In Brief
A military officer (Major R. Metri) was convicted by court-martial in a recruitment fraud scam based on a confessional statement. The Armed Forces Tribunal acquitted him of corruption charges (Section 7, Prevention of Corruption Act) but convicted him of conduct unbecoming an officer (Section 63, Army Act). The Supreme Court held that extra-judicial confessions are weak evidence requiring corroboration. Here, the confession lacked corroboration, and circumstances suggested the officer was pressured to confess as a scapegoat to shield senior officials in the larger scam. No material evidence proved he actually caused medically unfit candidates to be cleared. The financial transactions were explained as loans/repayments, not illegal gratifications. The Court allowed his appeal for complete acquittal and directed reinstatement with service continuity, though without back-wages.
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