Microscope purchase scam: Five accused convicted, sentenced

Jammu, May 31: The special Judge Anti-Corruption Jammu (ACB) on Saturday convicted five accused in a case related to the purchase of sub-standard microscopes on exorbitant rates by the School Education Department, Jammu.
“Today, the Ld. Special Judge Anti-Corruption , Jammu, convicted all the five accused facing trial in case FIR No. 10/2005 P/S VOJ (now ACB) relating to purchase of sub-standard microscopes on exorbitant rates by the School Education Deptt . , Jammu, during the year 2004-05. Investigation conducted in the matter revealed that the accused public servants, pursuant to a well-knit criminal conspiracy hatched by them with the accused supplier (beneficiary), abused their official positions and approved a dissection microscope instead of the one required for examining the properties of minerals in gross violation of the NIT and thereafter, made bulk purchases of the said microscope causing substantial wrongful loss to the State exchequer and wrongful gain to themselves and the beneficiary,” reads a statement.
The accused, as per the statement, were sent up for trial for the offences made out against them during the course of investigation by way of laying charge sheet against them before the Court of Special Judge Anti-Corruption, Jammu.
“On the basis of evidence led by the prosecution , the trial Court found all the accused , namely Jatinder Kumar , the then AO Directorate of School Education, Jammu, Rameshwar Kumar Sharma, the then Lecturer Geology , SRML Hr. Secondary School, Jammu(Expert) , Balwan Singh, then then Lecturer Geology, SIE, Jammu (Expert), Balbir Singh Jamwal, then then CEO , Udhampur , and Jaswinder Singh Manocha, Prop. M/s Cosmopolitan Traders, Jammu, guilty of the commission of offences punishable under section 5(1)(d) r/w section 5(2), J&K Prevention of Corruption Act , Svt ., 2006 and 120-B,RPC. While convicting the accused for offences under section 5(1)(d) r/w sec . 5(2), J& K PC Act, 2006, the trial Court sentenced them for simple imprisonment of two years whereas for the commission of offence punishable under section 120-B , RPC they have been sentenced for simple imprisonment of 01 year, both the sentences to run currently . Besides, a fine of Rs 25,000 was also imposed on each accused public servant whereas accused Jaswinder Singh Manocha , Prop. M/s Cosmopolitan Traders, Jammu , has been imposed fine of Rs. 100000. In default of payment of fine, they shall further undergo simple imprisonment of 03 months,” it added. (KNO)