Former Kannur Village Officials Sentenced to Five Years Rigorous Imprisonment in Bribery Case
In a significant verdict against corruption, the Thalassery vigilance court has sentenced a former village officer and a village assistant attached to the Kannur II village office to five years of rigorous imprisonment for accepting a bribe. The judgment, delivered by Thalassery vigilance judge K Ramakrishnan, also imposes a hefty fine of Rs 90,000 each on the accused.
Details of the Accused and the Case
The convicted individuals are former village officer K V Shaju, who currently serves as deputy tahasildar at the Kannur taluk office, and C V Pradeep, the former village assistant. They were found guilty under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, highlighting the court's firm stance on eradicating corrupt practices in public offices.
Origin of the Complaint and Bribery Incident
The case stems from a complaint lodged by a resident of Pallikkunnu in Kannur. According to the complaint, the man was allocated a portion of a family property following a court verdict. To formalize this allocation, he approached the Kannur II village office and submitted a request to remit the land tax for the property.
During this process, former village officer Shaju allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 10,000 for accepting the tax payment. He accepted an initial installment of Rs 9,000 during the land measurement procedure. When Shaju attempted to collect the remaining amount, the complainant alerted the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB).
VACB Intervention and Investigation Findings
The VACB swiftly acted on the tip-off and caught Shaju red-handed while he was accepting the remaining bribe money. Based on this incident, the VACB registered a formal case and launched a thorough investigation into the matter.
During the probe, officials uncovered that village assistant Pradeep was also involved in the bribery transaction, leading to his inclusion in the charges. The investigation revealed a coordinated effort between the two officials to extort money from the complainant, underscoring the systemic nature of the corruption.
Court's Verdict and Its Implications
Judge K Ramakrishnan's ruling not only mandates five years of rigorous imprisonment but also the substantial fines, sending a strong message against graft in public service. This case serves as a reminder of the legal consequences for those who abuse their positions for personal gain, particularly in matters involving land and property transactions, which are often vulnerable to corruption.
The verdict is expected to bolster public confidence in the judicial system's ability to tackle corruption and ensure accountability among government officials. It also highlights the crucial role of vigilant citizens and agencies like the VACB in exposing and prosecuting such malpractices.
