2026:CGHC:3838 The date when The date when The date when the judgment is uploaded on the the judgment is the judgment is website reserved pronounced Operative Full

18-11-2025 22-01-2026 - 22-01-2026 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR Judgment reserved on : 18-11-2025 Judgment delivered on : 22-01-2026 CRA No. 163 of 2008 Kritnarayan Ram S/o Lughruramsarthi, aged about 49 years, occupation Dy.

Director, Agriculture (Govt. Employee) R/o Ambikapur, Distt. Sarguja (CG)

... Appellant versus State Of Chhattisgarh, Anti Corruption Bureau, Raipur, Through Special Police Branch, Lokayukt, Branch, Lokayukt, Jagdalpur, Distt. Bastar (CG)

… Respondent For Appellant : Mr. Kishore Bhaduri, Sr. Advocate with Mr. Rahul Jha, Advocate.

For Respondent : Ms. Sunita Sahu, Panel Lawyer.

Hon’ble Smt. Justice Rajani Dubey

C A V Judgment

Challenge in the present appeal is to the legality and validity of the judgment of conviction and order of sentence dated 31.1.2008 passed by Special Judge, Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, Kanker, Distt. North Bastar Kanker in Special Case No.15/2006 whereby the appellant stands convicted and sentenced as under:

Conviction Sentence Under Section 7 of Prevention of RI for one year, pay a fine of Corruption Act, 1988. Rs.1000/- and in default thereof to suffer additional RI for three months.

Under Section 13(1)(d) read with RI for two years, pay a fine of 13(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act, Rs.1000/- and in default thereof to

1988. suffer additional RI for three months.

Both the sentences were directed to run concurrently.

02. Case of the prosecution in brief is that complainant, R.K. Patel, along with his brother Hemsagar Patel, appeared in person at the office of the Special Police Establishment, Lokayukt, Bastar Range, Jagdalpur, and submitted a written complaint on 10.3.2003 to the effect that his brother, Hemsagar Patel, runs a shop for seeds and pesticides under the name of Krishi Seva Kendra and Sagar Enterprises at village Kapsi, police station Pakhanjur. His brother, Hemsagar Patel, had obtained a licence from the office of the Deputy Director of Agriculture, Kanker, to sell seeds and pesticides. On 17.1.2003 accused, Shri Ram, Deputy Director of Agriculture, inspected the shop of Hemsagar Patel, brother of the complainant, at village Kapsi, and seized the original licence certificate, a bill book, and a carbon copy of the bill book related to seeds and pesticides. The accused, Shri Ram, issued a "show cause notice" to the proprietor, Hemsagar Patel, vide letter no. 4074, dated January 22, 2003, and another notice vide letter no. 4088, dated January 23, 2003, citing serious irregularities under the seeds and pesticide business and seeking explanation for cancellation of the license. Hemsagar Patel submitted a reply to the notices on February 13, 2003, which was received by the office of the Deputy Director of Agriculture, Kanker, on February 17, 2003.

Further case of the prosecution is that when Hemsagar Patel contacted the accused Shri Ram regarding the case, he demanded a bribe of Rs.25,000 for settling the matter and asked him to send the complainant, R.K. Patel. The complainant R.K. Patel met the accused Shri Ram at his residence on February 19, 2003, and he demanded a bribe of Rs.25,000 for settling the matter. The complainant expressed his inability to pay the amount, and the accused agreed to accept the amount in installments of Rs.5,000. The complainant paid Rs.2,000 to the accused on that day and another Rs.5,000 on February 24, 2003. On March 3, 2003, the accused demanded the next installment of Rs.5,000, and the complainant agreed to pay it on March 10, 2003. However, on March 10, 2003 the complainant RK Patel contacted the Special Police Establishment, Jagdalpur and gave them Rs.5000/- for conducting trap proceedings against the accused Shri Ram.

03. After registration of offence under Section 7 of the Act of 1988, a trap team was constituted, and the complainant, R.K. Patel, along with his brot