A local court has sentenced businessman Babulal Bohra, owner of M/s Mukesh Kumar Bohra & Company, to one year of simple imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 10,000 for indulging in black marketing of sugar and promoting profiteering.
The case dates back to November 29, 2011, when Inspector Sampatraj Vadera lodged a report on January 2, 2012, alleging illegal sugar trade at shop number J-23 in the Agriculture Produce Market. A joint inspection was carried out with Barmer Rural Enforcement Inspector Khemaram. During the inspection, the firm owner’s son, Mukesh Kumar Bohra, was present and produced a photocopy of the firm’s license. He claimed that their actual premises was shop number J-22, which had already been sealed by the Health Department, and left the spot promising to bring further documents. The authorities sealed shop number J-23 and issued a notice to the firm the following day, according to the news report by Dainik Bhaskar.
Investigations revealed that shop number J-23 was officially allotted to M/s Khilji Industries, owned by Abdul Rahman, with Nisar Mohammad as its representative. They informed officials that the premises had been given to Babulal Bohra for storage. From the premises, officials seized 438 sacks of sugar, along with two stock registers and a bill book. It was established that while the licensed godown of the firm was shop number J-22, undeclared sugar stock was being kept and traded from shop number J-23, in violation of rules.
Subsequently, on December 15, 2011, a case was registered against the firm at Kotwali police station. After nearly 13 years of proceedings, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Court No. 2, presided over by Judge Ankur Gupta, convicted Babulal Bohra and awarded him the prison term and monetary penalty.
