RAJPAL SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Prayer in the instant petition is for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner in case FIR No.14 dtd. 4/6/2024 under Ss. 7 and 7- A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (Amended) Act, 2018 and Sec. 120-B of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 registered at Police Station Vigilance Bureau, District Bathinda.

(2.) Learned senior counsel for the petitioner inter alia contends that the petitioner was an outsourced employee and his work was only restricted to the operation of the computers in the Municipal Corporation. There was no audio/video recording of the petitioner of either making any demand of extraneous consideration or accepting the same.

(3.) Learned State counsel, on instructions, has not disputed the submissions made by the learned senior counsel for the petitioner qua there being no audio/video recording of the petitioner demanding or accepting any bribe from the complainant. However learned State counsel has submitted that when co-accused Jitender Singh was caught red handed, a diary was recovered from his possession wherein it came to light that part of the bribe money was also to be shared with petitioner. He, on further instructions, submits that the petitioner in terms of order dtd. 4/7/2024 passed by a Coordinate Bench of this Court has although joined investigation but has failed to cooperate as he has been evasive qua the involvement and role played by the co-accused coupled with the non recovery of bribe money. A prayer has, therefore, been made for dismissal of the instant petition as the custodial interrogation of the petitioner would be required.