MOHALI: A special CBI court has sentenced five persons to imprisonment of up to four years for causing losses to the government exchequer by supplying adulterated rice to the Food Corporation of India (FCI) from a procurement centre in Jalalabad.The court awarded four years’ rigorous imprisonment to Amit Kumar and Sanjay Kumar Juneja, while Raman Lal Meena, Sanjeev Kumar and Rajneesh Kumar were sentenced to one year and nine months’ rigorous imprisonment each. All five convicts were also fined varying amounts. The court ordered that their sentences would run concurrently.According to the prosecution, the accused had entered into a criminal conspiracy to supply rice that failed to meet the prescribed Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) standards, thereby causing financial loss to the government.All 26 samples collected from the facility failed quality tests. The District Classification Committee also found that the rice stored in all warehouse stacks did not conform to the prescribed BRL or PFA standards.During arguments on sentencing, the convicts sought leniency, citing their age, medical conditions, family responsibilities and the nearly 20-year-long trial.Raman Lal Meena, around 75, told the court that he suffered from diabetes, heart disease and memory-related problems. He also cited difficulty in walking following an accident. The other convicts, too, referred to health issues, including diabetes and hypertension, and submitted that they were the sole breadwinners of their families.The defence argued that the prolonged trial had caused them financial, mental and physical hardship. Claiming to be first-time offenders, they urged the court to take a lenient view.The CBI public prosecutor, however, opposed the plea, arguing that the accused had caused losses to the government through a criminal conspiracy involving the supply of substandard rice to the FCI.Sentence details
- Raman Lal Meena, Sanjeev Kumar and Rajneesh Kumar: One year and nine months’ rigorous imprisonment each under Section 201 read with Section 120-B of the IPC, along with a fine of Rs 40,000 each.
- Amit Kumar: One year’s imprisonment and Rs 5,000 fine under Section 120-B, and four years’ rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs 20,000 under Section 420 read with Section 120-B.
- Sanjay Kumar Juneja: One year’s imprisonment and four years’ rigorous imprisonment under the corresponding provisions, with fines of Rs 25,000.
The court further ordered that in case of default in payment of fines, the convicts would undergo an additional 30 days’ rigorous imprisonment. The period already spent in custody will be set off against their sentences.
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