RANCHI: A Special CBI Court in Ranchi sentenced 5 year rigorous imprisonment (RI) and slapped a fine of Rs 10 lakh to Ex-Revenue Minister Dulal Bhiyan in a case related to disproportionate assets (DA).
The case was registered against Bhuiyan by CBI in the year 2013 following which charge sheet was filed in the Court alleging him of earning properties worth Rs 1.3 crore more than the known sources of his income.
Bhuiyan, who became minister in Madhu Koda Government, allegedly acquired movable and immovable property worth Rs 1.3 crore between 2005 and 2009. During the trial, CBI examined 21 witnesses and Bhuiyan also produced 21 witnesses in his defense.
Judgment was delivered after the CBI proved DA of Rs 86 lakh. "Special CBI Court of AK Mishra sentenced 5 year rigorous imprisonment for Dulal Bhiyan along with a fine of Rs 10 lakh," said Bhiyan's counsel AK Kanth.
In case he fails to pay the fine amount fixed by the Court, he will have to remain in jail for another one year, he added. Kanth alleged CBI of including properties of other persons also in the charge sheet filed against him, who were individual income tax assesses. Bhuiyan has been sentenced under section 13 (2) of Prevention of Corruption Act, he added.
Meanwhile, Bhuiyan crying foul play alleged that he was framed for being a dalit and a member of Opposition party. "As justice was not done in my case, I will go to High Court. The CBI could not find anything during the searches conducted by it three times at my official and residential locations," said Bhuiyan. Following directions from Jharkhand High Court, the CBI had filed DA case RC21 (A) against Bhuiyan in the year 2013 under various sections of Prevention of Corruption Act (PC) Act by CBI.