A court in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, has delivered a verdict in a case that spanned over two and a half decades, sentencing a man to three years in prison. The case dates back approximately 27 years, to a time when the accused used fraudulent methods to gain entry into the police force. The court found Bhojraj, a resident of Sitharpur village in the Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh, guilty of using forged documents and submitting a fake affidavit to secure a position as a constable in the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC). In addition to the prison term, the court imposed a fine of 3,000 rupees on the accused. Should Bhojraj fail to pay this penalty, he will be required to serve an additional period of imprisonment.
Background of the Case
The incident originated in the 1998-99 period. At that time, Bhojraj had resorted to fraudulent tactics with the clear intent of obtaining a government job. According to the prosecution, while applying for the post of constable in the PAC in 1999, he submitted a falsified affidavit to influence the recruitment process. The discrepancies came to light during the official document verification procedure, which prompted an investigation and eventually led to legal proceedings.
FIR and Charges
Formal legal action against the accused was initiated based on a complaint filed by Pradeep Kumar Verma, who was a clerk at the time. Following the complaint, a case of fraud and forgery was registered against Bhojraj at the Tajganj police station in Agra on January 1, 1999. Investigative authorities concluded their probe and filed a formal chargesheet before the court on May 31, 1999.
The Court Proceedings
The case was heard in the court of Special Chief Judicial Magistrate Shivanand Gupta. Throughout the trial, the prosecution presented witness testimonies and documentary evidence to substantiate their claims. After evaluating the arguments from both sides and reviewing the evidence submitted, the court concluded that Bhojraj was guilty of obtaining government employment through deceit and pronounced the sentence.
Conclusion
Public Prosecutor Rajesh Kumar stated that the accused had submitted a false affidavit during the recruitment process. He noted that during the court proceedings, it was proven that the affidavit was fabricated, which formed the basis for the court's sentencing. With this judgment, a long-standing legal battle concerning a recruitment scam from the late 1990s has finally reached its conclusion.
