Raipur, Chhattisgarh High Court has acquitted 83-year-old Jogeshwar Prasad Awadhia after 39 years on a false charge of bribery in 1986.
SNPNEWS.IN News Update Sep 25: SNPNEWS.IN News Update Sep 25: On September 9, a single bench of Chhattisgarh High Court judge Justice Bibhu Dutt Guru acquitted dismissed from government bill assistant service Jogeshwar Prasad Awadhia (83 years) in the 1986 case of accepting a bribe of Rs 100.
Actually, Jogeshwar Prasad Awadhia was working as a government bill assistant in 1986. He was posted in the Public Relations Department located in Raipur, Chhattisgarh (then part of Madhya Pradesh).
On 24 October 1986, Ashok Kumar Verma (an employee of the Madhya Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation) filed a complaint that Jogeshwar had demanded a bribe of Rs 100 for releasing his arrears of salary (from 1981 to 1985). On this complaint, the Lokayukta department laid a trap. On 25 October 1986, Jogeshwar was caught in the trap with notes marked with phenolphthalein powder. Due to which his job was suspended and later terminated.
In the meantime, Jogeshwar’s wife died due to inability to get treatment and he was forced to drop his children’s education midway. Jogeshwar has turned 83 after going through the courts for the last 39 years to prove his innocence.
On 9 Sep, the Chhattisgarh High Court acquitted him due to lack of evidence in its verdict. The judge said in his verdict that the allegations were completely false and the case is dismissed due to lack of evidence. The court also noted that Jogeshwar had to suffer untold pain and loss due to this false case. The court found that the case was possibly registered due to personal enmity or some other reason.
Jogeshwar’s reaction: After being acquitted, Jogeshwar said that he got justice, but 39 years of his life and family cannot be returned. There was relief in his eyes, but at the same time there was a deep pain.
He thanked the court, but also said that the government and the judicial system need to take speedy decisions in such cases.