The path is now clear for a corruption trial in the CBI special court against Shilpi Patra, the then-SDM who was arrested on bribery charges nearly nine years ago. She is accused of accepting a bribe of ₹2 lakh to remove the seal from a showroom. The hearing for the case is scheduled for July 15.
In August 2017, the CBI arrested Haryana Civil Services (HCS) officer Shilpi, her husband Dheeraj Dutt, and a middleman, GS Barar. Shortly after her arrest, Shilpi filed a petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging the sanction granted for her prosecution. This petition remained pending for nine years before the High Court finally dismissed it. Now, arguments regarding the framing of charges against all three—including Shilpi—will take place in the CBI special court.
The CBI had apprehended the three accused following a complaint from a businessman. It was alleged that they were demanding a bribe of ₹2 lakh from the businessman in exchange for removing the seal on his property. The CBI caught the accused while they were accepting the first installment of ₹50,000.
No Relief for Shilpi from the High Court
Following her arrest, the Haryana government granted sanction to prosecute Shilpi. She filed a petition in the High Court, alleging that the very official who had granted the prosecution sanction to the CBI was corrupt himself. Shilpi claimed that the official was facing a fraud case involving ₹220 crore. However, the High Court did not grant her any relief.
Warning from the CBI Court
A hearing for the case was held in the CBI special court. During the proceedings, Shilpi’s lawyer filed an application seeking exemption from personal appearance. The lawyer stated that she could not appear in court due to cervical issues. CBI Public Prosecutor Narendra Singh opposed the application, stating that the accused was deliberately trying to delay the case. She had previously attempted to avoid appearing in court by filing similar applications.
In response, the judge noted that the case had been pending for nearly nine years. Consequently, she was granted an exemption from appearance only for the day, with the warning that no such future applications would be entertained.
**Demand for a ₹2 Lakh Bribe**
Tarsem Kumar, a resident of Panchkula, had lodged a complaint with the CBI regarding a property dispute with his brother, Sanjay, concerning a property in the Sector-26 Grain Market. The matter had reached the court of the then SDM, Shilpi Patra, where the property was sealed on August 3, 2017, without him being given a hearing.
The day after this action, Tarsem met GS Barar, who introduced him to Shilpi Patra. Shilpi assured him that the seal on the property would be removed.
Barar informed Tarsem that Shilpi had demanded ₹5 lakh to remove the seal; the amount was eventually settled at ₹2 lakh. The CBI subsequently laid a trap and arrested Shilpi and her husband at their residence while they were accepting the bribe.
