1. Heard.

2. This Criminal Appeal is preferred by the accused against the judgment of conviction and sentence dated 15-7-1996, made in CC No. 75 of 1991 of the learned I Additional District Judge - cum - Chief Judicial Magistrate, Krishnagiri.

3. The accused was working as a Revenue Inspector in Firka Taluk, Harur, during January to March, 1990. Concededly, the accused is a public servant.

4. The accused was charged for the offences punishable under S.7 and S.13(1)(d)(i) and (ii) read wth 13(3) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (hereinafter referred to as the 'Act'), with reference to an alleged occurrence of having demanded and accepted bribe of Rs. 100/- from one Thiru K. Kannan (PW 1) as gratification other than legal remuneration for processing the application dated 13-2-1990 (Ext. P5) of PW 1 for issuing "Small Farmer Certificate" for obtaining electricity supply at free of cost.

5. 1. The events leading to the filing of this appeal, briefly stated, are that PW 1, who was in need of "Small Farmer Certificate" for obtaining supply of electricity at free of cost, approached the Village Administrative Officer, Harur Taluk, namely, N. Theerthagiri (PW 5) on 13-2-1990 and the