SELVARAJ Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The appeal has been preferred as against the judgment and order convicting and sentencing the appellant for commission of offence punishable under section 5(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947, thereby reversing the judgment of acquittal passed by the trial court and sentencing him for three months with a fine of Rs.50,000/- and in default to undergo SI for six months.

(2.) Briefly, the prosecution case is that the appellant was working as First Division Assistant in the District Treasury, Hassan. Peter Philip, CW- 1 contacted him to secure refund of loan subsidy in a sum of Rs.13,990/-. He met the accused on 28.1.1988 who demanded illegal gratification of Rs.200/-. As the complainant CW-1 did not like it, he contacted the Lokayukta Police on 1.2.1988 and lodged a complaint. On the said date itself, trap was arranged. The Investigating Officer (IO) secured presence of PW-1 and PW-2, the two officials of the Zila Parishad to act as trap witnesses and smeared phenolphthalein powder on the bait money and handed over the same to CW-1 with instruction to pay the same on demand. PW-2 was instructed to act as a shadow witness.

(3.) Peter Philip, CW-1, went along with PW-2 to the said office. CW-1 requested the accused for passing the bill. On demand, CW-1 paid the money to the accused who kept the same under the book on his table. PW-2 witnessed the transaction. On a signal being given by CW-1, the IO along with PW-1 came to the scene, phenolphthalein test was done on hand wash, colour of the solution turned pink, the solution was collected in a separate bottle and sealed, the money was recovered from the possession of the accused as per the seizure memo.