Team News Riveting
Raipur, November 10
Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Chhattisgarh has filed a chargesheet against former Executive Engineer Rakesh Kumar Sharma and former Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Mujeeb Mohammad Shah in a 20-year-old bribery case before the Special Court under the Prevention of Corruption Act in Kondagaon.
Complainant Hemesh Kumar Gandhi had received electrification works for an ashram building, sub-health centre, and boys’ hostel from the Rural Engineering Services department. Executive Engineer Rakesh Kumar Sharma demanded a bribe of ₹5,000 for providing the layout of these works and clearing pending bills. The complainant lodged a complaint with the ACB on 8 December 2006.
Following verification of the complaint, the ACB conducted a trap operation on 14 December 2006. SDO Mujeeb Mohammad Shah accepted the bribe of ₹5,000 from the complainant at the behest of Executive Engineer Rakesh Kumar Sharma and fled in his car. When the ACB team attempted to stop him, he tried to run over the team members with his car, injuring an official. The entire bribe amount was later recovered where the accused threw it near Bolbola village. A search of Executive Engineer Rakesh Kumar Sharma’s official residence also led to the seizure of ₹6,30,200 in cash.
Investigation yielded recordings of the bribe demand and transaction, statements of panch witnesses, seized cash, relevant documents, and a positive FSL report.
Police submitted 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 after finding sufficient evidence against both accused persons.
