NEW DELHI: This case is a classic example of the tardy pace that the justice delivery system is used to. After 23 years, a doctor and his aide demanded Rs500 bribe from a boy to treat his ailing father, were given a one-year jail term and Rs500 as fine under the Prevention of Corruption Act by the supreme court on Thursday.
In 1985, Raju Hadi, had admitted his father in a government hospital at Ranchi. But when his father told Raju that the doctors at the Central Hospital at Dhanbad were not attending to him, he complained to the attending doctor, Dr Nag Narain.
Dr Narain then advised him to meet his senior Dr Raj Rajendra Singh Seth, who demanded Rs500 to treat his father. But Dr Seth wanted the money to be given to him in his cabin. Raju informed the CBI, who laid a trap to nab the culprits red handed.
When Raju handed the money to Dr Narain, the sleuths raided the premises and arrested the two doctors.
Twelve years later, the court held the two doctors guilty of conspiracy and corruption and ordered a one-year jail term and Rs500 fine to both. The convicts moved the Ranchi high court in 1997. And after 13 years of litigation, the high court confirmed the same sentence and fine for the duo. Hence, they moved the supreme court in 2004 to challenge the conviction order. Four years later, the apex court also upheld their sentence and conviction. Now, they are expected to undergo the jail term and the pay the fine of Rs500 each.
b_rakesh@dnaindia.net
