JUDGMENT :

This is a Criminal Appeal filed by the State, being represented by the District Inspector, Krishna, Anti-Corruption Bureau, Vijayawada Range, Vijayawada, through the Standing Counsel-cum- Special Public Prosecutor for ACB Cases, challenging the judgment, dated 20.01.2007 in C.C.No.16 of 2004, on the file of Special Judge for SPE & ACB Cases, Vijayawada, whereunder the learned Special Judge, found the respondent herein i.e., Accused Officer (“AO” for short) not guilty of the charges under Sections 7 and 13(2) r/w 13(1)(d) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and acquitted him under Section 248(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (“Cr.P.C.” for short).

2. The parties to this Criminal Appeal will hereinafter be referred as described before the trial Court for the sake of convenience.

3. The State, being represented by the District Inspector, Krishna, Vijayawada Range, Vijayawada, filed a charge sheet in Crime No.5/ACB-RCT-VJA/2003 of ACB, Vijayawada Range, Vijayawada under Sections 7 and 13(2) r/w 13(1)(d) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, alleging in substance, as follows:

(i) Sri Pallapolu Venkata Nageswara Rao, S/o late Kotaiah, who was working as Assistant Manager, P