IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) TUESDAY, THE TWENTY SECOND DAY OF AUGUST TWO THOUSAND AND NINE PRESENT HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE K.C.BHANU CRIMINAL APPEAL No.1184 OF 2003 Between: P. Chandra Sekhar Reddy ..... Appellant/Accused AND The State of Andhra Pradesh, Rep. by its Special Public Prosecutor for ACB, High Court of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad. ..... Respondent/Complainant The Court made the following: JUDGMENT: The accused, in C.C.No.4 of 1998, on the file of the learned Special Judge for SPE & ACB Cases, Nellore, filed the present appeal under Section 374 (2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, challenging his conviction and sentence passed in the judgment of the trial Court, dated 28.10.2003, whereunder and whereby, the appellant was found guilty under Sections 7 and 13(1)(d) read with 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (for short ‘the Act’) and sentenced to undergo Rigorous Imprisonment for a period of two years and to pay a fine of Rs.2,000/-, and in default of fine, to undergo Simple Imprisonment for a period of three months under each count. 2. The brief facts that are necessary for disposal of the prosecution case may be stated as follows: When the mother of P.W.1 was cooking food on 26.04.1996 at about 2.00 p.m., her house was caught in fire. Similarly, the houses of P.W.1 and others were caught in fire along with the household articles. The Village Administrative Officer (P.W.4) inspected their houses and submitted a report to the Mandal Revenue Officer (P.W.8), Rajampet. Thereafter, P.W.6-Special Revenue Inspector, Yerraguntla Mandal, Cuddapah District, inspected the burnt houses on 28.06.1996 and recorded the statements of P.W.1 and other victims. On 10.05.1996, the Mandal Revenue Officer granted exgratia of Rs.500/-. Later, P.W.1 and other victims came to know that under ‘Gudesevasula Insurance Scheme’, an amount of Rs.1,000/- would be paid to the victims of the fire accident. Then, P.W.1 along with other victims filled up the necessary application forms and presented the same to the Mandal Revenue Inspector in the Mandal Revenue Officer’s Office on 15.05.1996. Thereafter, P.W.1 came to know that the fire insurance amounts of the fire victims of the Utukuru village were already received though the fire accident in that village occurred subsequent to the fire accident in the village of P.W.1. Then P.W.1 approached the Mandal Revenue Office on 19.08.1996 and learnt that the insurance claim forms of P.W.1 and other victims reached to the Revenue Divisional Officer’s Office 45 days after the accident. Therefore, they were returned to the Mandal Revenue Officer’s Office. When P.W.1 approached the Mandal Revenue Officer’s Office, the Mandal Revenue Officer, after verifying the files, instructed the Accused Officer to put up a note to the effect that due to pressure of work, the insurance files could not be submitted within 45 days. The Mandal Revenue Officer instructed the Accused Officer to resubmit their files, but on one pretext or other, he was delaying the matter. On 29.11.1996 at about 9.30 a.m., when P.W.1 went to the Mandal Revenue Officer’s Office and met the Accused Officer and made a request to put up their files to the Mandal Revenue Officer, the Accused Officer told him that he has to pay a bribe of Rs.500/- and asked him to bring that amount on 02.12.1996. As P.W.1 does not intend to pay that amount, he lodged Ex.P5-report on 01.12.1996 at about 10.00 a.m., before the Deputy Superintendent of Police (P.W.10), ACB, Tirupati. Thereafter, the Deputy Superintendent of Police along with the other Inspector-Prabhakar proceeded to Rajampet and made enquiries about the antecedents of the Accused Officer. Then, after returning to Tirupathi, the Deputy Superintendent of Police registered the First Information Report in Crime No.13/RC.- TPT/96 at about 5.00 p.m. (Ex.P26) and directed P.W.1 to produce the bribe amount of Rs.500/- on the following day. The Deputy Superintendent of Police secured the presence of P.W.2-Deputy Executive Engineer, Tirupati Municipality and others. On 02.12.1996 at about 6.00 a.m., when P.W.1 brought the tainted currency notes of Rs.500/-, the mediators drafted a report (Ex.P9) duly noting down the numbers of the currency notes and applying Phenolphthalein powder and gave instructions to P.W.1 to give the amount on demand made by the Accused Officer. Thereafter, P.W.1 proceeded to the office of the Mandal Revenue Officer on the same day and met the Accused Officer. On the demand of the Accused Officer, P.W.1 paid the amount. The Accused Officer received the same with his right hand and kept the amount in the right side pant pocket. After receipt of pre-arranged signal, the trap