JUDGMENT :

1. This Criminal Appeal is filed against the conviction and sentence passed by the Special Judge-cum-Chief Judicial Magistrate, Nagercoil, Kanniyakumari District in Special Case No.5 of 2007, dated 26/04/2019.

2. The case of the prosecution in brief:-

The Accused was serving as Head Constable in Thuckalay Police Station from 13/06/2003 to 17/11/2005. The de-facto Complainant applied for Passport through District Collectorate, Nagercoil, on 19/10/2005. The said application was received by the Thuckalay Police Station for verification and handed over to Soosai Michael for report. On 15/11/2005 at about 10.00 am, he went to the house of the de-facto complainant and enquired his Aunt about him. As per his direction, de-facto complainant met the accused Soosai Michael at about 10.00 am on 16/11/2005. The accused demanded Rs.350/- as bribe. Not willing to bribe, he lodged a complaint before the respondent police. Based upon that complaint, trap was laid. Case in Crime No.9 of 2005 was registered for the offence under section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The accused was arrested in the trap. After completing the formalities of the investigation, filed final report. It wa