IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 06^TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE G BASAVARAJA CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.370 OF 2015 BETWEEN:

STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY S.P.P.

LOKAYUKTHA, BANGALORE-560001.

...APPELLANT (BY SRI. VENKATESH S. ARABATTI, ADV.)

AND:

P. M. SRIKANTH FIRST DIVISION ASSISTANT, OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, BANGALORE URBAN DISTRICT, PIN CODE - 56001.

…RESPONDENT (BY SRI. C. H. JADHAV, SR. COUNSEL FOR SRI. L. SRINIVASA BABU, ADV.)

THIS CRL.A IS FILED U/S.378(1) AND (3) CR.P.C PRAYING TO GRANT LEAVE TO APPEAL AGAINST THE JUDGMENT AND ORDER OF ACQUITTAL DATED 18.10.2014 PASSED IN SPL. CASE NO.675/2011 AND SET ASIDE THE JUDGMENT AND ORDER OF ACQUITTAL DATED 18.10.2014 PASSED IN SPL.CASE.NO.675/2011 ARISING OUT LOKAYUKTA P.S.CR.NO.36/2001, BY THE PRL. SESSIONS JUDGE & SPL.JUDGE, BANGALORE AND CONVICT THE ACCUSE/RESPONDENT FOR THE OFFENCES P/U/S 7, 13(1)(d) R/W SEC.13(2) OF P.C. ACT AND CONSEQUENTLY SENTENCE THE ACCUSED/RESPONDENT FOR THE CHARGES LEVELLED AGAINST HIM.

THIS APPEAL HAVING BEEN HEARD AND RESERVED FOR JUDGMENT ON 17.11.2025 AND COMING ON FOR "PRONOUNCEMENT OF ORDERS" THIS DAY, THE COURT, DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE G BASAVARAJA

CAV JUDGMENT

1. Appellant-State through Lokayukta Police has preferred this appeal against the judgment of vital dated 18^th October, 2014 passed in Special Case No.675 of 2011 by the Principal Sessions Judge & Special Judge, Bangalore Rural District at Bangalore (for short "the trial Court).

2. For the sake of convenience, the parties herein are referred to as per their status and rank before the trial Court.

3. Brief facts leading to this appeal are that, the Inspector of Police, Karnataka Lokayukta, submitted charge- sheet against the accused for offences punishable under Sections 7, 13(1)(d) and 13(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. It is alleged by the prosecution that one Krishnappa, the father of the complainant-K.Manjunatha had filed revision petition in RP No.116 of 2007–08 before the Special Deputy Commissioner, Bangalore District against S.Krishnamurthy Katti and others challenging and order passed by the Assistant Commissioner of Bangalore South Sub-division on 30^th May, 2007. The Special Deputy Commissioner dismissed the Revision Petition by order dated 19^th April, 2010. Since the father of the complainant was not able to move about, the complainant gave an application on 26^th July, 2010 in the office of the Special Deputy Commissioner for issuing copy of above order. It is alleged by the complainant in the complaint lodged by him before the local police that the accused who was working as a First Division Assistant in the office of the Deputy Commissioner at Bangalore, was postponing the issuance of copy and demanded a bribe of Rs.600/- and on 4^th August, 2010, a sum of Rs.100/- was received by the accused and he asked the complainant to pay the balance amount of Rs.500/- the next day and then receive the copy. On these allegations, the complainant lodged a complaint with Lokayukta police on 5^th August, 2010, based on which the Lokayukta Police registered a case in crime No.17 of 2010 and took up investigation. After investigation, police submitted charge- sheet against the accused for aforesaid offences. After filing charge-sheet case was registered against the accused in SC No.675 of 2011. Accused was enlarged on bail. Upon hearing on charges, trial court framed charges for commission of offences. The same were read over and explained to the accused in the language known to him. Having understood the same, accused pleaded, not guilty and claimed to be tried.

4. To prove the guilt of the accused, five witnesses were examined by prosecution as PWs 1 to 5, eighteen documents were marked as Exhibits P1 to P18 and eleven material objects were marked as MOs1 to 11. On closure of prosecution side evidence, statement of accused under Section 313 was recorded, accused has totally denied the evidence of prosecu