20,000 and three months of rigorous imprisonment for the offense under section 5(2) in default of payment of fine. Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947.
“The inordinate delay in hearing the case has been attributed to the lack of a special court available during that time. The case was transferred several times from one court to another. Moreover, the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 was not as stringent as the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988,” said Ajit Patnaik, Public Prosecutor, Special Court.
“The existing special court, which convicted Engineer, was set up to hear disproportionate assets cases relating to first-class officers and politicians,” Mr Patnaik said.
At that time the engineer had bought three plots in Bhubaneshwar and one in Puri. Besides this, the vigilance officers had recovered 1252 grams of gold from his possession. Despite the disproportionate number of cases, Sahu’s career in government service progressed as a regular employee. He is getting regular pension. As per the present action, the suspension is handed over to the officers immediately after they are caught in a larger case of disproportionate assets.