Raipur: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Chhattisgarh, has filed a chargesheet against two former government officials in a 20-year-old bribery case before the Special Court under the Prevention of Corruption Act in Kondagaon.
The accused have been identified as former Executive Engineer Rakesh Kumar Sharma and former Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Mujeeb Mohammad Shah.
According to the investigation, complainant Hemesh Kumar Gandhi had received electrification work for an ashram building, sub-health centre and boys’ hostel from the Rural Engineering Services Department. Executive Engineer Rakesh Kumar Sharma allegedly demanded a bribe of ₹5,000 for providing the work layout and clearing pending bills.
The complainant lodged a complaint with the ACB on December 8, 2006. After verifying the complaint, the ACB conducted a trap operation on December 14, 2006.
During the operation, SDO Mujeeb Mohammad Shah allegedly accepted ₹5,000 as a bribe on the instructions of Executive Engineer Rakesh Kumar Sharma and fled in his car. When the ACB team attempted to stop him, he allegedly tried to run over the team members with his vehicle, injuring one official.
The entire bribe amount was later recovered near Bolbola village, where the accused had allegedly thrown it. During a search of Executive Engineer Rakesh Kumar Sharma’s official residence, the ACB also seized ₹6,30,200 in cash.
The investigation yielded recordings of the bribe demand and transaction, statements of panch witnesses, seized cash, relevant documents and a positive Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report.
After finding sufficient evidence against both accused, the ACB filed the chargesheet under Sections 7, 13(1)(d) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, along with Sections 201 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
