TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The Central Bureau of Investigation Court at Mapusa has discharged BSNL officer Settikere Ananthiah Krishna in a corruption case. He was booked by the Anti Corruption Branch of Goa CBI for cheating, falsification of note sheets and criminal misconduct by abuse of his official position under sections 420, 468, 477-A of IPC and section 13(2) read with 13(1) (d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
According to the charge sheet, the then AGM Planning of BSNL was directed to process the purchase of stationery items for BSNL, Goa in 2008. Accordingly, an amount of Rs 2,99,537 was sanctioned after following due process.
“A tender was floated on January 28, 2008 for purchase of stationery items in the name of General Manager, BSNL, Goa. While issuing the tender documents to the prospective bidders, Krishna deliberately changed the approved requirement schedule for much larger quantity of stationery items worth Rs 10,69,061 on his own, without the approval of the competent authority,” the charge sheet mentioned.
Defence lawyer D Dhond had argued that materials on record failed to justify the allegations. “There was some error in the notice inviting tenders; that tender was supposed to be floated for supply of stationery for one year which would not have been possible for Rs 2,99,537. The cost of the stationery was required only for a quarter and the cost of the stationery for the entire year at Rs 10,69,061 was duly approved by all the members of the committee as well as the competent authority… there is no allegation of any pecuniary advantage obtained by the accused for himself or for any other person in the transaction and, therefore, question of abusing his position as a public servant by corrupt or illegal means or otherwise does not arise…” he submitted.
Based on the arguments from both parties, Special Judge P V Sawaiker said, “For the reasons discussed herein above, the accused is entitled to be discharged.”