party consisting of P.W.2 headed by P.W.10, rushed to the place where the Accused Officer accepted the tainted currency notes. P.W.10 conducted the Sodium Carbonate Solution Test to both the hand fingers of the Accused Officer. The right hand fingers of the Accused Officer turned into pink colour. P.W.10 seized the tainted currency notes from the possession of the Accused Officer and the tainted currency note numbers were tallying with the currency note numbers as noted in Ex.P9-Pre-trap proceedings. Then Ex.P15-Post-trap proceedings have been drafted and the amount was seized. P.W.10 also prepared the rough sketch of the scene of occurrence. He seized the file relating to the fire accident and the further investigation was taken up by P.W.11. P.W.11 conducted the house search of the Accused Officer. He examined the witnesses and recorded the statements. He gave a requisition to the Magistrate to record the statements of witnesses under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. After obtaining sanction orders, P.W.11-Inspector of Police, Tirupati, filed the charge sheet. 3. The learned Special Judge for SPE & ACB Cases, Nellore, framed the following charges against the Accused Officer: “Firstly:- That on 2.12.96 at about 11 A.M in the office of M.R.O, Rajampet, Cuddapah, you being the Superintendent in M.R.O. office, Rajampet Mandal, Cuddapah District i.e., a public servant, pursuant to your prior demand received and accepted a sum of Rs.500/- as illegal gratification or bribe from one Gala Subramanyam Reddy of Poli village of Rajampet Mandal for processing, offering remarks for the delay and submitting Fire Insurance Files of the afore mentioned Gala Subramanyam Reddy and family members to M.R.O, Rajampet for onward transmission to R.D.O, Rajampet for further orders and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 7 of the P.C.Act 1988 and within my cognizance. Secondly:- That in the course of the same transaction and at the same time and place mentioned in charge No.1, you being a public servant accepted the illegal gratification of Rs.500/- and that amounts to obtaining a pecuniary advantage by corrupt or illegal means, and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 13 (2) read with 13 (1) (d) of the P.C.Act 1988 and within my cognizance.” When the above charges were read over and explained to the Accused Officer, he pleaded not guilty and claimed to be tried. 4. To substantiate the charges, the prosecution examined P.Ws.1 to 11 and got marked Exs.P1 to P32 besides case properties M.Os.1 to 9. 5. After closure of the prosecution evidence, the Accused Officer was examined under Section 313 Cr.P.C. with reference to the incriminating material found against him in the evidence of prosecution witnesses. He denied the same. On behalf of the Accused Officer, D.Ws.1 to 4 were examined and Exs.D1 to D8 were marked. 6. The trial Court, after considering the evidence on record, came to the conclusion that the evidence of prosecution witnesses clearly establishes that there was a demand and acceptance of bribe by the Accused Officer and accordingly, convicted and sentenced him as stated above. Challenging the same, the present appeal is filed. 7. Now the point for determination is whether the prosecution proved its case beyond all reasonable doubt for the offences punishable under Sections 7 and 13(1)(d) read with 13(2) of the Act and whether the judgment of the trial Court is correct, legal and proper? 8. Learned counsel appearing for the appellant contended that except the oral and interested testimony of P.W.1, there is absolutely no evidence to show that the Accused Officer demanded and accepted the money; that no official favour to be shown to P.W.1 by the Accused Officer was pending prior to the trap; that the Accused Officer was not the competent officer to process or forward the application of P.W.1 with regard to granting of compensation to P.W.1; that the Accused Officer was not eligible for grant of insurance claim with regard to the fire accident; that a false case is foisted against the Accused Officer as he refused to help P.W.1 in getting the compensation; that the sanctioning authority has not applied its mind independently; that the sanction orders have been given as the draft sanction order proceedings furnished by the Deputy Superintendent of Police; that the Accused Officer was not the person to process Exs.P1 to P4- applications; that P.W.5-Mandal Revenue Inspector was the proper person to process the applications; that as a matter of fact, as per the evidence of P.W.5, it is clear that Exs.P1 to P4- applications were processed and placed before the Mandal Revenue Officer (P.W.8); that therefore, it is not safe to place an implicit reliance on the evidence of P.W.1; that conducting pre- enquiry after receipt of Ex.P5 is an empty formality on the facts of the case because the preliminary enquiry conducted by the Investigating Officer appears to be a make belief one in view of the fact that the day on which he conducted enquiry happened to be a public holiday; that the prosecution witnesses did not know the designation of the Accused Officer and such is the case, there was no need for P.W.1 to approach the Accused Officer; that when an official favour is not pending, the question of demand does not arise, and therefore, he prays to set aside the convictions and sentences recorded against the Accused Officer. 