What Led to the Sentencing of Two Ex-BSNL Officers in ISD Fraud?
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Synopsis
In a landmark ruling, a CBI court in Lucknow has sentenced two former BSNL officials to two years in prison over a significant ISD fraud case. This incident highlights a serious breach of trust and raises questions about accountability in public service. Discover the details behind this shocking verdict.
Key Takeaways
- Two BSNL officials sentenced to two years for ISD fraud.
- Involvement of six PCO owners in the conspiracy.
- Loss to the government estimated at Rs 88.42 lakh.
- Third accused acquitted of all charges.
- CBI's commitment to uphold law and order.
Lucknow, Nov 30 (NationPress) A CBI court has sentenced two former officials of the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) to two years' imprisonment after they were found guilty in the Rs 88 lakh International Subscriber Dialling (ISD) fraud case, an official announced on Sunday.
The Special CBI Court in Lucknow condemned Hari Ram Shukla and Gulab Chand Chaurasia, both ex-Sub-Divisional Engineers (SDE) at BSNL, Gorakhpur, to two years in prison along with a fine of Rs 10 lakh each.
A third defendant, Siyaram Agrahari, was exonerated of all accusations, as stated by the CBI.
The CBI initiated the investigation on September 18, 2008, following information against the accused: Hari Ram Shukla, then SDE at BSNL, Gulab Chand Chaurasia, also then SDE, and Siyaram Agrahari, then Junior Telecom Officer at BSNL, Gorakhpur.
The agency also charged numerous Public Call Office (PCO) owners, alleging that the accused formed a criminal conspiracy to unlawfully provide international calling services.
This scheme involved six PCO owners and 18 individual subscribers, who from September 2003 to September 2004 caused significant losses to the government’s telecom entity by making unauthorized international calls.
The implicated PCO owners and telephone subscribers made numerous illegal ISD calls directly via Trunk Automatic Exchange (TAX), bypassing the Bansgaon Telephone Exchange, leading to unmetered calls and resulting in a wrongful loss estimated at Rs 88.42 lakh.
After thorough investigation, the CBI submitted the chargesheet on May 1, 2010, against Hari Ram Shukla, Gulab Chand Chaurasia, and Siyaram Agrahari.
The CBI remarked, "Following the trial, the court found and sentenced the two accused accordingly, while Siyaram Agrahari was acquitted of all charges."
Point of View
This case underscores the critical need for integrity and accountability within public institutions. It serves as a reminder that misuse of power will not go unpunished. The CBI's decisive action reflects a commitment to uphold the law and protect public interests.
NationPress
30/11/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the ISD fraud case about?
The ISD fraud case involved two former BSNL officials who conspired to illegally facilitate international calls, causing a loss of Rs 88 lakh to the government.
What was the verdict of the CBI court?
The CBI court sentenced the two ex-BSNL officers to two years in prison and imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh each.
Who was acquitted in the case?
Siyaram Agrahari, the third accused, was acquitted of all charges by the court.
When did the CBI register the case?
The CBI registered the case on September 18, 2008.
What were the consequences of the fraud?
The fraud led to significant financial losses for BSNL and highlighted serious issues of accountability among public officials.
