MADURAI: A former Executive Director of the Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, Tiruchi, and four others were convicted in a corruption case by a special court here on Friday.

The case pertains to irregularities in awarding a contract to a fictitious company for the construction of a desalination plant in Ramanathapuram district in 1997.

The Central Bureau of Investigation registered the case against A. Srinivasulu, the then Executive Director of BHEL, and six others. According to the prosecution, N. Mohan Ramnath had floated a fictitious company and quoted the lowest tender to obtain a major work for the desalination plant project. Knowing well that the company did not exist and that the contractor had no prior experience in carrying out such works, Mr. Srinivasulu and three of his subordinates conspired and awarded the contract for pecuniary benefits. An interest-free mobilisation advance of Rs 4.32 crore was given to the contractor by the BHEL.

A charge sheet was filed against 7 suspects, including the father and brother of the contractor, during 2002.

The contractor and his father N. R. N. Iyer died during the course of trial. The court found Mr. Srinivasulu guilty and sentenced him to 3 years rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 2,000.

While the then General Manager S. Krishna Rao was acquitted the then Assistant General Manager R. Thaiagarajan and Senior Manager Chandrasekar were sentenced to 2 years RI with a fine of Rs 1,000 each.

The contractor's brother N. Raghunath was sentenced to one year RI.

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