The District and Additional Sessions Court, Malegaon. (Picture: The Voice of Malegaon)
The court of Hon’ble S U Baghele, District and Additional Sessions Judge, on Wednesday, found a public servant guilty of charges under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, awarded him a rigorous imprisonment of five years and also slapped him with a whopping fine of Rs 10 lakh.
The case dates back to 2019 when the now convicted Accused Public Servant (APS) Raju Puna Ramode worked as Branch Officer (Class III), Minor Irrigation Sub-Division in Satana. According to the prosecution, the APS demanded from the complainant Rs 15,000 bribe for allowing him to continue to mine the sludge from Jakhoda Dam.
It was my first Anti-Corruption Bureau case. It was a second trap on him (Ramode). First trap was in Pimpalgaon. But in that he was acquitted due to lack of proof, Police Inspector Mrudula Naik
After filing of the complaint at Satana Police Station (CR No 53/2019), Police Inspector Mrudula Naik of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Nashik conducted a thorough investigation and put up a strong case. The then Additional Public Prosecutor Anil P Bagale presented a watertight case before the honourable court and ensured the APS got maximum punishment.
The Voice of Malegaon got in touch with PI Mrudula Naik who said the conviction was a big achievement for the entire ACB team as Rs 10 lakh fine was a humungous amount. In 2019, Naik was Police Inspector at the ACB Nashik unit and conducted the whole investigation. Police Inspector Sadhana Ingale of Satana Police Station filed the case in the court.
Naik added, “Interestingly, it was my first ACB case and also it was not the first trap on the said APS. He was trapped earlier also when he was posted in Pimpalgaon. But due to lack of evidence he got away with it.” APP Mahendra Fulpagare and APP Sanjay Sonawane took over the case from APP Bagale recently after he was transferred to Nashik.
