JUDGMENT :

PRAYER: Criminal Appeal filed under Section 378(1) Cr.P.C, against the judgment dated 22.04.2016, in Special Case No.04/2014, by the Special Court for trial of cases under Prevention of Corruption Act, Tirunelveli.

The Criminal Appeal is directed against the judgment of the acquittal passed in Special Case No.04 of 2014, dated 22.04.2016, on the file of the Special Court for trial of cases under Prevention of Corruption Act, Tirunelveli.

2. The case of the prosecution, as evident from the charge sheet filed by the Inspector of Police, Vigilance and Anti Corruption, Tirunelveli Detachment, is that the respondent/accused was working as A3 – Assistant in the Taluk office, Palayamkottai upto 24.04.2003 as a public servant, that on 22.04.2002 at about 11.00 hours, the accused demanded Rs.2,000/- from the defacto complainant Thiru.Sudhan Sundarapandian, who was doing money lending business in the name of “Aravind Finance”, as gratification other than the legal remuneration as a motive or reward to process the money lending licence renewal application of the defacto complainant, that in pursuance of the said demand, the accused reiterated the said demand on 24.04.2002 with the def