A court in Tripura sentenced a Superintendent of Police to 10 years in prison for suppressing an investigation and favouring a government official facing forgery charges.
Additional Sessions Judge Kripankar Chakraborty pronounced the judgement in a packed court and also fined Manik Lal Majumder Rs. 5,000, Special Public Prosecutor Lutfur Rahman Khadim said.
The judge on Tuesday held Majudmer guilty of committing offences under sections 409, 201 and 13 of the Indian Penal Code and set Thursday for verdict. The accused, attached to the police headquarters in Agartala, was to retire from service shortly.
Majumder faced trial for four years for flouting rules to favour Aparna Das, superintendent of the State food and civil supplies department. A case was filed against Majumder in West Agartala police station only after a directive from the court.
Majumder was the additional SP in CID during the investigation.
Mr. Khadim claimed that several witnesses from within the police circles, who testified during the trial confirmed that Majumder had made unlawful attempts to save Ms. Das.
The trial court gave the police officer an opportunity to appeal against the verdict in a higher court. Maximum imprisonment under the relevant IPC sections enforced against Majumder is a life term, but the judge cited his age as a reason for awarding a minimum sentence.
A huge crowd was present in court premises to witness the proceedings. Family members of the convicted officer were also present.
