Bengaluru
In a significant development, a special Lokayukta court has handed down a conviction and a four-year jail sentence to Assistant Commissioner Tabassum Zahera and Deputy Tahsildar Shabbir Ahmed. The charges against them included the solicitation and acceptance of bribes. Tabassum Zahera currently holds the position of Special Land Acquisition Officer at KIADB, while Shabbir Ahmed serves as Deputy Tahsildar in Bellavi, Tumkur district. The case revolved around VT Jayaram, a resident of Avaragere in Yediyur Hobali, Kunigal taluk, who sought to rectify an illegal land sale involving his father’s property. Jayaram had applied to the Assistant Commissioner’s office for the transfer of land documents into his father’s name to restore ownership. Allegedly, Assistant Commissioner Tabassum Zahera instructed her office staff to contact Deputy Tahsildar Shabbir Ahmed and demanded a bribe of Rs. 35,000 to facilitate the process. Despite complying with the demand for a bribe, Jayaram found himself being sent from one place to another without any resolution. In a further development, Shabbir Ahmed allegedly demanded additional bribes. In response to these circumstances, Jayaram discreetly recorded conversations with the officials during their meetings. On May 23, 2017, he filed a formal complaint with the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), accompanied by an incriminating audio recording. Subsequently, Special Court Judge Ramalingegowda conducted a thorough investigation, which culminated in the conviction of both Tabassum Zahera and Shabbir Ahmed. They were found guilty of the charges of soliciting and accepting bribes and have been senenced to serve four years in jail each. This outcome underscores the commitment of the legal system to address corruption and uphold the principles of justice. It serves as a strong message that corrupt practices within government offices will not be tolerated, and those found guilty will face appropriate consequences.
