Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Feb 2: A retired panchayat development officer (PDO) and secretary of the panchayat were held guilty by the special Lokayukta court here on Thursday, February 1.

They court also awarded sentence and fine to both of them.

The third district and sessions court, which also happens to be the special Lokayukta court, found that charge of seeking and collecting bribe for issuing house number levelled against the then panchayat development officer (PDO) of Konaje, Savitri, who has retired since, and secretary, Abubakker, has been proved.

Both of them reportedly sought bribe from a lady, Sarika, on March 28, 2012. When they were accepting Rs 3,000 as illegal gratification, they were trapped by Lokayukta police. Judge of the court, B Muraleedhar Pai, awarded one year of simple imprisonment and fine of Rs 5,000 under section 7 of Prevention of Corruption Act to both of them and again one year simple imprisonment and fine of Rs 5,000 under section 13 of the same act.

In case of failure to pay fine, they have been ordered to undergo three months of additional jail terms.

The duo had been arrested in an operation launched by the then Lokayukta inspector, Umesh G Shet. Special public prosecutor, K S N Rajesh,had presented the case on behalf of Lokayukta.