V RAMANATHAN Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) V. Ramanathan, the appellant herein, was working as Rural Development Officer in the Agricultural Development Branch of State Bank of India, Udumalpet. He was convicted for the offences under Section 5(1)(c) read with 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act and under Sections 477-A and 409, I.P.C. in C.C. No. 4/87 on the file of the learned First Additional Sessions Judge, Coimbatore by the judgment dated 28-2-89.

(2.) The case of the prosecution is that the appellant, while functioning as Rural Development Officer in the said bank misappropriated a sum of Rs. 4,407-75 received from the borrowers towards repayment of agricultural crop loan and term loan, by abusing his official power as a public servant, dishonestly or fraudulently misappropriated the amounts entrusted to him by illegal means thereby he obtained himself pecuniary advantage by making false entries in the relevant registers kept in the office and thereby he was liable to be convicted under Sections 409 and 477-A, I.P.C. and under Sections 5 (1)(c) and 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

(3.) The facts leading to the filing of the above appeal could be summarised as follows :-