Vigilance Court’s Stern Verdict; Corrupt Revenue Clerk Ashok Paswan Sentenced to 2 Years Rigorous Imprisonment
Bhagalpur: In a significant development in the ongoing legal battle against corruption, the special Vigilance Court of Bhagalpur achieved another major victory on Tuesday. The court concluded the trial in a long-standing case, finding Revenue Clerk Ashok Paswan guilty of corruption. Under the Prevention of Corruption Act, the court sentenced the clerk to two years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹10,000.
The Case Details
The case dates back 19 years, having been registered by the Vigilance Investigation Bureau (VIB) in 2007. The accused, Ashok Paswan, who was posted as a Revenue Clerk at the Haveli Kharagpur circle in Munger district at the time, was charged with demanding and accepting a bribe.
According to the prosecution, on July 12, 2007, the Vigilance team laid a trap based on a complaint. The clerk was caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of ₹1,500 in exchange for official work. Since the arrest, the case had been pending in court, and the verdict has finally been delivered today.
Details of the Sentence
In its judgment, the Vigilance Court clearly specified the following:
Rigorous Imprisonment: The convict, Ashok Paswan, must undergo two years of rigorous jail time.
Fine: The court has imposed a fine of ₹10,000 on the convict.
Default Clause: If the convict fails to pay the fine, he will face an additional one month of simple imprisonment.
A Major Win Against Corruption
This verdict serves as a stern warning to public servants who demand illegal gratification in exchange for discharging their duties. According to Vigilance officials, this marks the 10th conviction secured by the Vigilance Bureau in corruption cases registered during the current year, 2026. Based on the evidence presented by the prosecution and the Vigilance team, the court found the clerk guilty of corruption beyond a reasonable doubt.
Legal and Administrative Impact
This sentencing is seen as a strong message to the administrative machinery that corrupt practices will not go unpunished. Although the legal process for this specific case spanned several years, the final verdict reaffirms the court’s commitment to holding corrupt officials accountable. Legal experts note that such convictions, even in older cases, significantly boost public trust in the integrity of the judicial process.
Following the pronouncement of the verdict, the convict was taken into custody, and further necessary legal procedures are being carried out.
