Order

Delay condoned.

2. Special leave granted.

3. The respondent, Gurdit Singh, was employed as Sub-Inspector of Police with the Police Department in the Union Territory of Chandi­garh. A complaint was made against him on 20.1.1991 by one Smt. Mee­nakshi, wife of Shri Nishan Singh, alleging that the respondent had demanded bribe from her for releasing the gold ornaments of her hus­band and other articles which were retained by him at the Police Station before releasing her husband and her driver who were detained in police custody. On receipt of the said complaint a trap was laid in the presence of two witnesses and the respondent who was in police uniform was caught red-handed on the night of 29.1.1991, at the resi­dence of the complainant while demanding and accepting Rs. 2000 from the complainant for the release of the articles. A criminal case under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 was registered against him and the same was entrusted to CBI for investigation. In the meanwhile a preliminary enquiry was conducted by the Deputy Super­intendent of Police, East, Chandigarh and after considering the report of the said preliminary enquiry the Senior Superintendent of