Big Relief to Cong MLA Mohammed Moquim, SC Suspends Sentence in Corruption Case

The Supreme Court on Tuesday suspended Congress MLA Mohammed Moquim’s sentence in a corruption case.

The Bench

A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Dipankar Datta issued notice to the Odisha government regarding Moquim’s appeal against the Orissa High Court’s decision.

“Notice issued. After hearing senior counsel for both parties and considering all circumstances, petitioner’s sentence is suspended,” the bench stated.

Orissa High Court

On April 10, the Orissa High Court dismissed Moquim’s appeal against a vigilance court’s verdict, sentencing him to three years of rigorous imprisonment and imposing a fine of Rs 50,000 in the corruption case.

The Congress MLA was convicted on September 29, 2022, by a special judge of the vigilance court in Bhubaneswar. According to the vigilance department’s statement, Moquim, acting as the managing director of Metro Builders Pvt Ltd, colluded with an IAS officer and others to obtain pecuniary advantage for the real estate firm by securing loans meant for rural poor from the state-run Odisha Rural Housing & Development Corporation Ltd (ORHDC).

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