Ex-chief engineer gets 3 years in jail

Jerath was also slapped with a fine of Rs 50,000,which he deposited on the spot. He later filed an application in the court seeking the nod to file an appeal against the judgment in the High Court. The Special CBI court directed him to furnish a bail bond of Rs 50,000 and gave 30 days’ time to file an appeal.

Jerath,who was present in the court with his two sons and relatives,looked in control after hearing the sentence. He was seen smiling to his relatives after coming out of the courtroom. His counsel said they will approach higher judiciary for seeking relief. “The accused has already served enough time in jail and is left with only a few months of the sentence,” he added.

The case against the engineer was registered on January 9,1998,by the CBI following an Income Tax department’s raid at his residence on November 20,1997. He was dismissed from service in 1999 following the registration of the case. Jerath was also accused of amassing property worth Rs 57 lakh,which was found to be disproportionate to his income.

The CBI also raided Jerath’s residence on January 15,1998,and found property worth Rs 90 lakh to be disproportionate to his known sources of income.

Jerath is already facing a few cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act. He has been accused of misusing his power to provide benefits to his ‘favourite’ contracting agencies in exchange of heavy purses.