Tejas Navale

Pune: In a significant development, the Baramati Sessions Court has sentenced Dipali Jagannath Kutwal, a village-level officer (Gram Sevak), to five years imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 for accepting a bribe in 2017. The verdict comes nearly six years after the case was filed by the Pune police department.

In 2017, Dipali Kutwal was accused of accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000 to approve a house under the Prime Minister Gharkul Awas Yojana. The case was investigated by then Police Inspector Archana Daudnkar, who filed a charge sheet against Kutwal in the Additional Sessions Judge Baramati Court.

The case was presided over by the Additional Sessions Judge at Baramati, who found Kutwal guilty of the charges. The court's decision is seen as a blow to corrupt practices among public servants, although concerns about the increasing frequency of bribery remain prevalent.

Dipali Kutwal, 37, was employed by the Baramati Panchayat Samiti at the time of the offense. Her conviction and sentencing highlight ongoing efforts to combat corruption in the city. Despite this ruling, the issue of bribery continues to be a growing problem, prompting calls for stricter measures and vigilant enforcement to deter such illegal activities.