PRAYAGRAJ: The MP-MLA court of Prayagraj on Friday awarded three years’ rigorous imprisonment to former Uttar Pradesh minister Rakesh Dhar Tripathi and imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh on him in a disproportionate assets (DA) case.
The court said that if Tripathi fails to pay the fine, he will have to undergo imprisonment for an additional period of six months. Tripathi was higher education minister in the BSP government, led by Mayawati, from 2007 to 2012.
After the pronouncement of conviction, Tripathi moved a bail application before the same court, requesting that he be released on bail as the sentence is only three years. The court accepted his request and ordered his release on bail during the pendency of his appeal before the high court.
Special judge, MP-MLA court (Prayagraj), Dinesh Chandra Shukla quoted a verdict of the SC in the case of the state of Karnataka vs Shelvi S Jaylalita and other (2017), which says, “Corruption is a vice of insatiable avarice of self-aggrandizement by the unscrupulous, taking advantage of their power and authority. Both the corrupt and corrupter are indictable and answerable to the society and the country as a whole. This is more particularly in people’s representatives in public life committed by the oath of office to dedicate oneself to the unqualified welfare of the laity.”
During the hearing, Tripathi’s counsel argued that the entire exercise against the applicant was mala fide and politically motivated.
The court said that if Tripathi fails to pay the fine, he will have to undergo imprisonment for an additional period of six months. Tripathi was higher education minister in the BSP government, led by Mayawati, from 2007 to 2012.
After the pronouncement of conviction, Tripathi moved a bail application before the same court, requesting that he be released on bail as the sentence is only three years. The court accepted his request and ordered his release on bail during the pendency of his appeal before the high court.
Special judge, MP-MLA court (Prayagraj), Dinesh Chandra Shukla quoted a verdict of the SC in the case of the state of Karnataka vs Shelvi S Jaylalita and other (2017), which says, “Corruption is a vice of insatiable avarice of self-aggrandizement by the unscrupulous, taking advantage of their power and authority. Both the corrupt and corrupter are indictable and answerable to the society and the country as a whole. This is more particularly in people’s representatives in public life committed by the oath of office to dedicate oneself to the unqualified welfare of the laity.”
During the hearing, Tripathi’s counsel argued that the entire exercise against the applicant was mala fide and politically motivated.