Though Joshi had moved the apex court with the appeal on May 16, the court registered his plea only on Tuesday.
Joshi, in his appeal, has argued that the Prevention of Corruption Control Act, 2002 cannot be evoked to convict him as the act came into force only after he left his public office. Joshi has said that he had left his public office on May 23, 2002 while the act came in force from June 19, 2002. [break]
Overturning its previous verdict, the Special Court on July 25, 2012 had convicted Joshi of corruption and slapped on him a one-and-a-half year jail term and Rs 21.6 million in fine.
The court found that Joshi had amassed Rs 26.8 million between 1991 and 2001, or Rs 21.6 million more than his income from legitimate sources. He had held the various ministerial portfolios between 1991 and 2001.
In 2006, the same court had acquitted Joshi, citing statute of limitations. The tribunal, which deals with corruption cases, revised its verdict following an order from the Supreme Court.
The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) had filed a case against Joshi on January 12, 2004 accusing him of amassing Rs 30.93 million from unknown sources between 1991 and 2001.
Dissatisfied with the 2006 verdict, the CIAA had moved the apex court. The Special Court had also sentenced Joshi´s accomplice Taranath Pandey to six months in jail along with a fine of Rs 1,140,000.
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