Ruling Bharatiya Janata Party member of Legislative Assembly Y Sampangi became the first Karnataka legislator to be convicted in a corruption case. The Lokayukta special court sentenced the BJP MLA to three-and-a half-year rigorous imprisonment in a bribery case.
Judge N K Sudheendra Rao also imposed a fine of Rs 40,000 on Sampangi failing which he has to undergo imprisonment for another six months.
The MLA from the Kolar Gold Fields was trapped by the Lokayukta police on January 29, 2009 while accepting Rs 50,000 and a cheque for Rs 4.5 lakh from a person to settle a civil dispute.
The court found him guilty under section 13 (1) d of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Sampangi's conviction has come as an added embarrassment to the ruling BJP in the state where several of its leaders, including former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, are battling cases of corruption in courts.
Sampangi was also found guilty of offences punishable under sections 7 and 8 of the Prevention of Corruption Act and sentenced to one year RI with a fine of Rs 30,000
in each section.
In case of failure of payment of fine, the sentence gets extended by six months under each section. The sentences shall run concurrently, the judge said.
The court, however, acquitted second accused Mustaq Pasha as he was found not guilty.
When the counsel for Sampangi prayed for minimum punishment, Special Public Prosecutor Seetharamu argued that he should be awarded rigorous punishment as he was a "sitting MLA and was elected to serve the people. The punishment should be a deterrent for others and set an example".
At this, the court while holding that the accused had also forwarded "false evidence", observed "he was elected by the people as member of the Legislative Assembly with a great hope that their grievances will be attended to".
Businessman Farooq's complaint against Sampangi had led to the filing of the case and also the trap by the Lokayukta. Sampangi, who was present in court, broke down when the sentence was pronounced and was seen comforted by his counsel and supporters.
With inputs from PTI