( 1 ) THIS criminal appeal is filed against the judgment dated 20-2-1996 made in CC No. 42 of 1992 on the file of the special Judge for SPE and ACB Cases, vijayawada in convicting the appellant for the offences punishable under Sections 7 and 13 (2) read with Section 13 (1) (d) (i) and (ii) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (for short the Act ) and sentencing him to undergo rigorous imprisonment for one year and to pay a fine of Rs. 500/-, and in default, to undergo simple imprisonment for 2 months under each count. Both the sentences were directed to run concurrently.

( 2 ) BRIEF facts to the case are that the appellant herein Kalukuri Lingaiah (hereinafter referred to as the AO ), while functioning as ASI in Arundalpet Police station, Guntur District, demanded a sum of rs. 1,000/- from the complainant Muchipalli venkata Ramana Rao (PW1) as bribe on 14-9-1988 night at Arundalpet Police Station for not taking action against him on the complaint given against him by his wife smt. M Vasantha Rumari (PW4 ). On 15-9-1988, the AO repeated his earlier demand at the shop of PW1 at Guntur at 10. 00 AM and at the house of PW1 at guntur at 9. 30 PM. Again on 16-9-19