Here's a breakdown of the recent court decision involving a bribery case in Chandrapur, Maharashtra. The High Court upheld the acquittal of Shri Narayan Mataghare, who was accused of asking for a bribe to change a land record.
The Allegation: Shri Narayan Mataghare was accused of asking for a bribe of ₹2,000 from Ashok Kathane to change a land record in Chimur. Ashok Kathane, wanting to transfer his shop property to his son, reported this to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).
The Setup: On July 21, 2003, the ACB set a trap. Ashok Kathane was supposed to give the marked money to Shri Narayan Mataghare, and when he did, the ACB conducted a raid and found the marked money with Mataghare.
Initial Acquittal: The Special Judge in Warora found Shri Narayan Mataghare not guilty on December 7, 2011, because there wasn't enough evidence.
Appeal by the State: The State of Maharashtra challenged this decision, arguing that the evidence, including witness statements and the successful trap, proved Shri Narayan Mataghare's guilt.
Witness Testimonies: The court found differences in the stories told by the witnesses. The supposed question by Shri Narayan Mataghare, "whether he brought the amount," was not enough to prove he asked for a bribe.
Approval for Legal Action: The court noted that the approval for legal action was given without careful consideration, as the authority just signed a ready-made order.
Omissions and Contradictions: There were important gaps and contradictions in the evidence, which weakened the case against Shri Narayan Mataghare.
The Missing Statement: The statement given by Shri Narayan Mataghare after his arrest was not included in the case file, raising questions about the prosecution's fairness.
The High Court, led by Judge M. M. Nerlikar, upheld the decision to find Shri Narayan Mataghare not guilty, pointing out the lack of solid evidence and mistakes in the process. The appeal was dismissed, supporting the decision of the Special Judge in Warora.
