A special CBI court has sentenced National Archives Record Centre archivist Satyadhari Lal Sahu to three years in prison for demanding and accepting a ₹15,000 bribe to locate and provide certified copies of historical land records related to property in Rajkot.
The records included British-era land documents and CRO records held by the National Archives Record Centre in Jaipur. According to the report, complainant Vijaysinh S. Zala had applied to the centre for access to the documents but did not receive a satisfactory response from Sahu.
The archivist allegedly demanded ₹10,000 for locating the records and an additional ₹5,000 described as personal expenses. After the demand, Zala contacted the CBI office in Gandhinagar and reported the matter. The agency subsequently carried out a verification exercise in the presence of witnesses and recorded the alleged demand for money.
The CBI then conducted pre-trap proceedings in Rajkot on December 26, 2012. The agency gave Zala government currency notes coated with phenolphthalein powder for the operation. Sahu, who had travelled from Jaipur to Rajkot, was staying at Pragati Apartment in the city, according to the report.
The report states that Zala handed over the documents to Sahu and placed the money in a folder accompanying him. The CBI team then conducted the raid and arrested Sahu while allegedly accepting the money. The bribe amount was seized during the operation.
The case relates to a process that can be important in establishing ownership, title history and other details concerning land. Certified copies of older land records may be required by applicants dealing with property claims, legal proceedings or administrative verification. The reported demand therefore involved access to public archival material connected to land administration.
After completing its investigation, the CBI filed a chargesheet before the court. During the trial, the agency relied on witness testimony and documentary evidence to establish the case against Sahu. The court considered the evidence and found him guilty, the report said.
While passing the sentence, the special CBI court reportedly observed that imposing strong punishment on officials convicted of accepting bribes was necessary in the interests of justice and to create a deterrent in society. The court consequently ordered Sahu to undergo three years of imprisonment.
The supplied report does not specify the detailed provisions under which Sahu was convicted or whether any appeal has been filed against the judgment. It identifies the case as a 14-year-old matter arising from the 2012 trap operation and records the sentence announced by the special CBI court on October 29, 2026.
