Sirsi BJP leader sentenced to 1 year in jail, fined Rs 5,000 in corruption case

KARWAR: The Lokayukta Court in Karwar has sentenced Usha Hegde to one year’s  imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 in a corruption case. Usha Hegde is a former BJP district general secretary and Rural BJP unit president.

District and Sessions Court Judge Vijayakumar, who heard the case, delivered the verdict. Usha Hegde was found guilty of misusing her position as a member of the zilla panchayat and Anganwadi worker to receive an honorarium of Rs 88,630 from the government between 2011 and 2012.

Usha Hegde was an Anganwadi worker who attended meetings organised by the Srinagar panchayat before being elected as a zilla panchayat member. She held both positions simultaneously and received the honorarium despite being a people’s representative, thereby cheating the government.

Usha Hegde was accused of failing to perform her duties as a zilla panchayat member and Anganwadi worker, creating fake attendance records, and signing documents. She was accused of having falsely signed the attendance book and thereby committing an offense punishable under Section 468. After the charges were proved, the court sentenced and announced the verdict.

Ibrahim Nabisab had lodged a complaint, and LM Prabhu of Karwar argued on behalf of the Lokayukta.

Two posts cannot be held simultaneously under the Department of Women and Child Development. It was suggested verbally and in writing to Usha to resign from a post as per the order of the government. However, Usha Hegde violated the department’s order, and the order passed by the Dharwad bench of the High Court.