Nagpur: Two corruption cases of almost similar nature… One about bribe for job, while another of bribe for clearing pension papers. One case involves Principal of Mahatma Gandhi Centennial Sindhu High School, Jaripatka, Veena Bajaj and another one have former mayor, Kalpana Pande, an influential BJP leader and her sister Bharti Pande, teacher at Chhannulal Vidyabhavan High School, Gandhibagh. Both the parties were arrested. Only difference – Veena Bajaj is still languishing in jail while Kalpana Pande and her sister Bharti Pande got bail the same day. Why?
We are not favoring anyone here… nor alleging. Just that we came across double standards of police action in two cases of similar nature. One can clearly make out the how the power of politics influence the legal process.
Veena Bajaj along with his husband Deepak Bajaj, secretary of Sindhu Education Society were allegedly accused of exhorting money from Drawing Teacher Pratik Ghode for his appointment in the school. Ghode had paid Rs 3 lakh to Veena Bajaj in advance and had signed on a blank stamp paper.
In latter case both Bharti Pande and Kalpana Pande sought Rs 50,000 for signing pension papers of a retired teacher.
The entire gamut of legal procedures witnessed in both the cases gives one a transparent picture of biased action. While leniency is clearly observed in Pande sisters’ case, the Bajaj couple were dealt with iron hands. There cannot be two rules for handling corruption committed by two different people.
A section of citizens Nagpur Today spoke to, terms the differentiation as the classic example of legal system is being played at the hands of power.
As soon as Pande sisters got bail, BJP was quick to defend its side. In a stain cleaning exercise, party president and MLA Krishna Khopde used the tried and tested escape of ‘falling prey to conspiracy’ to quench down the political backfire.
Khopde suspected fishy into the case and pressed for indepth probe into the case. We the citizens of Nagpur too can smell the rate. Fair and independent probe is certainly required into it. Free from ‘political influence.’ Then only people can see – doodh ka doodh aur pani ka pani
