NOWADAYS PEOPLE HAVE ADOPTED NOVEL WAYS OF ACCEPTING BRIBERY - DELHI HIGH COURT

Justice Subramonium Prasad of Delhi High Court remarked that people had adopted novel ways of accepting bribery. People are getting fearful,, and therefore, they are either asked to leave it somewhere or place it somewhere.

The Delhi HC was hearing a plea of a Police officer challenging the order passed by the Special Central Bureau of Investigation. The CBI received a complaint alleging that the officer demanded a bribe from a woman for dropping her and her husband's name from the complaint. Accordingly, on February 22, 2020, the special CBI Court observed that the facts disclose the offence u/s 7 of the prevention of corruption act, 1988.

Advocate Alok, appearing for the petitioner, said that the CBI did not show any record of demand or acceptance of money. Moreover, the case is not attracting 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. There needs to be a demand followed by verification of demand by the Investigation agency and then acceptance of money, followed by recovery.

The Court, after hearing the party asked, how someone walked and kept the money in a police station without being noticed? It is commonly known that people are afraid of police stations, and therefore, it is impossible to walk inside a police station and keep the money in the police's file.

To which Adv Alok responded that the police officer was investigating a Matter having two cross complaints whereby the complainant had criminal antecedents.

The Court posted the matter for September.

Author: Papiha Ghoshal