Bhopal: A special court designated for trials under the Prevention of Corruption Act in Bhopal has sentenced three officials of the District Cooperative Bank, including its general manager, to three years of rigorous imprisonment. The conviction stems from the illegal sale of over 4 acres of land that had been mortgaged by a farmer against a loan. The land was sold at a dirt-cheap rate to a buyer in blatant violation of auction norms. The buyer in question has also been sentenced to three years of rigorous imprisonment.
Details of the Case
According to special public prosecutor Hemlata Kushwaha, who represented the prosecution, a farmer named Gilldebin Sahai from Agariya village in Bhopal had mortgaged his 4.34-acre land in 1974 to secure a loan for purchasing a pump and a thresher. After the farmer defaulted on the loan, the bank officials, including general manager Ashok Mukhraiya, sales officer Harihar Prasad Mishra, and cooperative inspector A P S Kushwaha, sold the land in 2005 to a buyer for only Rs 40,000. This amount was far below the collector guideline rates and the actual market value of the land.
Investigation and Trial
The Special Police Establishment (SPE), Lokayukta, investigated the case and filed a charge sheet against the accused. The sessions court, presided over by Manoj Kumar Singh, found the accused guilty on Wednesday and sentenced each of them to three years of rigorous imprisonment.
This case highlights the importance of transparency and adherence to legal procedures in the sale of mortgaged properties. The court's decision serves as a deterrent against corruption and misuse of power by bank officials.
