KEWAL SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Prayer in this petition filed under Sec. 482 of BNSS, is for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner in case FIR No. 13, dtd. 5/5/2025, under Sec. 7 of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, registered at Police Station Vigilance Bureau, Flying Squad-1, District SAS Nagar.

(2.) Learned counsel for the petitioner has strenuously contended that the petitioner has been falsely implicated in the present FIR (Annexure P-1), which pertains to allegations of demanding a bribe of Rs.60,000.00 in collusion with the co-accused, Balkar Singh, purportedly as illegal gratification for providing a favourable inquiry report concerning the complainant. It is submitted that the alleged recovery of the tainted money was effected not from the petitioner but solely at the instance of the co-accused, Balkar Singh, Superintendent, Panchayat Samiti Office, Amloh.

(3.) Drawing attention to FIR (Annexure P-1), learned counsel has emphasised that the case of the prosecution is primarily built upon an unauthenticated audio recording, which, in his submission, does not attract the ingredients of the offence under Sec. 7 of the PC Act against the petitioner. It is further contended that the petitioner, who has been serving as a Patwari for the past five years at the Panchayat Samiti, Amloh, had no role, much less any direct involvement, in the inquiry alleged to be pending against the complainant.