Graft charges framed against former IPS officer,accomplice

According to the prosecution,Gopal has been booked under sections 13 (1) (D),(Criminal misconduct by a public servant),section 10 (punishment for abetment by public servant) of the Act. If convicted,he will face imprisonment upto seven years. His co-accused Chandak has been charged under section 8 (taking gratification,in order,by corrupt or illegal means,to influence a public servant). Earlier,Gopal had moved a discharge application before the court,but the court has rejected it.

Gopal was arrested by the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) on December 21,2004,days after Chandak was arrested. According to the Anti Corruption Bureau,officials had found Rs.1 lakh from Gopal’s official vehicle (MH-01-BA-9001) during a raid at a guesthouse in Peddar Road. A similar amount was seized from Chandak who was staying in the guesthouse. ACB officials said Chandak allegedly used his links with top bureaucrats and politicians to help businessmen.

After an investigation that took around two years to complete,the ACB filed a voluminous chargesheet in the case against the two accused. Presidential sanction was required to file the final report,which delayed the submission,officials said.

In his discharge application,Gopal had stated,“Police does not have an iota of evidence and both have been framed.”

In his statement to the police,Gopal has already said he knew Chandak as an astrologer who used to often give loans to him,and that the amount that was found in his car was loan amount that Gopal had borrowed from Chandak.

On June 8,the prosecution will move an application under section 294 of the CrPC seeking the defence’s approval. If not accepted,witnesses would be summoned and trial will follow.