Daijiworld Media Network – Shimoga (SP)

Shimoga, Sep 22: Harish Gowda, former president of Kargal-Jog town panchayat in Sagar taluk, has been sentenced to 11 years of imprisonment by the additional JMFC court in Sagar. He has been charged with committing fraud, creation of fake records and other offences.

Harish Gowda had illegally built a house in the government land near workmen’s block in Jog in 2006. For getting electricity connection for this house, he had created fake no-objection certificate purported to have been issued by the town panchayat, certifying that it was an old house. He was accused of using fake seal of the town panchayat and signature while creating this document.

After the issue was taken up at the panchayat meeting, former president of the town panchayat, Malati, had instructed chief officer of the town panchayat, Santosh Kumar, to investigate. After collecting material evidence, the chief officer had filed a case in the additional JMFC court in Sagar. The court asked the Jog police station to investigate the case. After detailed inquiry, charge sheet was filed against Harish Gowda by the police.

While awarding the punishment, judge, Shuklaksha Palan, did not uphold the plea of the lawyers representing Harish Gowda to extend concession in the quantum of punishment. He said that concession cannot be extended to a person in responsible position, who has committed fraud besides creating fake documents.

On behalf of the prosecution, assistant public prosecutor, A M Suresh Kumar, had appeared.