Alka Verma –
Published on: September 7, 2021, at 12:15 IST
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has stayed an Order of conviction of former MLA Mangat Rai who belonged to the Budhlada seat of Punjab Assembly.
The Order was passed in 2013 by then Patiala CBI Court Judge, Hemant Gopal, who was found guilty of demanding illegal remuneration while passing the Order.
Gopal was found guilty in a departmental enquiry and is currently facing suspension.
Rai, along with 22 other accused was found guilty in a FCI (Food Corporation of India) Rice Embezzlement Scam.
While the two accused named, Bachni Devi and Parvinder Singh were acquitted from the charges back in 2013 by then CBI ADJ Gopal.
Rai’s counsel, Senior Advocate S K Garg Narwana and Advocate Vishal Garg Narwana, had stated in their plea that Parvinder was acquitted as he bribed the Judge with Rs. 40 lakhs whereas Rai and others were convicted as they refused to do so.
Rai also stated the same thing as he said, the Judge demanded Rs. 1 crore from him and other accused and had accepted the bribe of Rs. 40 lakhs given by co-accused Parvinder.
A Bench of Justice Arvind Singh Sangwan stated, “It is clear that the Additional Sessions Judge/Special Judge, CBI, Patiala on a complaint given by the applicant/appellant faced the departmental inquiry and as per the report, he was found guilty of the charge.”
Rai, who was convicted was sentenced a 7-year Imprisonment in the scam, had not been given any ticket by his party i.e Congress in 2017 because of the charges imposed against him.
Rai’s lawyers also argued that if the Conviction is not stayed his political career will eventually be affected wherein he wishes to be a part of 2022 Assembly Elections.
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