A trial court, on Saturday, sentenced former BJP President Bangaru Laxman to 4 years imprisonment, for accepting a bribe of Rs. 1 lakh in an arms deal case. The court also imposed a fine of Rs. 1 lakh.
Earlier, Bangaru sought leniency on the grounds of poor health. The CBI had sought the maximum punishment of 5 years, for him.
72-year-old Bangaru, who was
held guilty in the case on Friday, was produced from Tihar Jail before Special CBI Judge Kanwal Jeet Arora.
Bangaru was convicted for taking a bribe from journalists posing as arms' dealers, to recommend them to the Defence Ministry to award them a contract for supplying thermal binoculars to the Army.
He was convicted under Section 9 of the Prevention Of Corruption Act, which relates to "taking gratification, for exercise of personal influence with public servant", and which entails a maximum punishment of 5 years imprisonment and a minimum of 6 months.
On asked by the judge why he should be given the minimum punishment of 6 months, Bangaru Laxman said that he was not keeping well, and that he underwent bypass surgery twice.
"I have health problems as I have undergone bypass surgery twice, and am suffering from diabetes. I have never been involved in any such case before. So, I should be given the minimum sentence," Bangaru pleaded.
However, seeking the maximum punishment for Bangaru, CBI prosecutor Padmini Singh said corruption was spreading in society, and so, it must be dealt with strictly. She cited various Supreme Court judgments on corruption, and said, "The CBI has been able to prove the case against Bangaru. Therefore, we want maximum punishment for him under Section 9 of the Prevention of Corruption Act".
11 years after he was caught on camera, accepting cash in a sting operation, Bangaru was held guilty by a trial court on Friday. Bangaru is the first to be convicted in the cases registered, following Operation Westend, a series of sting operations conducted by journalists of news portal Tehelka.com in 2001, pretending to be suppliers of defence products.
Bangaru was the then national president of the BJP, the ruling party at the Centre. He had to resign following the scandal.
Bangaru was taken to jail soon after the order was pronounced. The judge turned down his plea for bail, saying this could only be considered after the sentence was pronounced.
The court, which had reserved its judgment on 3 April, described the methods used by Tehelka as "objectionable", but refused to accept Bangaru's plea to make the news portal an accused.
"I am of the opinion that the method adopted by Tehelka may be objectionable, but their purpose was not," the judge said. (INN)