Bhopal: A special court here awarded
four years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 35 lakh
to the former Income Tax officer BS Banthia for amassing
wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income.
The sentence was awarded by the Special Judge (CBI)
Shailendra Shukla against Banthia yesterday.
The court also awarded two years sentence to his
companion, Sushma Shukla and slapped a fine of Rs one lakh
against her as Banthia had purchased a huge property in her
name.
Banthia, who was posted in Gwalior as Additional
Commissioner of Income Tax between 1991 and January 2002, had
amassed wealth worth Rs 1.26 crore, which was disproportionate
to his known sources of income.
During the probe, he was unable to give a convincing
reply, the CBI chargesheet said. In 2001, CBI's Bhopal branch
got the information that Banthia had amassed a huge wealth
grossly disproportionate to his known sources of income.
He had also purchased land worth nearly Rs 1.25 crore
in purchasing land at Chhota Rawla estate, near Indore. CBI
said that Sushma could not have purchased the land on her own
as she did not have adequate funds for it.
Following the probe, CBI chargesheeted Banthia under
section 13 (2) of Prevention of Corruption Act and submitted
the case for trial, following which, the special court awarded
sentence against them.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, July 31, 2011, 18:43