What’s inside:
This article discusses the conviction of two individuals involved in a bribery case related to a road construction project in Bihar.
In Patna, a special court has taken a strong stand against corruption. On Monday, Suresh Prasad Singh, who was the executive engineer of the road construction department, and cashier Shashi Bhushan Kumar were found guilty in a bribery case that dates back six years. Both have been sentenced to four years in prison.
The case revolves around a road project worth Rs 40 crore that started in 2019. A company called ‘Infracon Project India Ltd.’ was awarded the contract to construct the road from Gonwa Mod to Amhara. The owner of the company, Akhilesh Kumar Jaiswal, complained that Singh kept delaying the agreement and only after escalating the issue did they finally reach a deal.
Initially, the deal was for Rs 32 lakh. However, when the company completed part of the work and requested an advance, Singh asked for a bribe of Rs 40 lakh, which was later settled at Rs 32 lakh. Frustrated by the situation, the contractor reported the issue to the Vigilance Bureau.
On June 8, 2019, the contractor went to Singh’s home with Rs 14 lakh as the first installment of the bribe. As Singh handed over the money to Kumar, the vigilance team, who were already monitoring the situation, caught them in the act. They found a total of Rs 2 crore 36 lakh in cash and various financial documents at Singh’s house.
The court’s decision was based on the testimonies of 13 witnesses from the prosecution. Singh and Kumar received additional penalties including hefty fines, and if they fail to pay, they will face extra time in jail. This case highlights the ongoing fight against corruption in government projects.
Summary:
- Suresh Prasad Singh and Shashi Bhushan Kumar have been convicted for bribery.
- They were involved in a Rs 40 crore road construction project.
- The case dates back to 2019 when bribes were demanded for contract work.
- They were caught with Rs 14 lakh during a sting operation.
- The court imposed fines along with prison sentences for both.
