The Supreme Court has acquitted two government employees who had been fighting a corruption case for 30 years, according to Bar and Bench. The case centered on an alleged bribe of just ₹20.
Bar and Bench reports that the court ruled the mere recovery of the bribe amount was not enough to secure a conviction. The prosecution failed to prove that the accused had actually demanded the bribe, which is a key requirement under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The ruling reinforces a legal principle that has been applied in several recent cases: the statutory presumption of guilt under Section 20 of the Prevention of Corruption Act only comes into play after the prosecution establishes an initial demand. Without proof of that demand, the recovery of tainted money alone cannot sustain a conviction, as noted by Live Law and The Law Advice in their coverage of the judgment.
The case had dragged on for three decades, making it a notable example of how long corruption trials can last in India. The two employees, who were government servants at the time of the alleged offense, have maintained their innocence throughout the proceedings.
This judgment is part of a broader trend in which the Supreme Court has consistently held that the demand for a bribe is the cornerstone of any corruption charge. Legal observers will be watching to see whether this decision prompts lower courts to apply the same standard more rigorously in pending cases, potentially shortening the duration of such trials.
