Six Bihar Sugar Corporation Officials Convicted in 1990 Corruption Case
A special vigilance court in Muzaffarpur delivered a significant verdict on Friday. The court convicted six government officials from the Bihar State Sugar Corporation Limited. They faced charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act and various sections related to forgery.
Details of the Lauria Sugar Mill Case
The case centers on the Lauria Sugar Mill located in Bettiah, West Champaran. The origins of this legal matter trace back to September 1990. Authorities charged the accused officials with misusing their official positions. Their alleged actions involved committing fraud and forgery.
Investigators claimed these acts led to the embezzlement of 997 bags of sugar. The Vigilance Investigation Bureau, known as VIB, handled the investigation. After a thorough probe, the bureau filed a charge-sheet. The court's verdict came after several years of legal proceedings.
Court Verdict and Sentencing
Vigilance court judge Dashrath Mishra found all six accused guilty. The convictions fell under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and multiple forgery-related sections.
The court handed down different sentences to the officials:
- Nand Kishore Singh, former administrative head, received a two-year rigorous imprisonment sentence.
- Umesh Prasad Singh, former special assistant to the managing director, also got two years of rigorous imprisonment.
The judge imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on both these individuals. The court stipulated additional imprisonment if they fail to pay the fine.
Four other officials faced stricter punishment:
- Lalbabu Prasad, former clerk at the Lauria unit
- Sushil Kumar Srivastava, former clerk at the Lauria unit
- Ajay Kumar Srivastava, former accounts officer
- Dhirendra Jha, former sugar sales in-charge
Each of these four individuals received three-year rigorous imprisonment sentences. The court also imposed a heftier fine of Rs 25,000 on each of them. Similar to the others, failure to pay would result in further jail time.
Prosecution and Broader Context
Special public prosecutor Krishna Dev Sahay represented the Bihar government during the prosecution. Sahay argued that the offences involved deliberate manipulation of official records. He emphasized the abuse of authority within a public sector undertaking.
Recent data from the vigilance department reveals an interesting trend. Courts have delivered convictions in 30 corruption cases so far in 2025. This number represents a higher conviction rate compared to the same period last year.
The case demonstrates ongoing efforts to address corruption in government institutions. The verdict serves as a reminder that legal consequences can follow even decades after alleged misconduct.
