Chennai: Former corporation staffer gets 2-year rigorous imprisonment for graft
Chennai: The special court for cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act, Chennai, sentenced a former corporation employee to undergo two years of rigorous imprisonment on graft charges. He demanded and accepted a bribe of Rs 25,000 for clearing bills in 2010.
According to K. Poornima Devi, special public prosecutor, S. Rajasekar runs a business in the name of Annai Earth Movers, Kodungaiyur. He leases out poclains and JCBs to the Corporation of Chennai after winning a bid. In 2009, Rajasekar hired out two of his poclain machines to the Solid Waste Management Department, Chennai Corporation. They were deployed at Kodungaiyur and Perungudi dumpyards.
Mahalingam who worked as executive engineer, Solid Waste Management, Corporation of Chennai, sanctioned Rs 2.09 lakh and Rs 2.55 lakh for hiring charges for January and February 2010, subject to the approval of the Superintending Engineer, Solid Waste Management.
On March 22, 2010 when Rajasekar enquired about further bills for his machines, Mahalingam demanded Rs 25,000 as commission, and took it from Rajasekar.
He also threatened him if he fails to pay the amount, he would reduce the running hours of proclain. Abusing his official position, he accepted Rs 25,000 from Rajasekar.
On a complaint, personnel of the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, (DVAC) Chennai laid a trap and arrested him after he took the bribe.
They also seized '4.85 lakh from him. A chargesheet was filed before the court against him under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
Denying the allegation, Mahalingam stated that the case was foisted against him. He had no role in the sanctioning bills and Superintendent Engineer was the sanctioning authority.
Special judge S.Kanchana said that the charges were proved, convicted him and sentenced him to undergo rigorous imprisonment for two years and imposed a fine of Rs 2,000 on him.
