CBI court sentences PNB manager to 3 yrs for graft

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) special court, Haryana, on Friday sentenced former manager of Punjab National Bank (PNB), Suresh Kumar Kataria to three-year rigorous imprisonment with fine of Rs 20,000 for demanding and accepting bribe. “All the witnesses had supported the case. The demand and recovery in the case were got proved,” said CBI counsel DS Chawla.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) special court, Haryana, on Friday sentenced former manager of Punjab National Bank (PNB), Suresh Kumar Kataria to three-year rigorous imprisonment with fine of Rs 20,000 for demanding and accepting bribe. “All the witnesses had supported the case. The demand and recovery in the case were got proved,” said CBI counsel DS Chawla.

The incident dates back to March 2011 when Kataria was posted as assistant manager in a PNB branch at Charkhi Dadri in Bhiwani. The complainant, Ajit Singh Sangwan, who wanted to set up a stone crusher, had been seeking to enhance his loan limit to Rs 60 lakh.

Kataria was seeking bribe from Sangwan to enhance his loan limit and demanded Rs 50,000. Sangwan then approached the CBI with a complaint and a first-information report (FIR) was registered on March 26, 2011.

A shadow witness who was sent with Sangwan engaged Kataria in negotiation and the deal was struck at Rs 30,000.

Sangwan handed over currency notes amounting to Rs 30,000, treated with phenolphthalein powder, to Kataria. As soon as he paid the bribe money, a CBI team arrested Kataria from the PNB branch.

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