PRABHAKAR BALAJI BHOGE Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Appellant-Prabhakar Balaji Bhoge in Criminal Appeal No. 386 of 2001 challenges his convictions for offences punishable under Sections 7 and 13(1)(d) read with Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act and sentences of rigorous imprisonment for two years and fine of Rs. 250/- and rigorous imprisonment for two years and fine of Rs. 100/- respectively imposed upon him on the two counts by the learned Special Judge, Gadchiroli, vide judgment dated 12-12-2001 passed in Special Case No. 2 of 1994. Appellant-Murlidhar Namdeo Sarpe in Criminal Appeal No. 387 of 2001 challenges his conviction for offence punishable under Section 7 read with Section 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act by the same judgment of the learned Special Judge, Gadchiroli.

(2.) Facts, which led to prosecution and conviction of the two appellants, are as under :

(3.) The learned Special Judge, Gadchiroli, charged both appellant-Prabhakar of offences punishable under Sections 7 and 13(1)(d) read with Section 13(2) and appellant-Murlidhar of offence punishable under Section 7 read with Section 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Since the appellants pleaded not guilty, they were put on trial; in course of which, the prosecution examined as many as fourteen witnesses. Upon consideration of the evidence tendered, the learned Special Judge came to convict the appellants and sentenced them as mentioned above. Aggrieved thereby, this appeal has been filed.