Bhubaneswar: A special vigilance court
on Saturday sentenced former minister Kamala Das to one year`s
rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs 4,000 for involvement in
the salt scam.
Special Judge, Vigilance, S K Mohanty sentenced Das
to undergo rigorous imprisonment for 1 year and to pay a fine
of Rs. 2,000 or in default one more month`s imprisonment.
Das and Raj Kumar Routray, Managing Director, Prince
International Pvt. Ltd., Bhubaneswar were also sentenced to an
year`s rigorous imprisonment and a fine of or in default a
month`s imprisonment.
Das and Routray were allowed one month`s time to
appeal before a higher court.
"We will challenge the verdict in the Orissa High
Court before August 23," her lawyer Suman Routray told
reporters.
Das, during her tenure as minister of Women & Child
Development Department entered into criminal conspiracy with
Routray and obtained pecuniary advantage by illegal and
corrupt means, abusing her official position as public servant
in the matter of supply of iron fortified salt.
The fortified salt was supplied to anganwadi centres
under the Supplementary Nutritional Programme and Mid-Day Meal
scheme.
Das was removed from the council of ministers in 2001
after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik suspected her involvement
in the salt scam.
PTI
