BUNTY KUMAR Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) By way of present appeal, the appellant has assailed the judgment dtd. 23/3/2018 passed by learned Special Judge, Ludhiana, whereby in case FIR No.02, dtd. 5/4/2013, registered under Ss. 8, 10, 13(1) and 13(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (for short, PC Act) and Sec. 120-B of IPC, at Police Station Vigilance Bureau, Ludhiana, he was convicted under Sec. 8 of PC Act and Sec. 120-B of IPC and order of even date, he was sentenced as under:-

(2.) The case of the prosecution in brief is that a written complaint was received by the Vigilance Bureau, Ludhiana, from one Neeraj Rattan (hereinafter referred to as the complainant). The complainant alleged that he intended to purchase a plot measuring 75 square yards, situated in Flower Enclave, Ludhiana, and in furtherance of registering the sale deed thereof, he visited the office of the Sub-Registrar (West), on 4/4/2013.

(3.) At the said office, the complainant met one appellant-Bunty Kumar (hereinafter referred to as the accused), who represented himself as the Lambardar of Village Sunet and stated that he was working privately as an agent in the office of Sub-Registrar. The accused claimed that he facilitated the registration and attestation of sale deeds and was deployed in the office on the instructions of the Tehsildar. He further claimed that he was tasked with affixing a particular code on documents and extracting a minimum amount of Rs.2,000.00 from the prospective registrants, failing which, such individuals would face undue harassment. The accused allegedly demanded Rs.2,000.00 from the complainant to ensure smooth registration of the sale deed.