Transport Department staff sentenced to 4 years in jail for taking bribe

Guwahati, Aug 16: The Court of the Special Judge here today convicted a senior assistant of Assam Transport Department, Debeswar Talukdar on bribery charge and sentenced him to 4 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI).

It was on 7th December, 2015, a complaint was received by Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption in Assam that the Complainant had approached the Office of Commissioner of Transport, Khanapara here to collect an ‘Assurance Letter’ for issuance of a road permit for a commercial passenger bus, required for bank loan purpose.

Debeswar Talukdar, Senior Assistant, who was entrusted with issuance of such certificates in the Office of the Commissioner of Transport, demanded a bribe of Rs.38000 from the complainant for issuing the Assurance Letter.

Unwilling to pay the bribe the complainant approached the Directorate of Vigilance & Anti-Corruption for legal action. Accordingly, a case (vide ACB P.S. Case No – 15/2015) u/s 7/13(1)(d)/ 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988. Dated 7th December 2015 was registered. 

A trap was laid by a team from the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption in the office of the Commissioner of Transport, Assam, Khanapara on 7.12.2015 and Debeswar Talukdar, Senior Assistant, was caught red handed with accepted bribe of Rs. 8000 which was recovered from him in the presence independent witnesses.

The above case was charge sheeted, after investigation, by the Directorate of Vigilance & Anti-Corruption vide no-2/2018 dated 27.4.2018 u/s 7/13(1)(d)/13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988.

Charges were framed on 18.9.2018 and judgement was delivered on 16.8.2022 by the Court of Special Judge, Assam, wherein the accused Debeswar Talukdar was convicted and sentenced to 3 years Rigorous Imprisonment and fine of Rs.8000/- in default, 1(one) month Rigorous Imprisonment u/s 7 of P.C. Act 1988 and 4 years Rigorous Imprisonment and fine of Rs. 10,000/- in default, Rigorous Imprisonment for 2 (two) months u/s 13(2) of P.C. Act 1988.