MOHALI, Oct. 28 -- A local court on Monday sentenced 13 co-accused involved in a high-profile scam that caused a loss of Rs.45.74 lakh to the State Bank of Hyderabad, Ludhiana branch. Two convicts were awarded rigorous imprisonment of one year and three months, while the remaining were sentenced to imprisonment till the rising of the court. The judgment was pronounced by special judge-II (CBI) Baljinder Singh Sra. In 2003, the case was registered on the basis of written complaint of State Bank of Hyderabad, Ludhiana branch, alleging that the then branch manager SS Wadhwa along with other accused persons had abused his official position and sanctioned housing loans by flouting bank's norms, rules and regulations and without safeguarding the bank's interest caused wrongful loss to the bank and corresponding against to the borrowers. Upon completion of probe, it was established that Wadhwa in connivance with middleman Ashwani Puri had sanctioned housing loans ranging from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 9.50 lakh to 11 borrowers on the basis of forged/false documents i.e. ITRs, building plans etc., and thus caused a wrongful loss to the tune of Rs 45.74 lakh to the bank. The chargesheet was filed against 20 accused persons (one public servant and 19 private persons) under sections 420, 467, 468, 471 of the IPC and Section 13(2) read with 13(1)(d) of the PC Act. Charges were framed against 16 accused persons under section 120-B read with 420, 467, 468, 471 of the IPC and Section 13(2) read with 13(1)(d) of the PC Act and substantive offences thereof....