Court convicts former Girdawar in 2008 bribery case

Srinagar, Aug 18: An anti-corruption court on Monday convicted and sentenced former Girdawar, Ghulam Hassan Kumar of Kulgam, to over three years in prison in a 2008 bribery case.

Kumar was found guilty of demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹2,000 from a complainant in Shopian for demarcating agricultural land.

Additional Sessions Judge Pulwama, Justice Noor Mohammad Mir convicted the accused under Section 5(2) read with 5(1)(d) of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act, Svt. 2006 and Section 161 of the Ranbir Penal Code by Justice Noor Mohammad Mir.

The court sentenced him to three years and six months of simple imprisonment along with a fine of ₹20,000 under the Prevention of Corruption Act, and one year of simple imprisonment with a fine of ₹10,000 under Section 161 RPC. Both sentences will run concurrently.

The judgment recalled the 2008 trap operation, where a vigilance team caught Kumar red-handed accepting the tainted money.

While the defence pleaded for leniency citing the convict’s age, health issues, and clean past record, the court dismissed the argument, stressing that corruption is “a malignant affliction that strikes at the very foundation of a democratic polity and the rule of law.”

The case was registered in June 2008 following a complaint by Mohammad Yousuf Mir of Shopian, who alleged that Kumar had demanded a bribe for demarcation of inherited land.

Following investigation, sanction for prosecution was obtained and a charge sheet was filed by the Anti-corruption Bureau (ACB). Twelve prosecution witnesses testified during the trial.