Corruption Uncovered: Contractors and Officials Sentenced for Illegal Tubewell Connections in Sirsa

Corruption Uncovered: Contractors and Officials Sentenced for Illegal Tubewell Connections in Sirsa

In a landmark verdict, the District and Sessions Court in Sirsa has sentenced a private contractor, a Junior Engineer (JE), and a lineman of the electricity corporation to three years in prison and a fine of ₹30,000 each for their involvement in a corruption case. The failure to pay the fine will result in an additional three months of imprisonment. The case, which has been under investigation since May 2017, exposed a significant scam involving illegal tubewell connections in Nathusari Chopta, Haryana.

The Case Unfolds

The case first came to light when multiple farmers from the Nathusari Chopta area filed complaints alleging that private contractor Surjit, his son Jaiveer, JE Leeladhar from Nathusari Kalan, and lineman Ranjeet Singh from Dhabi Khurd, Fatehabad, had extorted lakhs of rupees from them in exchange for providing illegal electricity connections for their tubewells. One of the key complainants, Sunil Kumar from Rupawas village, recounted his ordeal.

In June 2016, Sunil approached the Nathusari Chopta electricity corporation office to get a legal electricity connection for his tubewell. The SDO introduced him to contractor Surjit, stating that he was responsible for providing connections in the area under a government tender. Surjit demanded ₹2.4 lakh for the connection, promising to complete the work within 20 days. Sunil initially paid ₹1 lakh in cash, followed by another ₹1.4 lakh after the connection was established, for which he received a receipt.

Vigilance Investigation

On March 31, 2017, a vigilance team, along with electricity corporation employees, visited Sunil’s field and discovered that the tubewell connection was illegal. Further investigation revealed that several other farmers had also been victims of the same scam. The connections provided were not recorded in the government’s official records, indicating a widespread corruption scheme.

Legal Proceedings and Sentencing

Following a thorough investigation, the police filed an FIR in May 2017 against Surjit, his son Jaiveer, JE Leeladhar, and lineman Ranjeet Singh, charging them with corruption. The accused were subsequently arrested. Although Surjit passed away during the course of the investigation, the court found the remaining accused guilty.

In its judgment, the court highlighted the severe breach of trust and the exploitation of farmers by those entrusted with public service. The verdict has been welcomed by the farming community, who had long been awaiting justice.

Conclusion

This case serves as a stark reminder of the pervasive issue of corruption within public service sectors. The stringent punishment meted out by the court aims to deter such activities in the future and restore faith in the justice system. The affected farmers now hope for a corruption-free administration that genuinely serves their interests.

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