A Lucknow court has handed a five-year prison term and a fine of Rs 1 lakh to Ram Nibas Verma, a senior accountant at the Zonal Pay & Account Office of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) in Aliganj. The conviction, announced on Wednesday, followed a trial in the CBI court, as per an official statement.
The case, originating on July 2, 2018, saw the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filing an FIR after a constable (general duty) from the 3rd Battalion SSB in Lakhimpur Kheri lodged a complaint. The allegation, forwarded through the Chief Vigilance Officer at SSB headquarters in New Delhi, accused Verma of demanding Rs 4,000 as illegal gratification to process bills and allowances for the battalion.
Verma, responsible for payments and accounts in the paramilitary force, was found to have solicited the bribe to clear pending financial claims. Following an investigation, the CBI charged Verma on August 31, 2018. The court framed charges on May 24, 2019, and the trial unfolded over subsequent years.
After reviewing evidence and arguments, the court found Verma guilty of the bribery charges and imposed the sentence. The punishment includes five years of rigorous imprisonment and a monetary penalty. This case underscores the CBI’s ongoing efforts to combat corruption within security and paramilitary organizations, where officials in financial roles can delay payments to extort bribes from subordinates.
Such unethical practices erode morale and operational effectiveness in forces like the SSB, responsible for border security and internal security duties. The conviction serves as a warning about the legal repercussions of soliciting or accepting bribes in official capacities. Authorities stress the importance of vigilance and swift action against corrupt behavior to uphold integrity in government bodies.
