New Delhi, Jan 13 (PTI) A former official posted in Chennai and a travel agent have been convicted under the anti-money laundering law in a case linked to the alleged taking of bribes for issuing emigration clearance to people, the Enforcement Directorate said Saturday.

R Sekar - a former Protector of Emigrants - and travel agent K Anwar Hussain of Classic Tours and Travels were sentenced to three years of rigorous imprisonment by a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Chennai on January 11.

Also Read | India Registers 'Strong Protest' Against Visit by British Envoy Jane Marriott to Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, Calls It 'Infringement of Sovereignty'.

Protectors of Emigrants are responsible for granting emigration clearance to the intending emigrants under the general superintendence of the Protector General of Emigrants which functions under the Ministry of External Affairs.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 each on the two accused, the agency said in a statement.

Also Read | India Secures Second Spot in Asia in 2023 for Most Internet Exchange Points Per Country, Says Report.

Sekar, the ED said, "abused his official position and collected bribes totalling Rs 2,03,94,900 from various recruiting agents through K Anwar Hussain for the issuance of emigration clearance to their clients".

Sekar was posted in Chennai between January 2007 to July 2009, it said.

A charge sheet was filed against the two by the ED in 2015.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)