STATE OF PUNJAB Vs. JAGTAR SINGH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) INSTANT criminal appeal has been filed against the judgment dated 04.03.2006 passed by learned Special Judge, Patiala, vide which the respondent has been acquitted of the charges framed against him under Sections 7 and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act (hereinafter referred to as 'the PC Act').

(2.) BRIEF facts for disposal of the present case are that complainant Buta Singh son of Zora Singh made a statement before the Vigilance Bureau that on 04.02.2001, after doing some private work, he was on the way from Nabha to Patiala in Maruti Car No.PB -13C -0066. When he reached in front of Police Station Civil Lines, Patiala, respondent stopped his car and demanded Rs. 15,000/ - otherwise threatened to implicate the complainant in false case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. When the complainant expressed his inability to pay the said amount, respondent took the keys of the car from the complainant. Ultimately, complainant agreed to pay Rs. 10,000/ - to the respondent to get his car released from him. After reaching his village, on the advise of his co -villager Piara Singh, on 06.02.2001 complainant approached the office of Vigilance Bureau where the statement of the complainant was recorded. A raiding party was formed, which, after completion of necessary formalities, went to the specified place and caught the respondent accepting tainted money from the complainant. Respondent was formally arrested after disclosing the grounds of arrest. The nips of solution of hand wash and of pant pocket wash were sent to Forensic Science Laboratory, Punjab, Chandigarh. On receipt of the report of Forensic Science Laboratory and after completion of other formalities of investigation, challan against the respondent under Sections 7 and 13(2) of the PC Act was prepared and presented before the Court.

(3.) IN order to prove its case, prosecution examined HC Inderjit Singh as PW1, C -II Swaran Singh as PW2, MHC Gurbhej Singh as PW3, ASI Ranjit Singh as PW4, Tarsem Singh Draftsman as PW5, Buta Singh complainant as PW6, Piara Singh shadow witness as PW7, Dr. Harbans Singh as PW8 and DSP Narinderpal Kaushal, Investigating Officer as PW9.