BENGALURU: A Lokayukta special court has held that the term ‘public servant’ has become a license to openly ask for bribes or acquire illegal wealth with impunity in recent times.
Judge KM Radhakrishna, who heard the case registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act, sentenced the former Bescom Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) to three years rigorous imprisonment and Rs 1 crore. Fined.
C Ramalingaiah, who was assigned to Public Works Department by Bescom when the case was filed in 2011, was found guilty of illegal acquisition of assets (DA), sentenced to three years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1 crore by Judge KM Radhakrishna on June 29.
On September 30, 2011, the Lokayukta police raided Ramalingaiah’s house, office and the residences of his relatives in the background of earning property beyond the income. During the attack, more than 1 kg of gold ornaments, silver, crores of Rs. Valuable immovable property and heirlooms were found and documents were confiscated.
During the inspection period from 1984 to 2011, Ramalingaiah’s total assets and expenditure were Rs 3.28 crore and his income was Rs 2.32 crore. And the remaining Rs 96.09 lakh (41.41%) is considered as illegal assets.
“Nowadays the term public servant is a license for such persons to boldly and openly ask bribes or gain wealth illegally in the discharge of official duties. Especially the poor, the destitute, the helpless and downtrodden who are the backbone of the society are becoming real victims at the hands of corrupt public servants. Corruption is a big challenge for developing countries like ours,” the judge said. .
Judge K.M. Radhakrishna expressed outrage that due to this situation people are losing faith in the governance system of the government.
