BALRAJ SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Appellant has preferred this appeal challenging his conviction and sentence for commission of offence punishable under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (for short 'the Act') as ordered by the trial Court vide judgment/ order dated 23.9.2004 in FIR No. 37 dated 19.6.2001 registered at Police Station Vigilance Bureau, Ferozepur.

(2.) Prosecution story, in brief, is that Complainant Gurdarshan Singh required his birth certificate to enable him to apply for immigration to a foreign country. In this regard, complainant approached the appellant. Appellant demanded Rs. 300/- as bribe.

(3.) Deal was settled at Rs. 200/-. Complainant approached the office of Vigilance Bureau. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP for short) Ramandeep Singh recorded the statement of the complainant and on the basis of the same, formal FIR was registered. A raid was organised. Complainant handed over two currency notes in the denomination of Rs. 100/- each to the DSP, who, in turn, returned the same to the complainant after application of Phenol Phthalein Powder (P-Powder for short). Complainant was directed to hand over the tainted currency notes to the appellant on demand. Ranjit Singh was instructed to act as a shadow witness and was directed to give a signal to the raiding party after the bribe money was accepted by the appellant on demand. Sukhdev Singh and Satya Pal were joined as official witnesses. Demonstration of the working of the P-Powder was shown to the witnesses. Thereafter, the raiding party left for the raid.