NEELAM KHULLAR Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Appellant had faced trial in FIR No.84 dated 24.10.1997 under Sections 7 and 13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (in short 'Act') registered at Police Station Viligance Bureau, Patiala.

(2.) Prosecution story, in brief, is that on 24.10.1997, complainant-Sukhpal Singh approached the District Transport Office for transfer of scooter No.PB-12 B-4274 from his name to the name of his father. Complainant met the appellant. The appellant stated that it would take about one and a half months for effecting the transfer of the scooter from his name to the name of his father. Appellant further stated that in case, she was paid Rs.150/- then, the transfer of the registration of the vehicle would be done earlier.

(3.) Complainant approached the vigilance authorities and a raid was organized. Complainant handed over one currency note in the denomination of Rs.50/- and another currency note in the denomination of Rs.100/- to Deputy Superintendent of Police (in short 'DSP') Sukhdev Singh Aulakh who returned the same to the complainant after application of phenolphthalein powder. DSP instructed the complainant to hand over the tainted currency notes to the appellant on demand. Roshan Lal was appointed as a shadow witness and was instructed to give signal to the raiding party after the bribe money was accepted by the appellant. Jagtaran Singh was joined as an official witness. Thereafter, the raiding party left for the raid. Complainant and the shadow witness went inside the office of the appellant while the remaining raiding party stayed behind. Appellant demanded the bribe money from the complainant for transferring the scooter in the name of father of the complainant. Complainant handed over the tainted currency notes to the appellant. On receipt of signal from the shadow witness, DSP along with the remaining raiding party reached the spot. When the fingers of the appellant were dipped in a solution of sodium carbonate, the colour of the solution turned pink. The said solution was put in a nip and was made into a sealed parcel. The tainted currency notes were recovered from the cover of the spectacles of the appellant.