In Brief
A businessman seeking non-agricultural approval for his plot alleged that two government officers demanded a bribe of ₹500 to expedite the processing of his application. The trial court convicted both officers under the Prevention of Corruption Act after finding that the bribe demand and acceptance were proved by eyewitness testimony, recovery of marked currency, and anthracene powder traces on the accused. The High Court acquitted them, finding insufficient evidence of demand and acceptance. The Supreme Court reversed the High Court, holding that the trial court's appreciation of evidence was sound and that the eyewitness accounts, corroborated by the recovered currency and chemical traces, clearly established both demand and acceptance. The convictions were affirmed with reduced sentences."
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.