Ludhiana Court Hands Down Four-Year Sentence to ASI in Bribery Scandal
A local court in Ludhiana has delivered a strong verdict against corruption. Assistant Sub-Inspector Jaswinder Singh received a four-year sentence of rigorous imprisonment. The court found him guilty of accepting a bribe worth ₹10,000. His crime involved agreeing to file a weak challan in a criminal case.
Court Imposes Fine and Additional Penalty
Special Judge Amrinder Singh Shergill presided over the case. The judge also imposed a fine of ₹25,000 on the convicted ASI. Failure to pay this fine will result in an extra four months of rigorous imprisonment. This decision underscores the court's firm stance against corrupt practices within the police force.
Background of the Corruption Case
The case originated on August 4, 2020. The Vigilance Bureau in Ludhiana registered a formal case against Jaswinder Singh. They charged him under the Prevention of Corruption Act. At that time, he served at the Jamalpur police station. The ASI was approximately 52 years old and hailed from Chak Hakim village in Kapurthala district. He resided in a government quarter located in Police Colony, Division Number Five.
How the Bribery Scheme Unfolded
Inspector Ranjit Singh was present in his Vigilance Bureau office when the complaint arrived. Ajay Tiwari, a property dealer from Bachhitar Nagar in Jamalpur, came forward with serious allegations. Tiwari explained that unknown persons had attacked his neighbour, Uday Kant Rao, on May 3, 2020. Police registered a case the following day at Jamalpur station. Authorities arrested Tiwari and sent him to jail. He secured bail on July 28, 2020.
Madhuri Devi, Tiwari's wife, then submitted an application to the Ludhiana Commissioner of Police. She claimed her husband's innocence in the matter. This application reached ASI Jaswinder Singh for inquiry. He was also investigating the underlying criminal case.
On August 1, 2020, Jaswinder Singh summoned Tiwari and his wife to the police station. He told them the case held no substance and promised to secure Tiwari's acquittal. The ASI stated he would prepare a weak challan to achieve this outcome. He initially demanded ₹25,000 for this service. Jaswinder Singh specified that ₹5,000 would go to the Station House Officer. Some money would also cover challan clearance expenses.
Tiwari expressed his inability to pay the full ₹25,000. The ASI then agreed to settle for ₹20,000. He asked for ₹10,000 as the first installment, due on August 4.
Vigilance Bureau's Swift Action
Tiwari promptly approached the Vigilance Bureau with this information. He provided ₹10,000 in currency notes to facilitate action against the ASI. A raiding team swiftly moved into action. They arrested Jaswinder Singh right inside his room at Jamalpur police station. The arrest occurred as he accepted the bribe money. Police completed their investigation and filed a chargesheet in due course.
Court's Observations and Final Ruling
During the trial, the accused pleaded false implication. The court, however, examined all evidence thoroughly. It observed that the proof clearly established the demand for ₹20,000. The evidence also confirmed the acceptance of ₹10,000 on August 4, 2020. This payment was intended for preparing a weak challan in the criminal case against the complainant.
The court held that the accused sought undue advantage through his actions. He intended to perform his public duty in an improper and dishonest manner. This verdict sends a clear message about accountability and integrity in public service.
