Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 73
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 74
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
Notice (8): Undefined variable: urlPrefix [APP/Template/Layout/printlayout.ctp, line 8]latest-news-updates/in-a-first-councillor-gets-4-years-for-graft-18359.html"/> LATEST NEWS UPDATES | In a first, councillor gets 4 years for graft | Im4change.org
Resource centre on India's rural distress
 
 

In a first, councillor gets 4 years for graft

-The Hindu

Bangalore: The Lokayukta Special Court on Wednesday convicted L. Govindaraju, Bruhat Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) councillor for Ganesh Mandir ward, for demanding and accepting a bribe and sentenced him to four years’ rigorous imprisonment, besides fining him Rs. 90,000.

Barely three months after he was elected, Govindaraju (Congress) was caught red-handed by Lokayukta sleuths accepting a bribe of Rs. 2 lakh from Uday Kumar, a builder, in July 2010. The Lokayukta police had charge-sheeted him and Gopal, a mediator.

The charge was that the councillor demanded Rs. 8 lakh from Mr. Uday Kumar, a resident of Banashankari 3rd Stage, for condoning a plan deviation in the construction of an apartment complex. The builder paid him Rs. 2 lakh as the first instalment, and when Govindaraju demanded the rest, Mr. Uday Kumar complained to the Lokayukta police.

On July 17, 2010, the Lokayukta police arrested Govindaraju along with Gopal while accepting Rs. 2 lakh at the formers’ house. The team also filmed the trap.

Hostile witness

The court held that prosecution witness Thimme Gowda, a BBMP mason, was liable for punishment for giving contradictory depositions. Gowda, who had given a statement before the court under Section 164 of Criminal Procedure Code, turned hostile in the deposition during the trial.