NATHA SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Appellant had faced trial in FIR No.9 dated 04.02.1998 under Section 7 read with section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 registered at Police Station Vigilance Bureau, Ferozepur Range, Ferozepur.

(2.) Prosecution story, in brief, is that complainant-Bir Singh had met the appellant in connection with copy of Jamabandi and Khasra Girdawari with regard to land of his son. Appellant was working as a Halqa Patwari and demanded Rs. 250/- from the complainant for doing the needful. Complainant approached the vigilance authorities along with Satnam Singh. Mehal Singh Deputy Superintendent of Police ('DSP for short'), Vigilance Bureau recorded the statement of the complainant and on the basis of the same, formal FIR was registered. Demonstration of working of Phenolphthalein Powder (in short 'P.Powder') was shown to the witnesses. Complainant handed over two currency notes in the denomination of Rs. 100/- each and one currency note in the denomination of Rs. 50/- to the DSP who returned the same to the complainant after application of P.Powder and instructed the complainant to hand over the same to the appellant on demand. Satnam Singh was directed to act as a shadow witness and was instructed to give a signal to the raiding party after bribe money was accepted by the appellant. Ashwani Kumar was joined as an official witness. Thereafter, the raiding party left for the raid. Complainant, along with the shadow witness went to the office of the appellant. Complainant handed over the tainted currency notes to the appellant on demand and he kept the same in his shirt pocket. Appellant handed over the copies of the revenue record to the complainant.

(3.) On receipt of signal from shadow witness Satnam Singh, police party reached the spot. When the fingers of the appellant were dipped in a solution of sodium carbonate, colour of the solution turned pink. The said solution was put in a nip and was made into a sealed parcel and was taken in possession. When the shirt pocket of the appellant was dipped in a solution of sodium carbonate, the colour of the solution turned pink. The said solution was also put in a nip and was made into a sealed parcel and was taken in possession. After completion of investigation and necessary formalities, challan was presented against the appellant.