Cuttack: The Orissa High Court today concluded the hearing on Barabati-Cuttack Congress MLA Mohammed Moquim’s appeal against his conviction by a Special Vigilance Court in Bhubaneswar in connection with a loan scam in Odisha Rural Housing Development Corporation (ORHDC).
However, the court reserved its verdict on the case, said Moquim’s counsel Pitambar Acharya.
The HC had earlier granted interim bail to the Congress legislator against a bail bond Rs 1 lakh and two sureties. In its interim order, the HC had also stayed the lower court’s order imposing penalty on the Congress MLA.
Earlier, the Special Vigilance Court had awarded three years of rigorous imprisonment to Moqium in connection with the loan scam. Moquim was working as the Managing Director of Metro Builders Private Limited during the scam.
Vigilance Special Judge Satya Narayan Sarangi also announced three years of rigorous imprisonment for former IAS officer Vinod Kumar, Metro Builders Private Limited director Peeyushdhari Mohanty and former company secretary of ORHDC Swosti Ranjan Mohapatra in connection with the scam.
The court convicted the four accused persons and Metro Builders Private Limited under Section 13 (2) r/w 13(I) (D) of Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 and Section 120-B/468/471 of the IPC.
The court imposed a penalty of Rs 50,000 each on the convicted persons. Non-payment of the penalty amount would invite another six months of jail term.
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