Forest officer convicted of corruption; sentenced to 5 yrs imprisonment and Rs 1.5 Cr fine

Mangaluru: A forest department official was convicted by a court here on January 27 in a disproportionate assets case.

The Third Additional District Sessions (Special) Court Judge B B Jakati here convicted S Raghava Paatali, a Range Forest Officer of Sahyadri Range in Belthangady under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 and sentenced him to 5 years imprisonment and imposed a  fine of Rs 1.5 crores, failing which to serve an additional year in prison.

Lokayukta had registered a case against Paatali in 2011 with regard to the disproportionate wealth amassed by him.

Special Public Prosecutor of Lokayukta Ravindra Munnipady argued the case on behalf of the government.