CARD Bank Ex-Secretary Incharge Convicted For Graft

Cuttack: In a case of graft adjudication, the Cuttack Vigilance Special Judge on Friday convicted Bijaya Kumar Behera, former incharge of Co-operative Agriculture and Rural Developmment (CARD) Bank in Jajpur to pay fine and undergo rigorous imprisonment.

Behera was facing trial in the Vigilance court in connection with a 2009 case (U/s 13(2) r/w 13(1)(d)/7) under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 1,500 from a complainant for releasing a cheque of Rs 50,000 towards payment of his contributory provident fund (CPF) after retirement.

The court convicted Behera, and sentenced him to undergo rigorous imprisonment for two years and to pay a fine of Rs 5,000 for various offences under the PC Act. The court also sentenced Behera to undergo rigorous imprisonment for one more year and fined Rs 5,000 for the offences and in default of payment of fine, he was ordered to undergo further rigorous imprisonment for three months on each count. Both the sentences will run concurrently, the court ordered.

Retired Vigilance Inspector Himansu Sekhar Mishra had investigated the case and special public prosecutor Sarbeswar Barik conducted the case on behalf of the prosecution.