JUDGMENT :

PRAYER : Criminal Appeals have been filed under section 374 of Criminal Procedure Code to set aside the Judgment dated 22.04.2015 passed by the Special Judge (under Prevention of Corruption Act) Principal Sessions Judge at Puducherry, passed in Special C.C.No.16 of 2010.

These appeals are filed challenging the order of the Special Judge for Prevention of Corruption Act, Pondicherry, convicting the Village Administrative Officer and his Assistant for receiving Rs.400/- as bribe to forward the application given by one Sivaguru seeking financial assistance under Rajiv Gandhi Social Security Scheme for poor.

2. The said Scheme is meant for widower of the economically weaker section over the death of wife. According to the defacto complainant, (Sivaguru), he lost his wife on 11.01.2009. So, he made an application on 03.03.2009 under the said Scheme. When he met the Village Administrative Officer, Seshachalam(A1), on 09.03.2003, A1 demanded Rs.500/- to forward the application to the Thasildar for processing. When the complainant expressed his inability to pay Rs.500/-, the said Seshachalam has retorted saying for getting Rs.25,000/-, why he hesitate to pay Rs.500/- as bribe. Then