SANTHOSH A.V Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is an application for bail filed under Sec. 439 Cr.P.C.

(2.) The petitioner is the first accused in the case registered as V.C.No.1/21/Kasaragod by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) for the offence punishable under Sec. 7(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended by the Act 16 of 2018).

(3.) The prosecution case is as follows: The petitioner, the first accused in the case, was the Village Officer and the second accused was the Village Field Assistant in the Cheemeni Village Office. They demanded an amount of Rs.1,50,000.00 from the de facto complainant as bribe for taking steps in the application made by her for granting purchase certificate in respect of the fifty cents of land in her possession and enjoyment. The demand was finally reduced to Rs.25,000.00. The de facto complainant made a written complaint to the Deputy Superintendent of the VACB regarding the demand for bribe made by the accused. On the basis of that complaint, the case against the accused was registered. On 5/11/2021, the trap team led by the Dy.S.P, which included the de facto complainant, reached the Village Office. The amount of Rs.10,000.00, which was entrusted with the de facto complainant by the VACB as trap money, was accepted by the accused at 16:00 hours and both accused were arrested by the Dy.S.P at the Village Office at 17:00 hours on that day.