1. This appeal is directed against the judgment dated 24.9.2001 passed in Special Criminal Case No.2 of 1998 by the 1st Additional Sessions Judge and Special Judge under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (henceforth 'the Act of 1988'), Durg convicting and sentencing accused F.U. Siddique as under:

2. During pendency of the instant appeal, accused/Appellant F.U. Siddique died and by order of this Court dated 27.1.2016 his legal representatives have been brought on record.

3. Case of the prosecution, in brief, is that deceased accused/Appellant F.U. Siddique, on the relevant date and time, was working as a Sub-Inspector and posted in Anusuchit Jati Jan Jati Kalyan (Ajak) Police Station, Durg. There was a dispute between Complainant Raman Mishra (PW1) and Rukmani Bai (PW2). The matter was reported by Rukmani Bai against Raman Mishra in Ajak Police Station, Durg. Thereafter, it is alleged that the deceased Appellant called Raman Mishra and demanded bribe of Rs.1,500/- from him and threatened him that if he does not fulfill the demand he will send him to jail. Raman Mishra told him that he was unable to fulfill the demand of Rs.1,500/-. On this, the deceased Appellant made a demand of Rs.1,000/- only. When Raman Mishra again expressed his inability to fulfill the demand of Rs.1,000/-, the deceased Appellant made a demand of Rs.500/-. Raman Mishra did not want to fulfill the demand of bribe,. Therefore, he submitted a written complaint (Ex.P1) to the Superintendent of Police, Durg. The matter was handed over to Additional Superintendent of Police G. Akheto Sema (PW8) for further action. He further handed over the matter to City Superintendent of Police B.P. Chandrawanshi (PW10). Panch witnesses N.R. Sahu (PW9) and Mohd. Akram Khan (PW4) were summoned. Raman Mishra brought 2 currency notes of Rs.100/- each and 6 currency notes of Rs.50/- each, total Rs.500/- and placed the same before the panch witnesses. G. Akheto Sema (PW8) made a mark of “MAC” on those currency notes. Those currency notes were smeared with phenolphthalein powder and given back to Raman Mishra and he was tutored that after giving the tainted money to the deceased Appellant, he will give a hint to the trap party. A panchnama (Ex.P2) was prepared and trap party was constituted. As planned, Raman Mishra went to the Appellant in his office in Ajak Police Station. The Appellant asked Raman Mishra about the bribe money. Raman Mishra consented to give the bribe. The Appellant came out of the police station and took the bribe money from Raman Mishra at a betel shop situated near the police station. Thereafter, the members of the trap party asked Raman Mishra about the tainted money. Raman Mishra answered in positive. Then, they entered Ajak Police Station where G. Akheto Sema (PW8) asked the Appellant to take out the money received from Raman Mishra. The Appellant took out the bribe money of Rs.500/- from the pocket of his shirt and kept the same on the table. Solutions of caustic soda were prepared at the spot and the hands of the Appellant and Complainant Raman Mishra were washed with the said solutions. After the wash, colour of the solutions turned into pink. The currency notes recovered from the Appellant were seized vide Ex.P7. The solutions which were used for washing of the hands of the Appellant and the Complainant were also seized vide Ex.P3 and Ex.P6. The shirt worn by the Appellant was also got remove