By this appeal, Judgment and Order dt. 26.04.2001 is challenged, whereby the accused (appellants herein) stood convicted and sentenced under Sections 5(1)(e) r/w 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 (hereinafter referred to as “the said Act”). While the original accused No. 1 was sentenced to suffer rigorous imprisonment for two years and to pay a fine of Rs. 50,000/-, the other accused were sentenced to pay fine of Rs. 5,000/-, each. The original accused No. 1 i.e. appellant No. 1 in this appeal died during the pendency of this appeal and consequently his legal representatives were brought on record for pursuing the appeal on his behalf before this Court. But, for the sake of convenience, the original accused No. 1, although deceased, is being referred to as appellant No. 1 in this judgment.

2. Appellant No. 1 joined service in the Police Department as Constable in 1962. He was then promoted to the post of Head Constable in 1971 and thereafter, he was sent for training as Police Sub-Inspector. Upon completion of training, the appellant No. 1 was posted as Police Sub-Inspector in district Yavatmal and thereafter, he served in the said capacity at different places