Two Narcotics branch cops get 3 years in jail for taking bribe

Two Narcotics branch policemen were sentenced to three and a half years in jail on charges of corruption, by a special court in the city.

Special Judge Dinesh Kumar Sharma convicted former ASI Dalip Pawar and former constable Yogender Kumar for demanding and taking bribe from a man to 'help' him in a case. The court, in its judgment, has also said that stringent measures are required to curb the menace of corruption, which is "spreading like cancer".

The complainant, Rajkumar Gupta, an accused in a case under the NDPS act had complained that police officers had demanded a bribe of Rs 1 lakh to depose in his favour before the court. The Anti-corruption Branch had arrested the two officers accepting part of the bribe from Gupta, following which they were dismissed from service.

The prosecution, submitting that the reputation of the country was being affected due to rampant corruption, had demanded maximum punishment of five years imprisonment for the duo, stating that a "deterrent" punishment was required to send a message to corrupt police officers.

The defendants had pleaded for a lenient sentence, asking that the family obligations of the accused must be taken into account. The court, observing that the two had "shamelessly" interacted with the complainant, despite their position as police officers in a "sensitive branch", dismissed the plea for leniency.

The court, stating that "a lenient view in awarding punishment may be considered as an incentive to public servants who are susceptible to corruption", fined Pawar Rs 40,000 for various offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, and Kumar was fined Rs 25,000 apart from the jail term.

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