In Brief
A police officer was convicted of demanding and accepting bribes from a complainant under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The High Court affirmed the conviction. The Supreme Court set aside the conviction, holding that the prosecution failed to prove the essential ingredient of demand for illegal gratification. The Court ruled that a casual query regarding money and recovery of currency notes, without cogent evidence of actual demand, cannot sustain a conviction. Uncorroborated allegations, contradictions in witness testimony regarding the location of the alleged transaction, and the absence of material witnesses further rendered the case deficient. The prosecution must prove every ingredient beyond reasonable doubt.
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