COMMON JUDGMENT

The accused Nos.2 and 3 in C.C.No.20 of 2014 on the file of the learned Special Judge-cum Chief Judicial Magistrate, Thanjavur, at Kumbakonam, have filed these Criminal Appeals before this Court challenging the conviction and sentence imposed against them for the offence under Sections 7 r/w 34, 13(1)(d) r/w 13(2) r/w 34 of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, passed by the impugned judgment dated 22.12.2017, in C.C.No.20 of 2014 on the file of the learned Special Judge-cum Chief Judicial Magistrate, Thanjavur, at Kumbakonam.

For easy reference in deciding the appeals, the rank mentioned in the Court below is denoted here.

2.Brief Facts of the case:-

According to the prosecution, A1 was the Inspector of Police of CS-CID, A2 was the Sub Inspector of Police and A3 was working as Head Constable of the said Department. A1 received the information about running of gas agency by P.W.2 in the name of “Sun Gas Agency” without obtaining the proper permission and hence, A1 to A3 made the inspection on 04.06.2002, at 12.00 hours in the absence of owner/P.W.2 and asked P.W.4/Manager to produce the document and also demanded bribe of Rs.15,000/- in order to avoid their interference i