Former MPSEB Chairman, three others convicted

Jabalpur, Dec 16 : A special court here sentenced former Madhya Pradesh State Electricity Board (MPSEB) Chairman S K Dasgupta and three former members to three years and six months rigorous imprisonment for purchasing at higher rates two lakh meters in 1997-98.

Judge Pradhuman Singh convicted them to three years imprisonment under sections 13 (1)(d) and 13 (2) of Prevention of Corruption Act and to six months under section 120 (B) of Indian Penal Code. The sentence would run concurrently.

The retired members of the board convicted in the case are Prakash Chand Mandloi, Basant Kumar Mehta and Mohan Chand Pant. Along with them retired Chief Engineer (Stores and Purchase) N P Shrivastava was also convicted and a fine of Rs 1,01,000 was imposed on each convict.

The Lokayukta which took up investigation in the case following a complaint found that the MPSEB incurred a loss of Rs 6.43 crore as the meters were purchased on higher rates without carrying out rating from M/s India Motors Chennai and others.

It was found that cheap meters were available from other companies but they were overlooked.