STATE OF PUNJAB Vs. GURTEJ SINGH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) State of Punjab has taken exception to judgment and order dated 05.03.2004 passed by Special Judge, Bathinda, by which the learned trial Judge recorded the order of acquittal in Prevention of Corruption Act File No.15 of 24.10.2000, decided on 05.03.2004, for the offence under Section 7 read with Section 13(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (for short 'PC Act').

(2.) Heard learned counsel for the rival parties at length and perused the entire evidence documentary as well as oral.

(3.) Learned counsel for the appellant-State of Punjab objected the finding of acquittal recorded by the learned trial Judge and submitted that the learned trial Judge committed an error by misreading the evidence on record documentary as well as oral and therefore, the finding is perverse. According to him, the respondent-accused was clearly guilty of the offences for which he was charged and he had 1 of 5 accepted illegal gratification of Rs.800/- from Jaspal Singh for enhancing the turn of water in his favour. The accused was caught red handed while accepting bribe and there was evidence on record to convict him. The trial Court, however, committed an error in acquitting the respondent- accused.