JUDGMENT :

M. DHANDAPANI, J.

1. One of the oldest case on the file of this Court on the criminal side, which has been confined within the four walls, serving its life imprisonment and beyond, is being released from incarceration by this common judgment.

2. The appellants in these appeals, viz. A-1 and A-2, were officers of the Indian Police Service, who were, at the relevant points of time, functioning as Director of Fire Service and with regard to certain purchases made by them for the Fire and Rescue Services Department during their respective tenures, initially DVAC probe was initiated against them and, thereafter, CB-CID probe was initiated against them culminating in trial against those persons under the Prevention of Corruption Act and other offences under the Indian Penal Code.

3. Corruption and Bribery, an evil engulfing the society, which needs to be curbed with iron hands and eradicated by weeding out its roots, has fructified in the passage of the Prevention of Corruption Act in the year 1947 and over the passage of time, has seen amendments to it in the year 1952 and 19