HARVINDER SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE present appeal has been filed against the judgment of conviction and order of sentence dated 07.11.2003 passed by the Special Judge, Ludhiana, whereby, the accused -appellant -Harvinder Singh, who was working as a Patwari, was convicted and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of one year and to pay a fine of Rs. 500/ - under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act (here -in -after referred to as 'the Act, 1988') and two years with fine of Rs. 1,000/ - under Section 13 (2) of the Act, 1988 and in default of payment of fine, he was further directed to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of one month under each sentence.

(2.) ACCUSED -appellant was convicted on the basis of complaint made by complainant -Jarnail Singh, wherein, he has alleged that the accused has demanded bribe for execution of mutation. Acting on the said complaint, raid was conducted and the alleged amount was recovered from the drawer of his table. He faced trial for offence punishable under Section 7 read with Section 13(2) of the Act, 1988 arising out of FIR No.23 dated 10.05.1999 with Police Station Vigilance Bureau, Patiala.

(3.) IT is also relevant that during pendency of the appeal, the accused -appellant Harvinder Singh has died and thereafter, an application was moved by the applicants, who are stated to be the legal representatives of the deceased -appellant, for continuation of the appeal.