In Brief
Biswajit Das, a Development Officer at Life Insurance Corporation of India, was convicted of forging insurance documents and wrongfully obtaining claim settlements in conspiracy with a co-accused by falsely declaring an insured person dead. The appellant challenged both conviction and sentence before the Supreme Court by special leave. Although notice was initially limited to the applicability of the Prevention of Corruption Act and sentencing, the Court held it could examine all points on merits when justice demands. The Court upheld the conviction but modified the sentence, directing that the appellant need not serve the remaining prison term as he had already served 22 of 36 months. The Court held the PC Act applied to LICI officers and reaffirmed the principle of rendering substantial justice and securing liberty at sentencing.
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.