Former health official gets jail term for graft

Nagercoil Chief Judicial Magistrate cum Special Court Judge Arunachalam on Saturday pronounced Senthilvel Murugan (60) guilty of receiving bribe and sentenced him to undergo the rigorous imprisonment.

According to the prosecution, Murugan, while serving as the then deputy director of the Tuberculosis department in the government hospital, took huge bribes from many on the pretext of helping them secure permanent jobs as lab assistants in the department. Acting on a complaint, sleuths attached to the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption tracked Murugan’s movements while on his journey onboard the Kanniyakumari-Chennai express train on September 9, 2009. The former health official was then caught in possession of carrying cash in a suitcase while in the train, Deputy Superintendent of Police Mathialagan said. Investigations revealed that he was in possession of Rs 21 lakh and was on his way to meet the director of the Tuberculosis department in Chennai.

While Murugan upon verification inquiries managed to account for Rs 19.35 lakh he was carrying, he failed to furnish proper evidence for the remaining amount. He was subsequently arrested under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

As Murugan was found guilty by the Nagercoil court on Saturday, it also imposed a fine of Rs 4 lakh in addition to his prison term, sources said.