SURESHAGOUDA Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner/accused No.1 has filed this petition under Section 438 of Cr.P.C., seeking anticipatory bail in the event of his arrest in Crime No.5/2021 of Anti Corruption Bureau Police Station, Gadag, registered for the offences punishable under Sections 7(A) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

(2.) The brief facts leading to the case are that the petitioner is working as Revenue Inspector and the complainant has approached the petitioner for change of katha of his land and at that time, the petitioner has demanded R.8,000/- as illegal gratification from the complainant. In this regard, complaint came to be lodged on 31.07.2021 and trap has been arraigned. It is further the case of the prosecution is that on 31.07.2021, ACB conducted raid in the office of the Revenue Inspector and there a private assistant engaged by the petitioner was caught red handed while accepting bribe amount of Rs.8,000/- on behalf of the petitioner. The trap mahazar was done and the statement of the said person who was trapped was also recorded. The said accused No.2 who was apprehended and trapped was produced before the concerned Court and was remanded to judicial custody. The petitioner apprehending his arrest has moved anticipatory bail before the learned sessions judge and the learned sessions judge by his order dated 19.08.2021 dismissed the anticipatory bail petition. Hence, the petitioner claims to have approached this Court.

(3.) Heard the arguments advanced by the learned counsel for petitioner and the learned counsel appearing for respondent-Lokayukta. Perused the records.