9. On the other hand, learned Standing Counsel appearing for ACB Cases contended that there is no other reason to disbelieve the evidence of P.W.1, whose evidence is very clear that the Accused Officer demanded Rs.500/- for processing his application and as a matter of fact, the said amount has been accepted by him and further, the evidence of P.Ws.2 and 10 would clearly go to show that the tainted currency notes have been seized from the possession of the Accused Officer and the same have been tallying with the numbers as noted in Ex.P9; that there is no other reason for P.W.1 to foist a false case of this nature against the Accused Officer with whom no grouse or enmity is elicited; that the right hand fingers of the Accused Officer, when subjected to the Sodium Carbonate Solution Test, the Solution turned into pink colour; that therefore, the acceptance of bribe has been proved beyond all reasonable doubt; that the Accused Officer has to process the file as per the directions of the Mandal Revenue Officer; that therefore, that was the official favour pending with him prior to the trap; that when such is the case, there was a scope or possibility for the Accused Officer to demand Rs.500/- to process the file of P.W.1; that the trial Court, after elaborate consideration of evidence on record, rightly found the Accused Officer guilty and there are no grounds to interfere with the same. 10. The essential ingredients of Section 7 of the Act are: i) that the person accepting the gratification should be a public servant; ii) that he should accept the gratification for himself and the gratification should be as a motive or reward for doing or forbearing to do any official act or for showing or forbearing to show, in the exercise of his official function, favour or dis-favour to any person. Insofar as Section 13 (1) (d) of the act is concerned, its essential ingredients are: i) that he should have been a public servant; ii) that he should have used corrupt or illegal means or otherwise abused his position as such public servant, and iii) that he should have obtained a valuable thing or pecuniary advantage for himself or for any other person. 11. The entire case rests upon the evidence of P.W.1. If the evidence of P.W.1 is put in the category of wholly reliable, then there is no difficulty in accepting his evidence. In such a case, there is no need to corroborate his evidence with material particulars. No witness was sent to accompany P.W.1 to witness what happened in the office room of the Accused Officer. P.W.1 and his relatives filled Exs.P1 to P4-applications along with the necessary forms for sanction of amount of Rs.1,000/- under the ‘Gudesevasula Insurance Scheme’. P.W.5-Mandal Revenue Inspector is the concerned clerk who has to prepare a note on the file of P.W.1. In pursuance of the note file prepared by P.W.5, P.W.8-Mandal Revenue Officer sanctioned Rs.500/- in the first instance to each of the four fire accident victims. P.W.4 disbursed the amount to the victims. Thereafter, P.Ws.1, 3 and others filled applications for grant of Rs.1,000/- under ‘Gudesevasula Insurance Scheme’ to P.W.8-Mandal Revenue Officer. Again, P.W.5-Mandal Revenue Inspector processed the file before the Mandal Revenue Officer and submitted the file to the Revenue Divisional Officer, Rajampet. But the said Ex.P10-file was returned from the Office of the Revenue Divisional Officer on the ground that there was a delay of 45 days in submitting the applications. Then, again P.W.1 applied to the Mandal Revenue Officer for the issuance of burnt certificates. Then, P.W.5-Mandal Revenue Inspector prepared office note. The office note was approved by the Mandal Revenue Officer. Thereupon, P.W.8- Mandal Revenue Officer instructed P.W.5-Mandal Revenue Inspector to put up the note on the fire insurance file giving the cause for the delay and re-submit as the applicant applied in time. Then, P.W.5-Mandal Revenue Inspector prepared a letter to the Revenue Divisional Officer, Rajampet, and submitted to the Superintendent. The Accused Officer was working as a Superintendent at that point of time. Ex.P10 is the file relating to the insurance claim of P.W.1 and other victims. 