Engg dept kickback case: Peon gets bail

Today, the accused was directed to be released after furnishing a personal bond of Rs 15,000 along with a surety of the like amount.He was arrested by the UT Vigilance Department on May 12 under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

According to the prosecution, approximately Rs 3,075 were scrawled against his name in the diaries recovered during Income-Tax raids on the alleged middlemen8217;s residences in November 1997.

At least 20 entries were against Mani8217;s name. Kickbacks were offered to him for getting former UT Chief Engineer K. K. Jerath8217;s signatures on the files.Moreover, he was working under Jerath ever since the chief engineer was an executive engineer.

Meanwhile, seeking Mani8217;s release on bail, the defence counsel stated that the accused was being falsely implicated in the case.

According to the diaries, money had been paid to Jerath8217;s peon, but Hira Mani8217;s name was not written. Moreover, money had not been recovered from him.Opposing his bail plea, the public prosecutor argued that the accused was named by the other accused during their interrogation.