Two Indian Airlines officials jailed for cheating

New Delhi, Aug 30 :

Two officials of then Indian Airlines were convicted for cheating the airline by making bogus bills under contributory family medical scheme (CFMS) and causing loss to the company, a lawyer said Saturday.

Central Bureau of Investigation Special Judge Brijesh Kumar Garg has sentenced Ashok Kumar Sehgal, who was working as a senior accounts assistant here, to four years in jail while N. Bhattacharjee, a former assistant manager, engineering was sentenced to one year in jail in the case dating to 1989-90.

The two were convicted for hatching a conspiracy to cheat Indian Airlines and criminal misconduct.

According to CBI, both the accused dishonestly and fraudulently received a sum of Rs.4,015 towards bogus CFMS claim from the airlines during 1989-90 by abusing their position.

The court said that allegations proved against the convicts are quite serious in nature. It however took a lenient view towards Bhattacharjee, 75, as he is suffering from various age-related diseases and is facing trial for the last 22 years but imposed a fine of Rs.15,000.

It slapped a fine of Rs.25,000 on Sehgal, 57, saying that he is the kingpin and master mind of the entire conspiracy.

Public prosecutor Praneet Sharma had sought that the court take a strict view of the matter and grant exemplary punishment to the convicts.

(IANS)