Bribery case: Former land official jailed for 3 yrs

Special CBI judge Pradeep Chaddah also imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on Dharam Singh Sharma in the 11-year-old case.

Sharma was posted as naib tehsildar/supervisor in the office of land and acquisition at Mehrauli. He used to maintain all land records falling within the jurisdiction of Mehrauli zone and had access to them.

On January 15, 2001, complainant Vikas Bajaj approached Sharma seeking information about a piece of land in Sainik Vihar which he intended to purchase. Sharma demanded five per cent of the value of the plot as `shagun` and later settled at Rs 1.4 lakh.

Bajaj approached the CBI to lodge a complaint against him. Sharma was later nabbed by CBI officials. "The menace of corruption has entered into each and every segment of society. Because lenient views have been taken in past, we have reached the present hopeless situation. Having given my considered thought, I am of the view that convict does not deserve leniency," the judge said.

The court, however, has released Sharma on bail till July 10 on a personal bond of Rs 50,000 after he moved an application against the sentencing.