JUDGMENT :

1. This Criminal Appeal is filed against the judgment of conviction and sentence, dated 28/06/2018 passed by the Special Judge for the Trial of cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act, Madurai, in Special Case No.64 of 2011.

2. The case of the prosecution in brief:-

When the accused was working as Village Administrative Officer between 01/12/2006 and 13/02/2009 at Pothumbu Village Administrative Office, on 03/02/2009 demanded Rs.2,000/- from the de-facto complainant as illegal gratification and it was reduced the same as Rs.1,000/- for recommending for transfer the house site patta in his name and received the same on 13/02/2009. Based on the complaint, Trap was laid, and a case in Crime No.2 of 2009 was registered for the offence under section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The accused was arrested and after completing the formalities of the investigation, final report was filed and it was taken on file by the Special Court for Trial of cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act, Madurai, in Special Case No. 64 of 2011 for the offence under sections 7 and 13(2) r/w 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. After completing Sec. 207 Cr.P.C proceedin