Summary: Manoj Shankar Deshpande, who was previously found guilty of corruption, has been cleared of all charges by the Bombay High Court. The case involved accusations of bribery related to a fishing subsidy.
Manoj Shankar Deshpande, a 36-year-old government worker, was accused of asking for extra money to release a government subsidy. The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Pune caught him during a setup operation, which led to his conviction by a special court under the laws against corruption.
The case started when Baban Maruti Bamble, a fisherman, went to Deshpande to get a subsidy of Rs.3000. Deshpande allegedly asked for Rs.1500 as a bribe to release the subsidy. Bamble reported this to the ACB, which set up a plan to catch Deshpande in the act.
"The person will not release the money unless an extra payment of Rs.1500 is made."
On the day of the setup, Baban Maruti Bamble, with help from ACB officers, used notes marked with a special powder to catch Deshpande. When Deshpande accepted the money, the ACB team arrested him, finding the notes in his drawer glowing under a special light.
Deshpande argued that the Rs.1500 was not a bribe but a fee for a fishing license. He claimed that the money was for legal dues related to a fishing contract involving Bamble's brother.
"The money was accepted for unpaid license fees."
Judge M. M. Sathaye noticed inconsistencies in the story told by the prosecution. The Demand Draft (DD) for the subsidy was clean, suggesting it was issued before any extra payment was made. The judge found enough doubt in the prosecution's case, leading to Deshpande’s acquittal.
The court decided that there wasn't enough clear evidence to prove Deshpande was guilty of bribery. Deshpande was cleared of all charges because the evidence wasn't strong enough to support the accusations.
This case shows how complicated legal cases can be and the important role of evidence in making sure justice is served.
