Date:04/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/04/stories/2008120458750300.htm

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

3-year jail term for contractor in graft case

Staff Reporter

Thiruvananthapuram: Vigilance Inquiry Commissioner and Special Judge S. Jagadheesh on Wednesday sentenced a government public works contractor to three years of rigorous imprisonment after he was found guilty of corruption in the execution of a part of the Kallada Irrigation Project (KIP).

The court also slapped a fine of Rs.3 lakh on the convicted man, K.T. Kuriakose of Ernakulam. Mr. Kuriakose had won the contract for executing the Vallikunnam Distributory Canal of the KIP. The Chief Engineer sanctioned Rs.13,57,688 as extra cost for the work.

The prosecution case was that Mr. Kuriakose conspired with the then Superintending Engineer Varghese Mathew and drew Rs.21 lakh as extra cost for the work.

Vigilance prosecutor K. Jyothi argued that the contractor had illegally earned Rs.9.92 lakh.