The Pioneer 01.12.2010
Two MCD staff gets 18-month jail for briberyStaff Reporter | New Delhi
Slamming the ‘bribe culture’ in Government offices, the Delhi High Court has upheld the 18-month jail sentence and Rs 5,000 fine imposed on two MCD officials for demanding and accepting a bribe.
“The bribe culture in this country has increased so much over the time that it is hard to imagine if any work gets done in Government offices and in the offices of various public authorities without payment of bribes. If you have to receive payment from an official of public authorities you give speed money or bribe money,” said Justice Shiv Narayan Dhingra.
Challenging their conviction for accepting a bribe, MCD employees Brahmanand and Bijender Kumar had moved the High Court.
The complainant Jaipali was working as a sweeper in MCD. After her retirement in September 1993, she had approached Brahma Nand who was responsible for payment of her post retirement dues. Brahma Nand demanded Rs 1500 to release Rs 15,000 to her.
The next time she was due for a second payment, Brahma Nand demanded Rs 1000 from her as bribe.
This time, Jaipali made a complaint with the CBI and then got a briefing from the Anti-Corruption Branch Inspector on how to catch Brahma Nand red-handed accepting a bribe.
When Jaipali went to the office of Brahma Nand, Bijender Kumar was sitting opposite him and the amount of Rs 1,000/-, at the instance of Brahma Nand, was taken by Bijender Kumar from her. The raiding party then apprehended the two MCD officials. On February 3, 2004, a city court imposed a fine of Rs 5000 each on the two officials and sentenced them to 18 months rigorous imprisonment.
“It is not strange that in this case bribe was demanded in presence of all other employees who were sitting in the office because bribe has become an accepted norm in public offices. Everybody knows that no work is done without paying bribe that is why no voice of resistance or objection is raised by co-employees in such cases,” the court said.
