A special CBI court in Ahmedabad has handed down a two-year rigorous imprisonment sentence to a Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT) official and an advocate for their involvement in a bribery case. Anil Kumar Sharma, a Recovery Inspector at the Debt Recovery Tribunal, and advocate Amit Kotak were convicted for demanding and accepting illegal gratification, with both receiving the same sentence and a combined fine of Rs 1.5 lakh. The case, initiated by the CBI in 2009, stemmed from allegations that Sharma and Kotak sought a bribe of Rs 3.5 lakh to resolve an auction dispute and delay the execution of a property.
The accused initially requested Rs 1 lakh as the first payment, with the remainder to be paid later, leading to their arrest after advocate Amit Kotak was caught accepting Rs 1 lakh during a trap set by the CBI. Following the arrest, searches were conducted at their residences and offices as part of the investigation. Subsequently, a chargesheet was filed by the CBI against both individuals in 2009, with the prosecution presenting witnesses and evidence to support the charges of conspiracy and bribery. Upon the trial’s completion, the court found the defendants guilty and imposed the appropriate sentences.
