Nine Assam government officials were sentenced to three years imprisonment by a special CBI court in New Delhi for misappropriation of a huge amount of money.
The Special Judge of CBI court awarded five years jail terms to Jiauddin Ahmed, then deputy secretary, veterinary department, Jugal Chandra Saikia, then director, veterinary directorate, Guwahati; Harekrishna Das, then store keeper, ICDP, Howli, veterinary directorate & M Rahman, then accountant, ICDP, Howly, veterinary directorate.
The CBI court also slapped a fine of Rs 50,000 each on the convicted officials.
The court also sentenced three years jail term to five traders–UN Gogoi, Kamalesh Deka, both partners in M/s G & B Enterprises & Co. Guwahati; Pallabh Bardoloi, proprietor, M/s. Jyoti Pharma Guwahati; Arup Baishya, proprietor, M/s B. B. Associates Guwahati & Amar Jyoti Bezbarua, proprietor, M/s Assam Drug House, Guwahati, M/s. Imperial Equipments & M/s. Drug Sea.
A fine of Rs 25,000 has been slapped on each of them.
Officials said that the CBI had registered this case in 1994 under sections 120B, 420, 467, 471, 477A, 201 of IPC and under sections 13(2) r/w 13(1) r/w 13(1) (d) of PC Act 1988 against the accused persons.
The officials working in the district office of veterinary department at Barpeta and Howli, entered into a criminal conspiracy with the suppliers for cheating the government of Assam through the veterinary department.
They subsequently misappropriated an amount of Rs. 1, 21, 35,879.13 (approx.) on false LOCs, sanction orders & bills pertaining to purchase of veterinary medicines.
After investigation, CBI filed a chargesheet in 1997 against the accused persons.