Pulwama Special Court Sentences Former JE Seven Years in Corruption, Forgery Case

Court says offences “strike at the heart of public administration integrity”

Mudasir Yaqoob
Pulwama, Oct 23: In a judgment described as a stern reminder against misuse of public office, the Special Judge Anti-Corruption Pulwama on Thursday convicted and sentenced a former Junior Engineer of the Rural Development Department to seven years’ imprisonment for corruption, cheating and forgery.

The court, presided over by Dr Noor Mohammad Mir, held Sonaullah Wani, then posted in Block Keller, guilty under multiple offences including Section 5(2) of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act Svt. 2006, and Sections 420, 467, and 471 of the erstwhile Ranbir Penal Code (now IPC).

Delivering the verdict more than two decades after the case was registered, the court said the prosecution had “proved the charges beyond any shadow of doubt,” observing that Wani had forged documents to draw salary and occupy a post he was not entitled to hold.

‘A Fraud on the System’

While pronouncing the sentence, the court came down heavily on the convict, calling his conduct “a fraud on the system” that undermined the very foundation of public trust in governance.

“The accused, being a public servant, forged official documents to siphon off public money and occupy a government position without entitlement. Such acts strike at the heart of public administration integrity,” the judgment noted, adding that even though the amount involved—₹2.62 lakh—was not huge, the act revealed “a high degree of culpability and deceit.”

Dismissing any leniency, the court said the offence could not be treated as trivial or victimless since “the real victim is the public exchequer and the faith of citizens in transparent governance.”

‘Strong Message of Deterrence’

Observing that corruption in public service corrodes institutional credibility, the court stressed the need for deterrent punishment, holding that “a strong message must go that abuse of public office will not be treated lightly.”

Sentence Details

Wani was sentenced to seven years’ simple imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 90,000 for forgery of valuable security (Section 467 RPC/IPC), which carried the highest penalty among the charges.

For corruption under Section 5(2) of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act, he was awarded five years’ simple imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 2,62,760.

For cheating (Section 420 RPC/IPC) and using forged document (Section 471 RPC/IPC), the court awarded three years’ simple imprisonment and a fine of ₹20,000 each.

The court ordered that all sentences shall run concurrently, making the effective term of imprisonment seven years, along with a total fine of Rs. 3,52,760.