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CHANDIGARH: At a time when people across the country are contributing to help the needy in flood-hit Kerala, a special CBI judge in Panchkula has directed three accused in a corruption case to pay Rs 15,000 each to Kerala Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund.

Former superintendents Anil Kumar and Ajay Singh and former inspector Ravinder Dahiya of central excise and audit department were arrested from Murthal in Sonipat for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 3 lakh to minimise duty on a company under scrutiny in February 27.

Special CBI judge Jagdeep Singh ordered the three, who did not turn for the last hearing, to deposit the amount in the relief fund and a receipt of it be placed on record on or before the next date of hearing on October 1.

The accused and their counsels had failed to turn up post-lunch session on May 25 for the cross examination of two prosecution witnesses.

On Monday, the defence counsel had moved an application to recall these two prosecution witnesses for their cross-examination. Giving the reason for not turning up before the court, the counsel submitted that cross-examination was deferred for post-lunch session on account of a call of strike given by the District Bar Association, Panchkula, on that day. As accused and counsels could not enter the court building and left the court premises, both the prosecution witnesses were discharged. The counsel submitted that cross-examination of these two witnesses is very important for fair adjudication of the matter and sought an opportunity to conduct cross-examination of these two witnesses.

The judge allowed application for recalling of prosecution witnesses, but directed the three to pay the amount to the relief fund.

CBI counsel Jitender Kumar submitted that that in view of the facts mentioned in the application, he has no objection, but it be allowed subject to some costs.

Case history

The CBI had submitted that the accused officials during audit allegedly raised objections like double billing, evasion of excise duty and informed the complainant that a penalty of Rs 25-30 lakh would be imposed on his company. Later, they allegedly demanded Rs 10 lakh to lower the quantum of penalty, the CBI had submitted. The deal was struck at Rs 9 lakh and the complainant had agreed to pay Rs 3 lakh as first instalment. The agency on getting the information about the possible exchange of bribe money, had laid a trap and caught them while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 3 lakh in February 2017.

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