12. The oral evidence of P.W.5-Mandal Revenue Inspector would also go to show that in November, 1996 itself, the Accused Officer sent back the file to P.W.5 through an attender. But he did not make any endorsement on Ex.P10. When the Accused Officer returned the file to P.W.5, it contained an incomplete letter which was in the hand writing of the Accused Officer. When P.W.5 enquired the Accused Officer about the incomplete letter, the Accused Officer stated that he would complete the same on coming Monday, i.e., on 02.12.1996. P.W.1 came to the office of P.W.5 and took the original of Ex.P6. According to P.W.5, after the order passed by the Mandal Revenue Officer, the certificate was prepared by P.W.5 on 03.11.1996 and the same was signed by the Mandal Revenue Officer on the same day. P.W.5 admitted that she had put her initial on Ex.P10-1 on 08.11.1996. P.W.5 admitted that there was no mention about submitting the file to the Accused Officer or that the file was returned to P.W.5 after writing the incomplete letter by the Superintendent (Accused Officer). Except the oral evidence of P.W.5 that the Accused Officer had put his initial on Ex.P10-file, there is absolutely no documentary evidence to show that the note prepared by P.W.5 has to be approved or it has to pass through the Accused Officer before reaching the table of P.W.8-Mandal Revenue Officer. 13. Even P.W.8, who was the Mandal Revenue Officer at the relevant point of time of the incident, stated that on 28.10.1996, P.W.1 came and submitted Ex.D3-application. P.W.8 gave it to the attender to give to the concerned clerk i.e., P.W.5. P.W.8 admitted that he gave instructions to P.W.5 to put up a note showing the cause for the delay. 14. It is not in dispute that P.W.5 was the concerned clerk dealing with the said files. Therefore, the evidence of P.Ws.5 and 8 would clearly indicate that there is nothing on record to show that the Accused Officer is the proper person to deal with the claim of P.W.1 or he was the processing authority. Though it is stated that Ex.P10-file was prepared by P.W.5 and processed through the Accused Officer, there is no evidence to show that Ex.P10-file was processed as a matter of fact through the Accused Officer. Except the oral evidence of P.Ws.5 and 8 with regard to the effect that the Accused Officer was entrusted with the work of preparation of note file, there is no documentary evidence on this aspect. 15. Even the evidence of P.W.1 would go to show that on three or four occasions, he met P.W.8-Mandal Revenue Officer and enquired about his claim for getting Rs.1,000/- under the ‘Gudesevasula Insurance Scheme’ and that P.W.8 gave instructions to the Accused Officer to put up a note and re-submit the claim of P.W.1 to the Revenue Divisional Officer. For the first time, P.W.1 stated that the Accused Officer demanded bribe of Rs.500/-. Admittedly on the same day, after demand made by the Accused Officer, he met P.W.8-Mandal Revenue Officer. P.W.1 admitted that for obtaining a burnt certificate, he need not give any bribe amount to the Accused Officer or to the Mandal Revenue Officer. On his own saying, when the burnt certificate was already issued to him on 29.11.1996 itself, there is no need for the Accused Officer to demand any amount. Admittedly, P.W.1 mentioned in Ex.P5 that P.W.5 prepared the burnt certificates and directly handed over to P.W.1 and took them to the Mandal Revenue Officer for his signature and obtained his signature. The original of Ex.P6-burnt certificate has not been filed because the defence is seriously disputing about the correctness and genuineness of Ex.P6. When the Accused Officer demanded P.W.1 to pay bribe, though P.W.1 met the Mandal Revenue Officer, he did not report that matter to the Mandal Revenue Officer and he has not given any specific reason for not complaining to the Mandal Revenue Officer against the Accused Officer. If P.W.1 did not meet the Mandal Revenue Officer after the demand made by the Accused Officer, one can say that there is no need to complain, but having regard to the fact that P.W.1 met the Mandal Revenue Officer after the demand made by the Accused Officer, it is expected from P.W.1 to report to the Mandal Revenue Officer about the same. 16. It is not in dispute that as on the date of fire accident, P.W.1 was an agricultural coolie and he has no other properties and bank balance. Within two or three years thereafter, he became a Class-III Contractor and produced a solvency certificate for Rs.1,00,000/- to enroll himself as Class-III Contractor in the year 1998. The contention of the Accused Officer is that as P.W.1 produced a solvency certificate for Rs.1,00,000/- in the year 1998, he would not have been eligible for exgratia or even for the insurance claim under the ‘Indira