In Brief
Raj Bahadur Singh, an Excise Department constable, was convicted of demanding and accepting a ₹500 bribe from Kashmir Singh, engaged in illicit liquor manufacture, by threatening legal action. After Singh lodged a complaint, police organized a trap where Singh handed over marked currency notes. When Singh accepted them on 19 June 1990, phenolphthalein powder on his hands turned pink, confirming the bribe. The Trial Court and High Court upheld the conviction under Sections 7 and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The Supreme Court affirmed the conviction, finding credible witness testimony and corroborating trap evidence. Minor inconsistencies in witness statements did not undermine the prosecution case. Considering Singh's advanced age and custody period, the Court reduced his sentence to six months' rigorous imprisonment under Section 7 and one year under Section 13(2).
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