Former AIADMK Minister sentenced to 4 yrs RI in JTC scam

CHENNAI, AUG 4: Yet another AIADMK minister K A Sengottiyan was today convicted by a special court, trying cases of corruption during former Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalitha’s rule of the state, in the erstwhile Jeeva Transport Corporation (JTC) scam and sentenced to four years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1.05 lakh.

Special Judge A C Arumughaperumal Adityan also found former JTC managing director M Veerappan and another person M R Natarajan guilty in the case and awarded them sentences of four years RI each and fines of Rs one lakh and Rs 95,000 respectively.

The prosecution case was that the three were guilty of causing loss to the Exchequer to the tune of Rs 2.60 crore in the purchase of bus body kits, seat assemblies and printing of passenger fare tickets.

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The judge held that the Crime Branch-CID had proved its case against the accused beyond all reasonable doubt.

The judgment effectively bars Sengottiyan from contesting elections to the State Assembly or Parliament for a period of six years under the Representation of the People Act.

Later, the three were taken to Vellore Prison where they would be lodged.