Bribe demand unproven, Rs 20 note no proof: SC acquits 2 NEW DELHI: Thirty years after they were accused of taking a bribe of Rs 20 to issue an income certificate, Supreme Court has acquitted two govt employees in a 1996 corruption case in which they were convicted and sentenced to one year’s imprisonment by a trial court.A bench of Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Atul S Chandurkar held that the govt employees were wrongly convicted in the case as there was no evidence that they had demanded the bribe. The aggrieved employees, now senior citizens, had to fight legal battles for three decades to prove their innocence. They were sacked from govt jobs after conviction.”We find on an appreciation of the entire material brought on record by the prosecution that it falls woefully short of proving the charge against both the accused beyond reasonable doubt,” the bench said. The court noted that the demand of bribe was an essential ingredient to convict a person in a corruption case and that was missing in the case.”When any demand was not proved, as held by both the Courts, it was clear that the complainant had thrust the note of ₹20/- in the pocket of accused number 2 without any demand. The defence as raised that the festival of Eid was to be celebrated on the next day and it was for that purpose that the complainant had given the note of Rs 20/- after receiving the necessary certificate, therefore, assumed significance,” the bench said.As per the prosecution case, the clerk had demanded Rs 120 (Rs 100 for himself and Rs 20 for the peon) for issuing an income certificate. The complainant subsequently approached the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), which organised a trap. The complainant along with the raiding party visited the office and according to prosecution, on receiving such certificate the complainant gave a note of Rs 20/- to A2 who put it in his pocket.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelines On giving pre-determined signal, the raiding party appeared and, thereafter, drew the necessary panchnama.Allowing relief to the accused, the bench said, “…mere possession of a currency note of Rs 20/- with A2 by itself would not be sufficient to uphold the conviction of A1 and A2 for the offence,” the court said.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘NEET, Delimitation, Cauvery, Drugs’: Vijay’s Key Requests Before Amit Shah At Tamil Nadu MeetingPolicy Shift Or Just Words? Inside US Envoy Gor’s ‘Kashmir’ Remark That Rattled PakistanJharkhand High Court Stays Soren Govt’s Order To Cancel JPSC Exams, AppointmentsKangana Vs Ramdev: BJP MP Fires Back After Yoga Guru Questions Her Past And Controversial Remarks’Not Mahatma Gandhi’s Congress’: FULL Vande Mataram Rejected At INC Events, BJP Doubts ‘Loyalty’US Body Opposes Mohan Bhagwat’s Visit, Seeks Sanctions on RSS Members Over Religious Freedom ClaimsDJB Tender Scam Row: AAP Questions Why Raghav Chadha Was Never Questioned By InvestigatorsMaharashtra’s Power Shift: Fadnavis Can Now Reverse Ministerial Decisions In Public InterestIndia Removes Pakistan Mission Barricades After Islamabad Move, Tensions Rise Over Kashmir RemarksModi Govt’s Gen-Z Outreach: One Union Minister To Visit One University Daily123PhotostoriesHow to look expensive without spending a lot of moneyFrom money plants to shankh: 5 Vastu items believed to bring good luck and positivity at homeHow much walking can reverse the health risks of sitting for 8 hours a day? Doctor explains what your body needsWhy does homemade curd turn slimy during monsoon and 3 ways to prevent itThe history of the white shirt: How a simple staple became the ultimate fashion icon10 enchanting baby girl names inspired by fantasy, mythology and folkloreSugar price hike by Rs 8 per kg: 9 natural Indian sweeteners and how to use themOptical illusion personality test: The first thing you spot reveals what’s coming next in your lifeIs apple cider vinegar good for your hair? Benefits, side effects, and the right way to use it10 One Piece characters who have lived for more than a 100 years123Hot PicksPeru EarthquakeConnor McDavidGTU results 2026Pennsylvania plane crashOil export IndiaFaceless assessmentRSS sanctionZepto internshipPakistan High CommissionTop TrendingHyderabad MurderPakistan High CommissionTwisha SharmaKarnataka MurderKerala MurderAbhijeet DipkeSukesh ChandrashekharRahul GandhiBengaluru RapidoBen Gvir
NEW DELHI: Thirty years after they were accused of taking a bribe of Rs 20 to issue an income certificate, Supreme Court has acquitted two govt employees in a 1996 corruption case in which they were convicted and sentenced to one year’s imprisonment by a trial court.A bench of Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Atul S Chandurkar held that the govt employees were wrongly convicted in the case as there was no evidence that they had demanded the bribe. The aggrieved employees, now senior citizens, had to fight legal battles for three decades to prove their innocence. They were sacked from govt jobs after conviction.“We find on an appreciation of the entire material brought on record by the prosecution that it falls woefully short of proving the charge against both the accused beyond reasonable doubt,” the bench said. The court noted that the demand of bribe was an essential ingredient to convict a person in a corruption case and that was missing in the case.“When any demand was not proved, as held by both the Courts, it was clear that the complainant had thrust the note of ₹20/- in the pocket of accused number 2 without any demand. The defence as raised that the festival of Eid was to be celebrated on the next day and it was for that purpose that the complainant had given the note of Rs 20/- after receiving the necessary certificate, therefore, assumed significance,” the bench said.As per the prosecution case, the clerk had demanded Rs 120 (Rs 100 for himself and Rs 20 for the peon) for issuing an income certificate. The complainant subsequently approached the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), which organised a trap. The complainant along with the raiding party visited the office and according to prosecution, on receiving such certificate the complainant gave a note of Rs 20/- to A2 who put it in his pocket.
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On giving pre-determined signal, the raiding party appeared and, thereafter, drew the necessary panchnama.Allowing relief to the accused, the bench said, “…mere possession of a currency note of Rs 20/- with A2 by itself would not be sufficient to uphold the conviction of A1 and A2 for the offence,” the court said.
