Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Shillong, October 04 2010:
A Special CBI Court today sentenced a former commissioner of central excise to four years rigorous imprisonment on charges of accepting bribe of Rs 8 lakhs while adjudicating an excise duty evasion case against M/s Kitply Ltd, Kolkata.
This was detected by the Directorate General (Anti-Evasion) in 1996 when LR Mitran, a former commissioner of central excise, Shillong was authorized to adjudicate on the case in which during the adjudicating order she had slice down the evaded excise duty in favour of M/s Kitply Ltd from Rs 36 crores to just Rs 9 crores and accepted a bribe of Rs 8 lakhs.
This, thereby causing a loss of Rs 27 crores to the government.
Special CBI Judge, SR Sen convicted LR Mitran under Section 11 of the Prevention of Corruption Act and sentenced her to four years rigorous imprisonment along with a fine
of Rs 20,000 .
Speaking to reporters, Senior Special Prosecutor of CBI,V K Jindal told that the judgment came after hundreds of official documents and more than 30 witnesses were examined by the court.
He also informed that during the trial which started in 2002, Mitran had also tried to secure a special leave petition (SLP) from the Supreme Court and High Court which they later rejected her plea, he added.
It was also alleged that during that period, she established a trust in the name of her mother and family members and accepted a donation of Rs 5 lakh and a vehicle in the name of the trust.
On being asked whether the Section 11 of the PCA is bailable, Jindal said it is a non-bailable offense which deals with public servant obtaining valuable things, without consideration from person concerned in proceeding or business transacted by such public servant while adding that Mitran can appeal to the High Court to secure bail.
The seventy years old Mitran while being taken by police told media persons, "I am not worried but it is a life time experience and people who should also be inside the locker are not there".