GURDARSHAN SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner seeks grant of regular bail in respect of a case registered against him vide FIR No.26, dtd. 19/12/2022, Police Station Vigilance Bureau Phase-1, Mohali, District Mohali, under Sec. 7 of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 as amended by Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act 2018.

(2.) The allegations, in nutshell, are that the petitioner who was posted as Data Entry Operator (on contractual basis) in Punjab State Forest Corporation had demanded an amount of Rs.6.00 lakhs from the complainant's firm Punjab Timber so as to secure a permission for cutting trees from the land where highway was to come up. It is further the case of prosecution that pursuant to a complaint having been made by the complainant to the Vigilance Bureau, a trap was laid and the petitioner was caught red-handed while accepting illegal gratification of Rs.30,000.00.

(3.) Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that he has falsely been implicated in the present case and that in any case since investigation already stands concluded, further detention of the petitioner is not required for any purpose. It has also been submitted that the petitioner being an employee on contractual basis cannot be termed as a public servant so as to attract the provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act.