JUDGMENT: 1 years RI to 3 pvt persons in illegal routing of telephone lines

Jalandhar, February 5, 2013:  The Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Egmore, Chennai has convicted R. Ganesh; R.Venkatesh and L Harikrishnan(all private persons) and sentenced them to undergo one year Rigorous Imprisonment with a fine of Rs.50,000 each in a CBI case relating to illegal routings of telephone lines.

A case was registered on September 13, 2001 against R.Ganesh resident of Chennai; R.Venkatesh partner of M/s Lakshmi & Sons, Chennai and L Harikrishnan, Partner of Ms/ Lakshmi & Sons, Chennai and others on the allegation that during the period 2000-2001 the said accused persons entered into criminal conspiracy to cheat Telecommunication Department of Government of India(presently known as Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited and Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited) by way of converting illegally the incoming international calls into local calls and further switching these incoming calls to the local telephone subscribers at Chennai, without obtaining a valid license from government. A loss to the tune of about Rs23,24,407 was caused to Government of India.

After investigation of the case, a final report was filed against the accused persons before the court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Egmore, Chennai U/S 120-B r/w 420 IPC Sec 4 r/w 20 of Indian Telegraph Act 1885. 

The Trial Court found the accused guilty and convicted them.