Avasa Yojana Scheme’. Therefore, prosecution has to establish that he was entitled for exgratia as well as the ‘Gudesevasula Insurance Scheme’. In view of the fact that his annual income is less than Rs.4,800/-, one cannot become rich overnight. While admittedly he was an agricultural coolie in the year 1996, when he was not having any other properties, how could he be in a position to give a solvency certificate for Rs.1,00,000/-. P.W.1 does not know the avocation of the Accused Officer. Though the Accused Officer was admittedly working as a Superintendent, he was referred to in Ex.P5 as a Head Clerk and a Senior Assistant. Though it may not go to the root of the prosecution case, at the same time, it creates any amount of doubt with regard to P.W.1 approaching the Accused Officer. P.W.1 must be conscious about the fact that the persons who were dealing with the files in the Mandal Revenue Officer’s Office with regard to the scheme. So, in such a case, he would not have approached the Accused Officer for showing any official favour, as the documentary evidence is very clear that the insurance claim of P.W.1 and other victims would not pass through the Accused Officer. 17. The evidence on record would clearly indicate that the insurance claim of P.W.1 and other victims has to be processed and prepared by P.W.4 and the same has to be approved by P.W.8 and ultimately, the file shall go to the Office of the Revenue Divisional Officer for sanction. At no point of time, the file will come to the table of the Accused Officer. In such a case, there is absolutely no reason for the Accused Officer to demand any amount. No official favour to be shown by the Accused Officer in favour of P.W.1 was pending prior to the trap. If such is the case, the question of demanding any bribe by the Accused Officer does not arise. If really the Accused Officer demanded bribe of Rs.500/- for processing the file relating to the ‘Indira Avasa Yojana Scheme’, he would not have issued the relevant certificates to P.W.1 on 29.11.1996. It is admitted by P.W.1 that on 29.11.1996, the certificate relating to the ‘Indira Avasa Yojana Scheme’ was processed by the Accused Officer and while issuing the certificates, he demanded him to bring the bribe amount of Rs.500/- on 02.12.1996. If such a demand was made by the Accused Officer, he would not have issued the relevant certificates to P.W.1 and directed him to pay that amount on 02.12.1996. Therefore, it is highly improbable to believe that the Accused Officer demanded Rs.500/- for processing the file. These circumstances, coupled with the other circumstances, have to be taken into consideration to know whether there is any ring of truth in the prosecution case that there was a demand of bribe of Rs.500/-. It is absurd to believe that the benefit that P.W.1 may get under the ‘Gudesevasula Insurance Scheme’ was Rs.1,000/-. In such a case, the Accused Officer ought not have demanded half of the amount. 18. P.W.3 was working as a Teacher in Private School, Poli village in Rajampet. He is the brother of P.W.1. His evidence does not disclose that the Accused Officer demanded him any amount for the purpose of getting insurance claim under the ‘Gudesevasula Insurance Scheme’. 19. Learned counsel appearing for the appellant relied upon a decision reported in C.M. Girish Babu v. CBI, Cochin, High Court of Kerala[1], wherein it is held thus: “In Suraj Mal v. State (Delhi Admn.)[2] this Court took the view that (at SCC p. 727, para 2) mere recovery of tainted money divorced from the circumstances under which it is paid is not sufficient to convict the accused when the substantive evidence in the case is not reliable. The mere recovery by itself cannot prove the charge of the prosecution against the accused, in the absence of any evidence to prove payment of bribe or to show that the accused voluntarily accepted the money knowing it to be bribe.” Similarly, in the decision reported in Meena (Smt.) W/o. Balwant Hemke v. State of Maharashtra[3], wherein it is held thus: “The essential ingredients to be established to indict a person of an offence under Section 5(1)(d) of the Act are that he should have been a public servant; that he should have used corrupt or illegal means or otherwise abused his position as such public servant, and that he should have obtained a valuable thing or pecuniary advantage for himself or any other person. Likewise, Section 161 IPC requires that the person accepting the gratification should be a public servant; that he should accept the gratification for himself and the gratification should be as a motive or reward for doing or forbearing to do any official act or for showing or forbearing to show, in the exercise of his official function, favour or disfavour to any person. Like any other criminal offence,