Five persons acquitted in bogus ration cards case in Delhi

New Delhi: A Delhi court has acquitted five persons, including a former food inspector, in a bogus ration cards case, saying the CBI investigation in the matter was not done properly.

Special CBI Judge Sanjeev Jain said the prosecution has failed to prove its case against all the accused persons beyond reasonable doubt. "If we go through the cross examination of investigating officer(IO), it reflects that investigation of this case was not carried out properly. For the purpose of spot verification IO relied on the statements of some residents, ration cards holders and the reports of postman," the judge said. CBI had lodged an FIR in December 2008 and filed a charge sheet against eight accused-- the then food inspectors Som Nath Punjabi and Rajender Prasad, and Daya Nand Bansal, Ram Niwas, Krishan Pal Singh, Rajesh Kumar, Ram Chander and Raman Kumar (all fair price shops owners). The food inspectors were in-charge of Ashok Vihar area in north west Delhi. The charge sheet alleged that the accused entered into a criminal conspiracy and prepared and issued 10 bogus ration cards under Antyodya Anna Yojna scheme in the name of five persons with an aim to divert the supply of the ration in the open market for getting pecuniary advantage for themselves and thereby caused wrongful loss to the government and corresponding gain to themselves. Two accused, Ram Chander and Raman Kumar died during trial while accused Rajendra Prasad (food inspector) died after conclusion of final arguments in the case and the proceedings against them were abated. The court while acquitting the five men, said, "The story of the prosecution does not inspire confidence in respect of allegation of criminal conspiracy between accused persons. Further, prosecution is not able to prove the chain of the facts and circumstances to establish criminal conspiracy between accused persons by trustworthy evidence."