JUDGMENT :

V. SRISHANANDA, J.

1. Heard Sri Subhash Mallapur, learned counsel for the appellant-Lokayukta and Sri Avinash A. Uploankar, learned counsel for the respondent-accused.

2. The Karnataka Lokayukta, Kalaburagi has preferred this appeal questioning the validity of the judgment passed by the Special Judge, Kalaburagi in Special Case No.12/2017 (Lokayukta) dated 12.11.2020, whereby, the accused/respondent was acquitted for the offence punishable under Section 13 (1)(e) read with Section 13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (for short ‘P.C. Act’).

3. Facts in brief, which are utmost necessary for disposal of the appeal are as under:

3.1 The respondent/accused was working as an Assistant Engineer in Karnataka State Electricity Board. He discharged his work in Kalaburagi and Alland. When he was working as and Assistant Executive Engineer, Nodal Officer, 110/11, South MUSS, KPTCL, Kalaburagi, he was kept under observation for the amassing illegal assets than his known source of income to the prosecution. Check period was fixed from 20.11.1998 to 29.10.2013.

3.2 Information collected by the Lokayukta Police in the check period by taking the known source of income of the accus