Port Blair, Apr 21: On the basis of a preliminary inquiry report, PS Anti Corruption had initiated an FIR No.3 of 2015 dated 19/05/2015 under section 13(1)(d)/13(2) of the POC Act r.w.s. 409/420/468/471 of the IPC and the investigation was handed over to Inspector of Police K. Binoj.
During the investigation it was found that in the first week of March, 2015 the Audit Department has conducted Audit of Accounts of Information, Publicity & Tourism Department for the period from 01/02/2011 to 31/01/2015 and during the course of Audit, it has come to the notice that the amount entered in the GAR, Cash Book as well as in Challan Register has not been reflected in the compilation Sheet of Pay & Account Office.
It was further revealed that the office copy of the Challans they have also not found in the record and accordingly a total amount of Rs.20,79,034/ – was found shortage in the Government Revenue Account
Subsequently the Senior Accounts Officer of IP&T examined the records from 01/04/2007 to 31/01/2011 and it was found that in addition to the amount pointed out by the Audit an additional amount of Rs.30,63,496/- is also not shown in Compilation Sheet of Pay & Account Office whereas the same amount has been entered in the GAR, Cash Book and Challan Register but office copy of the challans pertaining to the said amount were not available on record.
It was further transpires that the challans were not reflected in the bank statement also. During the investigation it was found that Shri Pradeep Chanda the then Cashier of the Directorate of IP&T had received the amount in Cash from various units of IP&T and made proper entries in the GAR receipt books, cash register and challan register but the amount were not deposited in the bank as the amount were not reflected in bank statement and compilation sheet of the Pay & Accounts Office.
After the investigation the police of PS Anti Corruption had submitted charge sheet against Pradeep Chanda, the then Cashier of Directorate of IP&T on the allegation that he has committed embezzlement of Govt. Revenue to the tune of Rs.51,42,572/- during the period from 01/01/2009 to 31/03/2013 and thus he had committed an offence under section 13(1)(d)/13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and section 109/420/468/471 of the IPC.
The said case was tried before the Ld. Court of Special Judge (Prevention of Corruption Act) at Port Blair being Special Case No.05 of 2016. During the trial the prosecution as examined altogether 26 witnesses to prove the case of the prosecution On completion of trial the Hon’ble Court of Special Judge (Prevention of Corruption Act) had delivered judgement on 21/04/2021 by holding the accused Pradeep Chanda guilty of the offence punishable under section 409 of the IPC and the offence under Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act and had convict Shri Pradeep Chanda sentenced to suffer rigorous imprisonment for a term of 07 years and to pay fine of Rs 3,00,000/- in default to suffer simple imprisonment for 02 years for the offence punishable under section 409 of the IPC Pradeep Chanda is further sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a term of 07 years and to pay fine of Rs 2,00,000/- in default to suffer simple imprisonment for 01 year for the offence punishable under section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
Shri Krishna Rao, Public Prosecutor and Shri Sumit Kumar Karmakar, Additional Public Prosecutor have conducted the case on behalf of the prosecution and the case was investigated by Inspector K. Binoj of Andaman and Nicobar Police.
