Western Railway Engineer Sentenced to Jail for Rs 40,000 Bribe Demand

Synopsis

On January 30, Rajkot Sessions Court sentenced Ramesh Bhagwandas Tolani, a Divisional Engineer (Works) of Western Railway, to three years of rigorous imprisonment and a Rs 15,000 fine for demanding a Rs 40,000 bribe in a corruption case dating back to 2011.

Key Takeaways

Ramesh Bhagwandas Tolani sentenced to three years in prison.
Bribe demand of Rs 40,000 for contract extension.
Case highlights rising corruption in Gujarat.
Public encouraged to report corruption via ACB helpline.
Significant increase in bribery cases noted in recent years.

Rajkot, Jan 30 (NationPress) The Rajkot Sessions Court in Gujarat has imposed a three-year rigorous imprisonment sentence on Ramesh Bhagwandas Tolani, a Divisional Engineer (Works) of Western Railway, in connection with a corruption case from 2011.

The issue arose when a complainant at the railway station sought an extension of their contract for providing drinking water to passengers and railway personnel.

Tolani was accused of soliciting a bribe of Rs 40,000 in return for sanctioning a two-year extension. After a formal complaint was lodged, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) intervened and apprehended him.

The case was filed under multiple provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, at the ACB police station in Rajkot. Following an examination of the evidence and witness accounts, the court deemed Tolani guilty.

He received a three-year sentence under Sections 13(1)(d) and 13(2), along with a Rs 10,000 fine. If he fails to pay the fine, an additional three months of imprisonment will be imposed. The ACB encourages the public to report any corruption incidents via their toll-free helpline (1064) or through WhatsApp at 90999 11095.

Gujarat has experienced a significant uptick in bribery cases in recent years. From 2021 to 2022, the state's ACB noted a 16.5 percent increase in reported bribery cases, with numbers rising from 145 in 2021 to 169 in 2022. The total monetary value involved in these cases reached Rs 2.23 crore.

Importantly, 86 police personnel from Gujarat were implicated during this timeframe. In 2023, the Gujarat Police continued to hold the title for the highest reported bribery incidents for the fifth consecutive year since 2019.

The ACB initiated 66 cases linked to the Home Department, resulting in the detention of 94 individuals, including 65 police officers and 29 associates. The bureau recovered bribes totaling Rs 38.07 lakh in 60 of these cases.