Reserved on:08.04.2025 I N THE HI GH COURT OF UTTARAKHAND AT NAI NI TAL Bail Application 1^st No.2556 of 2024 Bhagwati Prasad ......Applicant Vs.

Central Bureau of Investigation …..Respondent Presence Mr. Rajendra Kothiyal, Mr. Ravi Joshi, learned counsel for the applicant.

Mr. Piyush Garg, learned counsel, for the CBI.

Hon’ble Ashish Naithani, J.

1. The present bail application has been moved by the applicant, Bhagwati Prasad, seeking his release in FIR/CBI Case No. RC007202024A0010, dated 09.09.2024, registered under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, Police Station CBI, ACB, Dehradun.

2. The applicant, who was posted as an Assistant Engineer (Electrical) in LIC, Divisional Office, Dehradun, allegedly demanded a bribe of ₹57,000/- from the complainant, a civil contractor, in lieu of processing his pending bill and earlier cleared payments. Upon the complainant's request, the applicant agreed to reduce the bribe amount to ₹40,000/-.

3. A trap was subsequently laid by the CBI, during which the applicant was apprehended while accepting ₹15,000/- as part payment of the demanded bribe. The bribe money was recovered from the possession of the applicant, and the incident was