Post News Network
Bhubaneswar: An executive engineer of the state rural works department and his wife were convicted in a disproportionate assets case by a special vigilance court here Thursday.
Jagannath Mohini, the executive engineer posted at the rural works division in Koraput, was found guilty of possessing disproportionate assets worth `35.45 lakh. He was sentenced to three years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of `10 lakh. In case of non-payment of the fine, Mohini will have to serve 20 more months in prison, ruled the court.
His wife, Renubala Mohini, a housewife, was found guilty of aiding him in acquiring the disproportionate assets illegally. She was sentenced to one year of simple imprisonment and a fine of `1 lakh.
Jagannath Mohini’s office-cum-residential house, his office chamber, parental house and his father-in-law’s house were searched by vigilance police between September 20 and 22, 2009. After investigation, a chargesheet was filed against him and his wife for possession of disproportionate assets worth `40.85 lakh.
The executive engineer was found guilty of charges under Section 13 (1) (e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act and his wife under Section 9 of IPC. Vigilance PP Sunil Kumar Pati said Jagannath Mohini, who has been in service during the trial of the case, is likely to be dismissed as a result of the conviction. As many as 36 prosecution witnesses were produced before the court while the defence produced six.
Mohini started his career as junior engineer in 1982 and was later promoted to the post of assistant engineer and then executive engineer in the rural works division at Koraput, said officials.
