HC for framing charges in 12-year-old corruption case

Twelve years after three persons had allegedly taken a bribe of Rs 500 for issuing a pollution check certificate to a bus, the Delhi HC has directed the trial court to frame charges against the accused under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Twelve years after three persons had allegedly taken a bribe of Rs 500 for issuing a pollution check certificate to a bus, the Delhi High Court has directed the trial court to frame charges against the accused under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA).

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The Court allowed the police petition challenging the lower court’s order discharging two accused and proceeding against the third accused and, that too, for conspiracy under the PCA.

Remanding the case back to the trial court, Justice Kailash Gambhir set aside the trial judge’s order and directed the court to frame charges afresh against Arvind Kumar Sharma, Pawan Kumar and their associate.

“This is an irony of our nation, where the citizens have to bribe unscrupulous and corrupt government officials for seeking many types of certificates, licenses, allotments, clearances etc. to which they are otherwise legitimately entitled to do,” Justice Gambhir said in the judgement.

"Bribery and corruption are so rampant and with a view to avoid unnecessary harassment and delays, people are forced to grease the palm of corrupt officials and the licencing authorities working under the control of the transport department are no exception to this syndrome,“ the court added.

On December 30,1996, a raid was conducted on the basis of a complaint and Pawan Kumar was caught taking bribe of Rs 500, for tasks which had an official fee of Rs 50, at the instance of two transport authority officials, including Sharma.