STATE OF KARNATAKA Vs. VENKATESH BHAT

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The present respondents No.1 to 4 have been charge sheeted by the petitioner - Lokayukta Police, in Crime No.17/2005, for the offences punishable under Ss. 7 , 8 , 12 , 13(1)(d) read with 13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (hereinafter for brevity referred to as "the P.C. Act ") and under Sec. 201 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (hereinafter for brevity referred to as "the IPC "), which was pending in the Court of the learned LXXVI Additional City Civil and Sessions Court and Special Court, Bengaluru (CCH-77), in Special C.C.No.240/2010, till the impugned order dtd. 15/12/2017, allowing the application filed by the present respondents as accused Nos.1 to 4, under Sec. 227 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (hereinafter for brevity referred to as "the Cr.P.C .") read with Sec. 19 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and discharging all the four accused persons of all the offences alleged against them.

(2.) The summary of the prosecution case in the Special Court was that, the respondents No.1 and 2 (accused Nos.1 and 2 ) were then working as the Sub-Registrars, Jayanagar, Bengaluru and respondent No.3 (accused No.3) was then working as First Division Assistant (FDA) in the Office of the Sub-Registrar, Bengaluru, and respondent No.4 (accused No.4) being a private person is said to be an agent of the respondents 1 to 3 herein ( accused Nos.1 to 3 in the Special Court).

(3.) CW-1 - Kirubakaran, representing M/s. Quality City Labs Private Limited, had lodged a complaint with the Lokayukta Police (petitioner herein) stating that, the respondent No.1- Venkatesh Bhat and another Shankaregowda - Sub Registrar, Jayanagar, demanded illegal gratification of a sum of '20,000/- in the first instance and after negotiation, reduced it to '18,000/- for registration of a Sale Deed executed in favour of M/s. Quality City Labs Private Limited. On the basis of the said complaint, a First Information Report was registered on 7/6/2005.