(1.) The sole accused in C.C. No. 3 of 2002 on the file of the Special Judge for SPE and ACB Cases, Vijayawada, is the Appellant herein. He was tried for the offences punishable under Sections 7 and 13(1)(d) read with Section 13(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and sentenced to undergo Rigorous Imprisonment for a period of one year and to pay a fine of Rs.2,500/-, in default, to suffer Simple Imprisonment for three months each under each count. The sentence of imprisonment imposed under each count was directed to run concurrently. M.O.1, M.O.2 and M.Os. 4 to 6 were directed to be destroyed after the expiry of appeal time.
(2.) The substance of the Charges against Accused Officer is that, while working as Mandal Revenue Inspector, Kollipara Mandal, Guntur District, he is said to have demanded Rs.1,000/- as bribe prior to 27.11.2000 and accepted the same as gratification other than legal remuneration for issuance of Property Valuation Certificate to the wife of one Somaraju Narayana Rao.
(3.) The facts, as culled out from the evidence of the prosecution witnesses, are as under: