Ludhiana: ASI gets 4-year jail in bribery case

The convict sought leniency claiming that his wife and three children were dependent upon him and that he is the sole bread earner of his family, but the court noted that the offence left no scope for a lenient view

The special court of judge Amrinder Singh Shergill has convicted assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Tarsem Singh in a four-year-old corruption case, sentencing him to four years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of ₹25,000. The conviction comes in connection with a bribery incident in 2021 when the ASI was caught red-handed while accepting ₹1,500 for executing non-bailable warrants.

The case dates back to February 25, 2021, when the vigilance bureau arrested ASI Tarsem Singh, who was then posted at the division number 8 police station. (HT photo for representation)

The convict sought leniency claiming that his wife and three children were dependent upon him and that he is the sole bread earner of his family. However, the prosecution firmly opposed the request, arguing that instead of performing his official duties with integrity, he chose to solicit a bribe from a complainant in exchange for fulfilling a basic legal responsibility.

The court, in its judgement, mentioned that in these facts and circumstances, coupled with the offence, which the convict has committed, leave no scope for a lenient view against him.

The case dates back to February 25, 2021, when the vigilance bureau arrested ASI Tarsem Singh, who was then posted at the division number 8 police station. He was apprehended while accepting a bribe from Rahul Kumar, a resident of New Kundanpuri, for serving a court-issued non-bailable warrant in a cheque bounce case.

Unwilling to pay the bribe, Kumar approached the Vigilance Bureau, which laid a trap. ASI Singh was caught in the act and arrested. A case was registered against him under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.