KOCHI: A CBI Special Court in Kochi awarded one year of rigorous imprisonment (RI) and fine to a Central Excise officer in a disproportionate assets case. P T Thomas, a Central Excise Department superintendent in Kochi, is the accused. Apart from the jail term, a fine of R32 lakhs was imposed. The officer was found guilty under Section 13(2) and 13(1)(e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The CBI registered a case against the officer in 2000.
According to the CBI, the accused while working as an inspector with the Central Excise, amassed disproportionate wealth of R19.48 lakhs. The assets were invested in his name and that of his wife Preethi Thomas between January 1996 and March 2000. Following the death of Preethi, the charges against her were closed. The accused was granted bail as the sentence was less than three years of imprisonment. The case was probed by Anti-Corruption Wing of CBI.