Chandigarh, March 30 — A special CBI court on Saturday sentenced former Chandigarh deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Ram Chander Meena, 68, to seven years in prison for his role in a ₹70-lakh bribe case dating back to 2014. Aman Grover, owner of Hotel KLG, received a four-year jail term.
Special CBI judge Alka Malik also imposed fines of ₹1 lakh on Meena and ₹20,000 on Grover, marking the conclusion of the decade-long legal battle involving over 30 prosecution witnesses.
The CBI registered the case in 2015 based on a complaint by city resident Guneet Kaur, who alleged that Meena and Grover demanded a ₹70-lakh bribe to prevent the arrest of her family in a property dispute with Grover’s mother-in-law, Deepa Duggal.
According to case files, Meena, then a DSP in the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), supervised the investigation, while Sub-inspector (SI) Surinder Kumar acted as the investigating officer. Grover allegedly facilitated the bribe, with ₹40 lakh meant for the cops in cash and a ₹30-lakh post-dated cheque in favour of Duggal.
During the trial, the prosecution presented testimony from Sanjay Dahuja, a co-accused turned approver, along with a CFSL report confirming traces of incriminating substances on Grover’s hands after handling the bribe money.
On Friday, the court convicted Meena under Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Sections 7 and 13(1)(d)(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Grover was found guilty under Section 120-B IPC.
SI Kumar, the fourth accused, died during the trial.
Following the sentencing, Grover appeared visibly shaken, prompting Judge Malik to ask if he was feeling unwell. “I have an anxiety issue,” Grover responded.
Both convicts were escorted from the courtroom, with Grover immediately surrounded by family members, who offered him water.
