Ex-ED official, wife jailed for 3 yrs in DA case

A former Enforcement Directorate official has been jailed along with his wife for three years for owning assets disproportionate to his known income with a local court lamenting that corruption is corroding the country like "cancerous lymph nodes".

A former Enforcement Directorate official has been jailed along with his wife for three years for owning assets disproportionate to his known income with a local court lamenting that corruption is corroding the country like "cancerous lymph nodes".

HT Image

While convicting ED's former Assistant Director D L Vaid, 65, for owning disproportionate assets and procuring the same misusing his official position, District Judge P S Teji also convicted his 63-year-old wife, Kamlesh Vaid, for aiding and abetting him in the crime.

The court while jailing the elderly couple observed that corruption by public servants has become a "gigantic" problem.

"Corruption is corroding our country like cancerous lymph nodes, the vital veins of the body politics, social fabric of efficiency in the public service and demoralising the honest officers," Teji said.

The judge also imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 each on both the convicts.

The court observed that the ED official's wife had helped her husband in converting his ill-gotten money by making investments and acquiring assets in her name.

Vaid was accused of possessing Rs 68.4 lakh which was 166.64 per cent more than his known income of Rs 28.4 lakh. The couple was held guilty under various provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

"The efficiency in public service would improve only when the public servant devotes his sincere attention and does his duty diligently, truthfully, honestly and devotes himself assiduously to perform of his duty," the court said.