JAMMU, Oct 14: Special Judge Anticorruption Baramulla Amarjeet Singh Langeh today rejected the bail application of one Altaf Hussain Khan, Naib Tehsildar Uri, who was caught red-handed by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) while accepting Rs 50000 as bribe.
“The investigation conducted thus far vividly demonstrates albeit prima facie that in the capacity of Naib Tehsildar – Uri, petitioner demanded bribe from complainant in the case and accepted the same. Petitioner, as per evidence collected up till now in a trap case – demanded an amount of Rs. 50,000 as corruption for preparing some revenue extracts and report and he accepted the same and the tainted money, during trap proceedings, was also recovered from petitioner”, the court observed.
“This aspect has been elaborately delineated by investigating agency in its report. Initially, petitioner is said to have demanded an amount of Rs 10 lakh as bribe for preparing revenue extracts and report. Ultimately, after indulgence of Sarpanch, the first installment was settled as Rs 50,000”, the court further observed, adding “it is trite and perhaps needs no reiteration that corruption is not only scourge against humanity, but is also an ever deepening rot in the society much to the chagrin and dismay of ordinary folk and helpless public”.
“Cases involving allegation of corruption, therefore, have to be visited with a different approach in the matter of bail, lest public faith in the majesty of law shall not only be eroded, but robust system devised to curb and deter corruption by public servants – be also questioned”, the court said, adding “the nature of accusation, character of evidence collected thus far, severity of punishment which conviction will entail, circumstances peculiar to petitioner and larger interest of public – are the circumstances which are poignantly poised against petitioner in the case in hand”.
With these observations, court refused to grant bail.
