Ex-CWC official gets four-year jail term in graft case

New Delhi -  A special court has awarded a four-year jail term to a senior official of the Central Water Commission (CWC) in a funds misappropriation case.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Special Judge Dharmesh Sharma, in a recently pronounced order, awarded the jail term to former deputy director of CWC J.P. Sharma, for allegedly  hatching a criminal conspiracy to appropriate government funds.

"In the totality of the facts and circumstances of the case, I sentence the convict Sharma to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of four years under section 420-B of the Indian Penal  Code," said the court.

The court also slapped a fine of Rs.75,000 on Sharma.

The court was hearing a case registered Nov 29, 2002, alleging that Sharma - with some of his family members and other officials - allegedly entered into a criminal conspiracy and  misappropriated funds of the government.

The court observed: "The accused adopted corrupt and illegal means in procuring 12 cheques from his department, which he got deposited in the account of his family members,  withdrawing the amount and thereby deriving pecuniary benefit."

The court acquitted the other accused.