2 year jail term for former Chandigarh official

CHANDIGARH - In a nearly 28-year-old corruption case, Joginder Singh Walia, former secretary of Chandigarh’s Notified Area Committee (NAC), Manimajra, was awarded two years’ jail by a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) special court here Monday.

Walia was held guilty under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, for amassing assets worth Rs.376,000 disproportionate to his known sources of income.

Besides the jail term, Special CBI Judge Darshan Singh also slapped a fine of Rs.25,000 on the convict.

The court observed that instead of becoming a role model for his subordinates, Walia grossly misused his position and accumulated assets disproportionate to his source of income by corrupt and illegal means.

However, Walia was immediately granted bail after furnishing a bond of Rs.50,000.

“Walia was booked by the CBI Feb 24, 1982 after they got a complaint against him. Following this, a CBI team conducted raids and registered a case against him,” said CBI counsel here Monday.